Introduction

NSPC leads the way in the growing field of existential coaching. Our school launched the first MA in Existential Coaching in 2010, and our blended learning format lets you study theory online from home and attend in-person skills sessions at our NW London campus.

Existential coaching takes a philosophical and relational approach to help clients face life's challenges and move forward authentically. We teach coaches to use ideas from existential philosophy and work holistically with each client. Existential coaches help clients explore meaning, authenticity, freedom, choice and responsibility in their lives.

The MSc is blended, so you can fit your studies around work and family. Students join from around the world and learn from each other's experience. Demand for this depth of coaching is growing: as AI tools take over quick practical advice, clients value human coaches most for conversations about meaning, values and hard decisions.

Who will benefit from this course

Year one assumes no prior coaching experience, and students join the MSc from many backgrounds. The course suits:

• coaches who want psychological depth and a master’s degree
• HR and talent professionals
• learning and development specialists
• managers and leaders who coach their teams
• psychologists, therapists and counsellors adding coaching to their practice
• career changers looking for a rigorous route into professional coaching
• coaches who work with neurodivergent clients

Course Description

Theory, practice, self-development and research run side by side throughout the programme. You learn to work safely with emotions and mental health in the coaching relationship and to recognise boundaries of practice. You will look beyond standard coaching tools and work with the whole person. We also help you prepare a portfolio for individual accreditation with professional bodies in coaching and coaching psychology.

In year one, you start from the basics. Over three skills workshops you move from core skills such as empathic listening, to the evidence base of coaching, to the methods of phenomenological-existential coaching. Online, you study theories of personal change, existential philosophy and research methods.

In year two, you set up or grow your own coaching practice and see clients under weekly group supervision. You also take modules in existential leadership and in wellbeing and health. A further online module covers the social, cultural and ethical issues of professional practice.

If you start in January 2027, you attend your four face-to-face workshops on these dates:

• Skills in Existential Coaching 1: Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027
• Skills in Existential Coaching 2: Monday 17 to Friday 21 May 2027
• Skills in Existential Coaching 3: Monday 13 to Friday 17 September 2027
• Advanced Existential Coaching and Existential Leadership: Monday 4 to Friday 8 December 2028 (or Monday 6 to Friday 10 December 2027 for expedited learning)

If too few students enrol, NSPC may reschedule or cancel a workshop or module. We will tell you as soon as we can and discuss alternatives with you. Please book only refundable travel until you receive your termly course plan. This notice does not affect your statutory rights. Full terms and conditions come with your offer.

You complete a supervised research project on a topic of your choice, using qualitative or quantitative methods. Our students often explore questions they encounter in their own coaching: one graduate interviewed women in senior management about how they maintain autonomy while speaking and acting on the organisation's behalf; another asked what helps people speak their minds at work; several followed people through a career change, a loss of motivation, or a period of suffering. NSPC is known for phenomenological and existential research, and your supervisor helps you become masterful.

We design every module with neurodiversity in mind and support you in developing as a neuro-inclusive practitioner. We welcome applications from neurodivergent students, as well as students with a disability or chronic health condition. If you’ve already studied Level 7 modules and achieved the intended learning outcomes, we can discuss how to apply for credit for prior learning at your interview.

Your Course Leader is Xenia Angevin CPsychol ([email protected]), a chartered psychologist, BPS-registered coaching psychologist, experienced existential coach and supervisor (RAPPS BPS / EMCC /ICF Mentor-in-training). Xenia is also an editor of the International Coaching Psychology Review. She works closely with you as you set up a sustainable coaching practice, alongside well-known practitioners in this field.

This course follows the Middlesex Research Degree Regulations available here: https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/

Application closing date guidance:

We encourage you to apply for this online postgraduate course as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed; we may also need to request further information from you during the application process. 

If you wish to start the programme in January 2027: 

Please apply by 1 November 2026 (23:59 UK time) if you can. Applying by this date gives us time to assess your application and invite you to interview before the January start.

You can still apply after 1 November:

• We continue to accept applications until all places are filled.
• When the programme is full, we close it to further applications.
• If the January cohort is full when your application arrives, we automatically consider you for the next available start date.

Your application is complete when you have submitted the online form and all supporting documents and paid the application fee.

If your application is still incomplete when the January cohort fills, we will consider it for the next available start date.

To meet us before you apply, please contact the course leader at [email protected]  or visit our open days ( www.nspc.org.uk/course-directory/open-days/ )

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Accreditation and Careers

This programme is quality assured by Middlesex University, and you will receive a Middlesex award upon successful completion. You can view the Middlesex Research Degree Regulations here.

Successful completion of this two-year programme provides enough training and coaching practice hours for you to apply for accreditation through the portfolio route with the European Mentoring & Coaching Council, the International Coaching Federation and various other professional membership organisations. We will support you with this process.

Your skills will give you the depth needed for modern practice in executive, career, leadership development and neurodiversity coaching.

As a graduate, you can use your skills across a portfolio of roles. You set up your own practice during year two and can grow it after you graduate. You might also coach inside an organisation, bring coaching into your current job, start a consultancy or take up an educational role.

Dates 2026-27

Our academic year has three 14-week terms. Winter runs from January to mid-April, Spring from late April to late July, and Autumn from September to mid-December.

If you wish to start the programme in January 2027:

• Your three online theory modules run for ten weeks each: Theories of Personal Change from late January, Existential Perspectives on Human Issues from mid-May and Overview of Research Methods from late September.
• You attend Skills in Existential Coaching as three five-day workshops at our NW London campus.

Your second year contains the five-day Advanced Existential Coaching and Existential Leadership workshop, weekly online group supervision of your coaching practice and work on your research project with your supervisor.