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Introduction

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Location

Headington/ Distance learning

Course Length

Part time: 24 months

Why choose this course?

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Overview

The Applied Coaching Science (MSc) degree at Oxford Brookes is a coach development programme driven by and provided for the development of your coaching practice. The course has been designed in consultation with leading organisations in the sector and aims to develop professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver at the cutting edge of coaching science.

To support the need for high level professional development we have provided a flexible approach to your studies, designed to fit around your current coaching commitments:

 Part-time only, to allow sufficient time and space to successfully complete studies alongside professional roles.
 Blended delivery, which merges online content with face-to-face blocks (2.5 days), this flexibility is to ensure we fit around your professional role(s).
 Professional experience entry requirement (a degree is not compulsory).
 Diverse assessment modes, allowing submission through a range of mediums.
 A staff team of active researchers and high-level practitioners.

Modules

Compulsory modules

• The Action Researcher

This module runs across all three Semesters in Year 2.

In this module, you will improve your ability to design and undertake an action research project, a collaborative, critical and systematic process of instigating transformative change through planned action, observation and reflection, with the goal of advancing your coaching practice in situ.

• The Critical Pedagogue

This module runs in Year 1, Semester 1

In this module you will improve your ability to make informed decisions around the role you play in shaping athlete and student learning.

• The Learning Designer

This module runs in Year 1, Semester 3

In this module you will improve your ability to navigate the complex and messy process of designing practices and employing coaching interventions for skill development and performance.

• The Orchestrator

This module runs in Year 1, Semester 2

In this module you will improve your ability to ‘orchestration’ the complex social dynamics that exists in your context.

• The Performance Practitioner

This module runs in Year 2, Semester 1

In this module you will improve your ability to take a holistic approach to facilitating performance improvement, managed through embedded and explicit interventions.

• The Programme Lead

This module runs in Year 2, Semester 3

In this module you will improve your ability to shape, lead and manage your current and future departments/programmes.

• The Sport Scientist

This module runs in Year 2, Semester 2

In the module you will improve your ability to employ and interpret effective and efficient physical performance diagnostics. In addition, you will develop your toolbox of practical methods to make a performance impact in applied settings.

Entry Criteria

ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.

IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

To successfully complete this programme, applicants are expected to have significant and relevant industry experience in coaching or a related field. In addition, it is essential that applicants are currently engaged in a coaching (or related) role (at voluntary, full-time or part-time levels). Furthermore, it is desirable, although not essential for applicants to hold a first or upper second-class honours degree of a Higher Education Institution.

Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:

 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with 6.5 in Reading and Writing, and 6.0 in Listening and Speaking) is required.

If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.

The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.

The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:

Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.

Assessment

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and assessment

The programme structure and the content offered are balanced across several elements to allow for the development of high-level, theoretically-informed practitioners. Our degree programme will:

 Provide a balanced amount of academic literature with an emphasis on its practical use throughout each module to ensure students develop their ability to engage with, make sense of and critically apply in context.
 Provide students with opportunities to develop both academically and personally, ensuring that whilst becoming theoretically-informed practitioners they are also advancing to achieve their personal goals (such as leadership skills).
 Ensure problem solving and solution finding are at the forefront of the programme design.
 Adhere to each of the Brookes Attributes through the design and delivery of each module (and the programme as a whole) so that we offer learning and teaching that is at the forefront of the field, providing students with an experience of the highest standard possible.
Learning and teaching

The following principles will be adopted by the teaching team in the delivery of the modules:

 An approach driven by problem solving will be adopted in the design of all modules and teaching episodes. Problems will be presented to promote the critical application of theory as the students explore possible solutions. Decision making, creativity and innovation in the student’s practice is at the forefront of our priorities.
 Practice to theory approach. All of our teaching elements and assessments will be initiated through practice, with the application of theory to support the problem solving and sense making process.
 The development of a friendly and close-knit community is crucial. There will be a real focus on collaboration, developing a culture of support and candour.
 In person or virtual coach development mentoring has been built into the course (students Academic Advisors will adopt this role).

Assessment

The course will employ an innovative approach to assessment. The following principles will be adopted by the teaching team:

 All assessments will be designed for the learning and development of the students. To facilitate this, all the assessments will be positioned to help the students' to seek and solve problems located in their practice. At the core of this approach is the quest to understand their world and seek through a process of inquiry (warranted assertiveness) to gain control of their environment.
 A variety of assessment methods will be employed. However, a large proportion of the assessments will allow students to choose their submission mode and method from a variety of options provided. There will be a reduced emphasis on written work whilst maintaining the academic rigour required at level 7.

Research

1. Pedagogy and Coach Development in Sport, Coaching and Physical Education

We are interested in the development of coaches expertise. With a particular focus on the design of learning environments, informed by an understanding of ecological dynamics.

2. Sociology, Culture and Politics in Sport, Coaching and Physical Education

As such, we seek to examine the way that sport, physical activity and physical education are constructed to serve those engaged from participation to performance.

3. Performance Enhancement

Our research contributes to the development and improvement of human performance in competitive sport and exercise through a multi-disciplinary approach. A particular focus of our work is the exploration of the physiological and psychological impact of contrasting training and recovery methods with regard to the preparation and performance of elite sportspeople.

Career Opportunities

Career prospects

The course is positioned as a coach development course, designed to accelerate the learning, development, and most importantly the practice of the coaches who enroll. Students who complete the course and develop the knowledge and skills to enhance their employability within the coaching, teaching and performance sport domains.

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