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BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture

Acupuncture Prospectus 2019-20

Celebrating 30 happy years at the NCAThis year the NCA celebrated our thirtieth anniversary with a full day of fascinating talks followed by a great party, to which all our staff, students and graduates were invited. It was great to see so many NCA people come together, with graduates from our first ever student group mingling with current students.

BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture(weekend and weekday options)

AcupunctureProspectus 2019-20

Contents

Get to know usJoining us for one of our popular introductory events or

informal visits is a great way to decide whether studying

acupuncture at the NCA is right for you.

Keep in touchFollowing us on our social media or reading our monthly blog is a

great way to keep in touch with all that is happening at the NCA.

Or subscribe to our regular e-news updates.

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nca_york

Or call Denise on +44 (0) 1904 343309

Introduction ............................................................................ 4The College ............................................................................ 6 Accreditation and validation ...................................................... 8Introductory events .................................................................. 9Bright futures ........................................................................ 10Becoming an acupuncturist ..................................................... 12What kinds of people study acupuncture? ................................. 14 A typical day in College ........................................................... 16Overview - BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture ..................................... 18Fitting the courses in with your life ........................................... 19How we teach and assess you ................................................. 21A typical day in College ........................................................... 26The curriculum /streams ......................................................... 28Massage qualification at the end of Year 1 ................................. 41Slow pathway ........................................................................ 42Reduced fees and attendance for healthcare practitioners ........... 43 A typical day in College ........................................................... 44Supporting our students ......................................................... 46Entry requirements ................................................................. 50How to apply ......................................................................... 52Fees, funding and student loans ................................................ 53College facilities ..................................................................... 58Acupuncture and the growing evidence base ............................ 60Opportunities abroad ............................................................. 62 Our teaching staff .................................................................. 64Acupuncture teaching faculty .................................................. 66How the College is run ........................................................... 74How to find us ....................................................................... 76

Online videoWherever you see this symbol, follow the link or use the QR code scanner on your smartphone or tablet to watch the short video.

Online referenceWherever you see a QR code, use your scanner app on your smartphone or mobile device to find out more.

@YorkNCANCAYORK

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Introductionfrom our College Principal, Richard Blackwell

This year the NCA celebrated our thirtieth anniversary with a full day of fascinating talks followed by a great party, to which all our staff, students and graduates were invited. It was great to see so many NCA people come together, with graduates from our first ever student group mingling with current students. An inspiring and enjoyable time was had by all, and the day was a great reminder of the wonderful community of graduates, staff and students associated with the College. It was a particular pleasure to hear about how our graduates are doing, and about their successful practices. I like to think of all the patients our graduates have helped over the years, and it’s good to hear that our graduates’ work as practitioners is good for them too. Many of them talked about the value of being in command of their own working lives, and achieving a better work-life balance. For our recent graduates, the good news was that many of them had already built up busy clinics soon after qualifying - you can read more about them on page 10, and you can also follow the NCA blog to keep up with our news and with the stories of our graduates and how they are doing.

Reflecting on the last thirty years, a key point for me is

the College’s steady commitment to high standards,

built on listening to and learning from our students. Last

year we participated for the first time in the National

Student Survey (NSS), and we were very pleased to

receive a score of 95% for overall student satisfaction,

which was better than the score for any UK University.

So we were delighted this year to receive an even better

score of 100% for overall student satisfaction! I’m proud

of the many ways we support our students to succeed,

and I’m pleased that this is so well appreciated. Visitors

to our introductory days frequently comment on the

welcoming and friendly atmosphere here – do come

along and experience this for yourself.

Despite this great result from the NSS we know we can

still improve, and we introduce further developments

to the course every year. A recent example is the

use of actors who come in to class to simulate clinical

interactions with patients. Many students find this a little

daunting at first, but they soon relax into it and find great

value in the opportunity to practise their skills before

using them in clinic. Another example is the videos of

bodywork massage techniques to use in preparation for

an acupuncture treatment, which are now available to

students on our online learning environment.

This thirtieth year is also a year of change for the College,

with our successful transition to a new partnership with

London South Bank University. The University validate

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our BSc in Acupuncture, which means that successful graduates receive their degree from the

University, and we are looking forward to collaborating with them on education and research.

I hope you will be inspired by this prospectus to join the College community and train to become

a successful acupuncturist. You could be there to celebrate our fortieth anniversary with us!

Richard Blackwell, College Principal

The Northern College of Acupuncture changed my life! Thank you so much to all of the wonderful inspirational teachers .

I am one of your first graduates and I am still working in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and about to launch my new Wellness Centre after an amazing 24 years in practice.

Best Wishes

Lynda Sharp

Graduated acupuncture 1994 herbs 1997

Lynda

College Principal Richard Blackwell talks about how we help our students to become great acupuncturists.

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The Northern College of Acupuncture YorkYork is an exciting city and a great place to study! It has a lot to offer including plenty of accommodation, shopping, restaurants, coffee bars, cinemas and all the amenities you would expect. Step out of our front door and you are right in the heart of the historic centre.

The CollegeEstablished in 1988 (we celebrated our 30 years anniversary in 2018) the Northern College of Acupuncture

is an independent teaching College as well as a registered educational charity. Since the early days the

College has gone from strength to strength and we now educate acupuncturists, practitioners of Chinese

herbal medicine, nutrition practitioners and complementary therapists. Our thriving and well respected

teaching clinic offers acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional advice to the local community.

Pioneering We are proud to be pioneers in our industry! We were the first teaching institution of any kind in the UK to

offer a University degree in acupuncture, the first to offer a University degree in Chinese herbal medicine,

and the first to achieve professional accreditation for our acupuncture courses, Chinese herbal medicine

and nutritional therapy courses.

Research focussed

The College has a strong focus on promoting research activity. As well as our MSc programmes, in 1990

we also established our research wing the Foundation for Research into Traditional Chinese Medicine

(FRTCM), having foreseen the need to carry out robust research into the value of these therapies. The

Foundation was originally established as a separate charity and later incorporated into the College (in

2011). We run outcomes research in our teaching clinics and collaborate on larger clinical research

studies with regional Universities.

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Looking to the futureWe are proud of all our achievements over the past 30

years and we are very much looking forward to our next

30 and beyond! Plans include developing courses for

emerging markets in the subject areas where we have

specialist expertise, and strengthening our role as a proudly

independent College. Whatever we do in future, you can

be sure that our students will be at the heart of it!

We offer more!As well as teaching acupuncture we also offer the following courses:

MSc in Chinese Herbal Medicine - a follow on qualification for acupuncture

practitioners.

Our building Beloved by staff, students, graduates and patients the College and clinics are housed in an elegant

Georgian town house with sweeping staircases, high ceilings and airy rooms. It was adapted to our

purpose by the York Conservation Trust in 2000 and houses both the College and the teaching

clinics. We have three large teaching rooms, an extensively

stocked library, IT facilities, kitchen facilities, a small outside area

and a car park for the clinic. The ground floor clinic has treatment

rooms, reception and a waiting area, and there are staff offices and

more treatment rooms on the top floors.

Easy to get to York is on the main East coast train line that links London with

Edinburgh and there are excellent links by rail to every

major city in the country. We are about a 5 minute walk

from the station.

York

Edinburgh

London

Peterborough

Manchester

Glasgow

Aberdeen

Newcastle

MSc in Nutrition Science and Practice - a personalised medicine based

Masters and practitioner training in one course.

Online Masters Courses - three pathways in one programme (acupuncture,

nutrition and complementary therapy) enabling practitioners from all over the

world to gain a Masters qualification.

CPD events - each year we host a variety of CPD events for our alumni in College.

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Accreditation and ValidationOur courses are fully accredited and validated, ensuring your qualification is of the highest standard.

What makes us different from a University?We are an independent College with a special atmosphere and ethos, dedicated entirely to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutrition. We give you a lot of support and nurture

your development towards becoming an acupuncturist. An important part of this is that you will join a dedicated and committed group of students, who give one another mutual support and

encouragement. We are smaller than a University department and you will find that we quickly get to know you as an individual.

Professional accreditation with the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB)Our acupuncture course is

fully accredited by the British

Acupuncture Accreditation

Board (BAAB). This is the

accreditation body for

the British Acupuncture

Council (BAcC) which is

the most widely recognised

professional body for

acupuncture.

Professional Membership with the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)Once you have qualified you will be eligible to apply

for membership of the British Acupuncture Council

(MBAcC) and your patients can be assured that you are

fully qualified to treat them. The BAcC is recognised

by the Professional Standards Authority for Health

and Social Care, which is accountable to parliament.

This means that the public can be further assured

that the BAcC meets high standards in governance,

standard-setting, education and training, management,

complaints and information. The BAcC provides its

members with support at both a national and local level

and many of our students join as student members at

the start of their course. We would encourage you to

find out more about the British Acupuncture Council

and how they can help you as a student, and support

you when you become a practitioner.

Review by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) The Northern College of Acupuncture underwent a Higher

Education Review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher

Education (QAA) and has received its final report.

Office for Students

We’re now registered with the Office for Students.

This is the body set up by act of parliament to act as

the independent regulator for all Universities and HE

providers in England and Wales. We meet the Office

for Students requirements for course quality, academic

standards, student support, student protection and more.

The College has a new

partnership with London

South Bank University

(LSBU), which validates

the BSc in Acupuncture.

Students starting in 2019

will receive their degree

from LSBU on successful

completion of their course.

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Introductory events We take pride in our warm and welcoming College – come and meet us!

Full day Introductory EventsOur full day introductory events are held throughout the year and it is our chance show you what it

is really like being an acupuncture student at the NCA. These events are friendly and informal and a

reflection of how we teach.

On the day you will:

• Look round the College

• See a demonstration of acupuncture

• Find out about the course.

• Hear about the history of the College

• Find out about the latest research into acupuncture

• Have a “Q&A” session with our current students.

• Meet graduates who are in practice

• Have a delicious lunch - an opportunity for everyone to mingle and chat.

Online presentation and Q&A evening events These short online evening sessions are a great opportunity to find out more without leaving your own

home! You will meet our Course Director Lara McClure who gives a short presentation about our

acupuncture courses. One of our graduates joins in to talk about what it’s like to work as a fully qualified

acupuncturist. The most popular part of the session is being able to connect with current students from

different year groups and ask questions about what it is really like to study acupuncture at the NCA!

InterviewsIf you have already sent us your application form you can arrange to have

your interview after the introductory event or informal visit has finished.

This is particularly useful if you are travelling to us from a distance. Just let

us know that this is what you would like to do when you apply.

We warmly invite you to join us on an introductory eventMarketing Manager, Denise Magson 

“Looking at this prospectus will give you a flavour of what it is like to

study acupuncture with us, but nothing beats seeing for yourself!

We encourage all our prospective students to come and meet us

to find out more about our acupuncture courses and our special

College”.

You can book a place on our website, call me on +44 (0)1904 343309 or e-mail: denisemagson@nca.ac.uk

Goodness Benson - Year 1 student “I really enjoyed the open event. I brought my husband as a guest

which worked well because he now understands what I am studying.

I am a visual learner so the acupuncture demonstration was the most enjoyable

part of the day for me. I like to get hands on and I particularly enjoyed the part

where we practised needling an orange. I would highly recommend coming

to an introductory day if you are thinking about studying acupuncture as it will

give you a clear idea of what to expect on the course.”

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Bright futuresA blustery autumn day in October 2018 saw our 27th Graduation Ceremony at the Early Music Centre in York. A joyful (and sometimes emotional) occasion, this is our students’ special day! A day to celebrate all they have achieved in the company of friends and family, and of course with each other. We can’t emphasise enough how the bonds of friendship made during their training nurture and sustain our students through their studies and beyond into practice. This year this was a particularly inspiring day with many of our students telling us about how they are already busy in their acupuncture practices. One thing is for sure – there are bright futures ahead for the class of 2018!

Let’s hear from some of them….

Jane Wood (pictured on left with her friend Andrea)

“Studying acupuncture was a huge change for me.

Giving up my corporate job to firstly become a full-

time student, and then move into self-employment in

a completely different working environment required

a huge leap of faith. But I haven’t regretted it for a moment. Student life

had its challenges, but the family atmosphere at NCA helped to ease the

process. I thought that life would be pretty quiet after leaving college,

but nothing could be further from the truth. I’m working in two clinics, in

Harrogate and York, alongside weekly voluntary work with Leeds Cancer

Care at St James’s Hospital, using acupuncture to ease the side effects of

cancer treatment for men with prostate cancer. And I’m working towards

publication of my third-year research project, with lots of support from

Lara at NCA. This is an unexpected bonus having never thought of myself

as academic! My customer base built up quickly from the start, mainly

through word of mouth. I must admit even I have been surprised at how

quickly people have responded to treatment. It is amazing to be able to

go to work and make such a positive change to people and I am so glad I

became an acupuncturist.”

Melanie Bryan

“After working as a Reflexologist and Massage Therapist for 8 years I felt

like I needed something to progress onto. I googled “acupuncture” and

the NCA came up in the search and that was the start of my acupuncture

journey! I class myself as a practical person, and I was worried I would find

the academic side of my degree a struggle. However I found myself progressing well every year

with the help and support from the College and the friends who I made on the course. My time

studying with the NCA has given me firm roots within this immense subject, and I feel confident

to branch off knowing I have this grounded knowledge with traditional Chinese Medicine. Since

graduating I am continuing working at Nuffield Health Centre in Hull and have a busy clinic

integrating acupuncture with massage. The NCA introduced me to Orchard Barn, an integrative

health centre in Stallingborough, where I now work one day a week building my patient base.

When patients come back after their sessions of acupuncture and say how much better they

are feeling it makes me happy and I instinctively know I am on the right career path. As for the

future, I’m content with where I am now and all I have achieved and pleased with how things

are progressing. I know there are plenty of avenues to explore with acupuncture as I continue to

learn and develop. I truly love my job and look forward to each day feeling extremely lucky that

I have the best tools in my kitbag, through studying with the NCA, which get great results. I am

really thankful that the NCA came first in my search!”

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Gary Carvill

“Studying at the

NCA has been a

fantastic experience.

Although I had no

clinical experience

before starting the course and had not done

anything academic for nearly thirty years the

College staff and my fellow students were hugely

supportive and many have become good friends

and continue to provide support and guidance

after graduation. Studying at the NCA opened

up opportunities to me I would never have

otherwise had such as completing an internship

at a clinic in China and being able to volunteer

to work in India for the charity World Medicine.

Since graduating I have opened a clinic in

Bridlington on the East Yorkshire coast and I

now look forward to going to work. I love the

freedom of being self-employed and the variety

of patients I see makes every day interesting

and the learning continuous. However, the real

buzz is seeing the improvements my patients

experience in their health and the difference this

makes to their lives.”

Laurie Heaps

(Pictured on left with

her friend Nicola)

“As a massage therapist

and therapy rooms

manager for 13 years,

studying acupuncture

seemed like a logical progression. Studying Chinese

Medicine and acupuncture at NCA was like learning

a new language whilst travelling in a foreign country.

It’s a fun and exciting journey with first rate tutors

guiding you through the ups and downs of being an

adult learner. I started practising acupuncture on 2nd

September from a busy Glasgow city centre clinic.

Within three weeks I was busy, with both new and

existing clients keen to try acupuncture. I have learnt

more skills than I ever envisaged and my confidence

in my abilities as a therapist has grown, thanks to the

excellent training I received. The course has given

me the flexibility to combine my new career with

ongoing MSc studies, as I chose my working hours

to suit my priorities. It’s a pleasure to go to work

these days and know the learning never stops. I can

honestly say attending the NCA acupuncture course

is one of the best things

I have ever done.”

Pip Bolland

(Pictured central with her family)

“Starting out in a new career in

my mid-fifties has been a real

privilege. I feel so lucky everyday

to have found this amazing job.

It is something that I have dreamt

about doing for a very long time.

I enjoyed my acupuncture course

and being a student once again.

Although it wasn’t always easy I felt that I was finally on the right path in my

life. I learnt so many new skills and met some wonderful, inspiring people.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the academic challenges and even

grew to love research! But most of all I looked forward to my clinic days.

So I’m finally a fully fledged acupuncturist working from a complementary

health clinic in Skipton town centre. I still have trouble believing that I work

in such a beautiful location. I am gradually building up my patient numbers.

Each new patient has me running back to my books, the research (Lara

you’d be proud!) and of course my acupuncture friends for advice and

support. I enjoy every minute of the work and get an enormous amount of

pleasure seeing the needles work their magic. I have decided to focus on

women’s health and have recently written a piece for the local magazine on

acupuncture and the menopause. Next year I plan to do some CPD around

fertility and become Zita West affiliated. 2019 will be an exciting year with

so much to look forward to as I develop my skills in the most fascinating and

rewarding of jobs.”

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Becoming an acupuncturist Earn a living in a way that engages you as a whole person and is true to your own values.

As an acupuncturist you will work with people to ease their physical, emotional and mental suffering

and make a real difference to their lives. You will find that treating people holistically can catalyse

profound change for themselves and their families. At the same time, you can earn a living in a way

that engages you as a whole person and in a way that is true to your own values, and have a vocation to

be passionate about. By rooting your practice in the traditions and modern developments of Chinese

medicine you will have access to:

• A holistic and sophisticated understanding of the fundamental patterns underlying health and disease.

• A philosophy of interconnectedness which sees each person as a part of the wider world.

• An emphasis on developing the personal qualities of a practitioner.

• A rich and flexible approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Claire Huitson - graduate“I graduated in 2017 and since then I’ve been working

with Teesside University, with their students and staff,

giving them treatments. I’ve also opened my own clinic

in Norton, which has gone amazingly well. I’m so busy

that I was originally only going to open for two days

but am now opened for four. Word of mouth has been

amazing, my Facebook page has really taken off, and

I’ve been getting five star reviews on Google too. I really

didn’t expect to be so busy so quickly but I’m loving it!”

Adeel Munshi (now graduated and practising in Australia) under the guidance of supervisor Tsering Jones

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What styles of acupuncture do you teach?

College Principal Richard Blackwell “At the Northern College we don’t teach just one

style or approach to Chinese medicine, we celebrate

its complexity and diversity. We teach you the

structured approach to Chinese medicine which is

taught at colleges in China and reflected in much

of the literature you will read. Our graduates really

appreciate this when they start to practise. We also

teach you further traditional models and modern

techniques to equip you with a variety of approaches

to diagnosis and treatment. This allows you to

develop your own style and select the approach

best suited to an individual patient, rather than

focusing exclusively on one style of acupuncture. Our

acupuncture course stimulates your development

in many ways. You will experience many new

perceptions, thoughts and feelings. It is hardly

surprising that at the end of our course students tell

us how much they have changed and how positive

that has been.“

What does acupuncture do?

Chinese Medicine Tutor Cheng Hao Zhou

“In Chinese medicine, health is seen as a state of harmony

and balance. To maintain this we need physical and

emotional flexibility, the ability to move with the flow

of life. If we lose this flow, our inner vitality becomes

obstructed or depleted and we become ill. Acupuncture

works to strengthen vitality and unravel the obstructions

which cause ill health. As a practitioner it is possible to

diagnose subtle imbalances to either treat or prevent

disease, and to make sense of illnesses that conventional

medicine often has difficulty treating. Acupuncturists

use a range of highly effective and deep-acting treatment

techniques, including acupuncture, massage, cupping

and moxibustion, that relieve symptoms and treat their

underlying causes, strengthen resistance to disease and

enhance well-being. Also, as balance is restored there

is often a sense of “coming back to oneself”, with the

recovery of a sense of purpose. Acupuncture can be

effective for a wide range of conditions.”

Can I earn a living once I am qualified?

Course Director Lara McClure

“All of your training at the NCA is working towards a goal

– the day you successfully complete your studies and start

your career as a fully trained acupuncturist. As well as all the

practical and theoretical training our acupuncture course

includes teaching on business development. During your

final year you will create your own business plan which

enables you to have a clear direction for your practice once

you have finished your studies. You also learn from the

experiences of other acupuncturists during your practitioner

observation days in years one and two. Once qualified,

our graduates work in a variety of situations including

setting up their own clinics, working within group practices,

multi-bed clinics, GP practices, from home, or offering

mobile services. Some of our graduates have established

relationships with their local hospitals, NHS clinics and

hospices. Graduates who set up on their own and who

actively work at building their practices with commitment

and determination can be busy within six to twelve months.

More typically, most people establish a good steady practice

within two years. Most established practices are sustained

simply by word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied

patients. Once your practice becomes well established you

can earn a good living.”

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What kinds of people study acupuncture?As well as being a small, friendly college with a first-class reputation for its courses – there are many reasons people choose to study and train at the Northern College of Acupuncture (NCA). Every year, the College welcomes students from many diverse backgrounds, from across the UK and beyond, and each student has their own unique reason for wanting to become an acupuncturist. Many people, having had acupuncture themselves and experienced amazing results, are inspired to learn more about this ancient traditional Chinese medicine. Others are guided by an innate desire to help others, to forge a new career, or to add to existing skills. Most often, a combination of these motives is the reason over 30 students every year choose to change their lives by studying at the NCA.

Our students mostly range in age from eighteen to sixty-something and come from many walks

of life. They bring a great deal of life and work experience with them and we all learn from each

other. Our recent acupuncture course cohorts have included:

We find that this cosmopolitan mix creates stimulating and supportive groups of students.

Our students bring a great deal of life and work experience with them, and they all learn

from, and support each other on a common journey to become a fully qualified acupuncture

practitioner with bonds of friendship that carry on into practice and beyond.

• Property developer• Massage therapist• Computer programmer• Nurse • GP• Film maker

• Kung Fu teacher• Policeman• Coach driver• Administration assistant• Model• Hairdresser

• Lawyer• Sixth form student • Care assistant• Bank Manager• Teacher

And many more!

Talk to usWe know that making the decision to change your career is not one that can

be taken lightly. If you would like to talk about how you could become an

acupuncturist - give us a call.

Call our Marketing Manager Denise on

+44 (0)1904 343300 or e-mail Denise at denisemagson@nca.ac.uk

Students Holly Jo and Daisy on their first weeks of study

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Graduate ProfilesOur graduates come from all walks of life, however each year we normally have at least one student who comes from a martial arts background. We will also

have several students who have already completed training in another field of complementary therapy - such as massage therapy or reflexology.

Michael Ranft - graduated in 2017

Michael was working long hours as a teacher in a

secondary school when his life-long interest in the

martial arts brought him to the NCA to retrain as an

acupuncturist - and he’s never looked back!

“Whatever your martial arts background, it’s worth learning about acupuncture because,

at the core, they all share similar traits and philosophies. It’s so important to learn about

the healing part of your martial art. Now I am a fully qualified acupuncturist I actually have

a couple of patients who come to my clinic because of combat sports injuries. I loved the

course and in my opinion all the best acupuncturists in my area trained at the NCA, and it’s

been a brilliant place to learn. It’s more than just learning acupuncture points, or Chinese

theory about health, it’s understanding how that fits with the real world. So, for example,

how do we work with doctors and other care givers? How can we explain what we do, and

how it works, to people who don’t necessarily understand Qi? The course gives you all

this knowledge, and helps you explain it to others. The best bit for me was working in the

clinic with the supervisors and actual patients; that was a huge selling point for studying at

the NCA. Now I am fully qualified I’m so excited about the future. I’m expanding my own

acupuncture business, and aim to have a few more clinics around Northumberland by next

year. And I also have a friend who runs a company called ‘Recovery for Life’, a drug and

alcohol rehab centre. We’re just in the process of me joining their team of acupuncturists. I

genuinely look forward to my days when I’m in clinic, and there’s no Sunday-night dread of

going to work - I’m skipping around the house!”

Helen Game - graduated in 2017

Helen was already working as a complementary therapist when she

decided to add acupuncture to her business - and the decision paid off!

“I had been working as an auriculotherapist after studying with the well-known

practitioner and lecturer Jim Chalmers. I then decided to study more and qualify

for my BSc in Acupuncture, making a huge commitment to travel down to the NCA

in York from Dumfries and Galloway. I started my acupuncture practice in August

2017 and, almost from the beginning, I’ve had a full diary and am booked up many

weeks in advance. My best advertising is word of mouth; I have some local well-

known people whose lives have been transformed through treatment, and they tell

everybody. Being busy is a great position to be in so early on in practice, and bodes

really well for the future. For anyone

considering the course, I would say

‘go for it’ - unimaginable doors and

opportunities will open, you will meet

amazing people and learn from some

of the most inspiring teachers. After

graduating, the best part is reducing

someone’s pain and seeing them

smile again as they go on to live life to

their full, healthy potential. I love my

profession. It’s definitely worth three

years in beautiful York.”Helen was featured in her local

magazine in 2018

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A typical day in College

Difficult points session with our weekday year two studentsWith an important test on point location

coming up the next day, the second year

students are revising some of the more

difficult to find points. The students have

an opportunity to choose some points that

they struggle with and the tutors were

demonstrating them to the class - then

going over them in pairs. Our second year

weekday group are coming to the end of

their second year and will soon be moving

into their third. This means that in clinic

they will be taking responsibility for the

patient consultations and treatment. So it

is very important that, at this crucial stage

of their training, they are comfortable

with their needling techniques and point

location. They can now move into their

third year clinic feeling confident, looking

forward to “stepping up” and leading the

patient treatments in clinic.

“In this session we are revising finding the location of back points. Identifying C7, which can be initially difficult and using this as a landmark to ascertain other acupuncture points. The students are split into pairs and practise point location on each other. The teachers circulate amongst the students and give one to one help and tuition. Finding C7 can be testing for a student but, as you can see from the photo, it can also be fun.”

“I have found the teaching clinics hugely beneficial, it offers you the opportunity to bring

everything you have learnt in class together and at the same time provides you with invaluable patient/

practitioner skills, building both your confidence and interpersonal skills. I am really looking forward

to both leading clinic in year 3 and being part of a team. I have had excellent year 1 and 2 clinical

experiences which will undoubtedly make the transition into third year both positive and exciting.”

Tutor Phil Montgomery (left)

Phil, can you tell us exactly what the students are learning in this session and how you are teaching them?

Caroline Chinn (right)

Caroline, what are you looking forward to in your third year in the teaching clinic? Do you

feel prepared?

16 17

“Lucy and I were looking closely at points on the Small Intestine channel, and reviewing the anatomy of the shoulder. I was showing Lucy an easy way to feel and isolate the scapula with one hand to allow her to palpate more precisely with the other hand to locate the points. In the picture I am using one hand to mark the medial border of the scapula and feeling along the scapula spine to find SI 13. A common mistake that students make is to drop off the corner of the scapula, so using a hand to mark the edge prevents you from going too far and missing the point.”

“These classes are practical hands on sessions. The groups are small and personal which allows me to work on a one to one basis at times to support students, this can be very rewarding for both me and the students.”

“We have a lot of practical “hands-on” sessions in the first year learning all the basic points. We also have regular tests and this is really useful to help us to remember

them. At the end of the first year we have a final points assessment that we have to pass

to go into our second year. In the second year we build on the basics with more points

sessions and in this session we are revising some of the more difficult to locate points which is great because we will need them

for our clinic sessions.”

Tutor Emma Huston Jupp (above left)

Emma, what are you teaching Lucy here?

Tutor Julie Williams (left)

Julie, what do you enjoy most about the points location classes and teaching at the NCA?

Marjana Kojar (right)

Marjana, can you explain to us how your points skills are built during

your first two years?

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Overview - BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture (weekend and weekday options) Our BSc in Acupuncture is a complete three

year practitioner training from scratch leading to

a University degree. The course is designed to

give you plenty of structure and guidance early

on, and you will to grow in confidence and ability

throughout your three years of study. You will

learn a wide range of approaches to acupuncture,

particularly focussed on traditional Chinese

medicine and its treasure chest of diverse methods

of whole-person diagnosis and treatment. A BSc

in Acupuncture demonstrates to your patients that

your training has been at University degree level,

which increases their confidence in you.

Key features:• Our BSc in Acupuncture is a complete three year

practitioner training leading to a degree awarded by

London South Bank University.

• When you qualify you will be eligible to apply for full

membership of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).

• You can choose to study on our weekend or weekday

course. The weekday course is two half days each week

during term time and the weekend course is every other

weekend during term time.

• Eligible students can apply for a student loan to help to

pay the fees and with living costs. You can pay your fees

(or student loan top up fees) by instalments – or in an

annual lump sum with a 2% fee discount.

• You start learning in our teaching clinic right from the start

of your training.

• Attendance in class and clinic is complemented by a series

of online e-learning sessions and home-study.

• A unique feature of this course is its emphasis on

bodywork, with an optional full massage qualification

between years 1 and 2 that enables you to work as a

massage practitioner.

• Our business skills module ensures you have a practical

personal plan to help you to establish your acupuncture

practice as soon as you’ve qualified.

• Health care professionals with a degree in their subject

can be exempt from two modules which means a

reduction in time and fees.

• Students wanting to study part–time can take the course

over more than three years (up to 6 years) and eligible

students can access part-time tuition fee and maintenance

loans.

Most important of all - our mission is to ensure that at the

end of your training with us you will confident to go into

practice and fully equipped to earn a good living making a

difference to people’s lives.

Entry requirements We welcome applications from mature students and those

who do not have a conventional educational background.

We also welcome students coming straight from A-levels.

For more information about eligibility go to page 50. Our

BSc in Acupuncture is also open to you if you already have a

degree.Student Dorette practises moxa techniques

18 19

Fitting the acupuncture course in with your lifeYou can choose between studying at weekends or weekdays

First Year Second Year Third Year

14 weekends, or weekdays over 25 weeks in term time

14 weekends, or weekdays over 25 weeks in term time

14 weekends, or weekdays over 25 weeks in term time

8 days in clinic and 2 days of practitioner observation

17 days in clinic and 3 days of practitioner observation

20 days in clinic

Typically your study

week will consist of time

in class at the College,

time in our teaching

clinic (open Monday to

Saturday), e-learning at

home and home study.

A guide for home study

is 2 hours of home study

for each hour in class

or clinic.

Attendance on our weekend course The weekend acupuncture course is taught at weekends – approximately every

other weekend during term time (14 weekends in all). There is also e-learning that

you undertake at home in your own time, and which is also counted towards your

attendance. The weekend course starts in early October and finishes in June with a

long break from classroom learning over the summer and a short break over Christmas

and Easter.

Classroom sessions run from 10.00am - 6.00pm on Saturday and 9.30am -

5.30pm on Sunday

Course attendance summary

Attendance on our weekday course The weekday acupuncture course is taught during the week - two half days each week during

term times (25 weeks in all) plus five extra half days over the year. There is also half a day of

e-learning each week that you undertake at home in your own time, and which is also counted

towards your attendance. The weekday course starts in early October and finishes in June.

You have a long break from classroom learning over the summer, a short break over Christmas

and Easter, and a half-term break each term.

For the course starting in 2019 weekday teaching will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with

five extra mornings on Mondays spread through the year.

Classroom sessions will run from 10am to 1:30pm.

20 21

Clinic daysIn addition to the classroom teaching, you will gain clinical experience both in our teaching clinic here at the College and visiting other practitioners near to you.

The NCA teaching clinic is open Monday to Saturday. Clinic days are scheduled well in advance and

arranged in two “blocks” with our courses administrator Linda Johnson. Ideally each block is the same

day each week for a series of consecutive weeks. Student preferences are taken into account.

Year 1 8 days in the NCA clinic (please note that 3 of these days are between October and January)

and 2 practitioner observation days with practitioners of your choice.

Year 2 17 days in the NCA clinic and 3 practitioner observation days with practitioners of your

choice.

Year 3 20 days in the NCA clinic.

Talk to usIf you have any questions about our BSc in Acupuncture (weekend and weekday) and your options

please do not hesitate to call us.

Call our Marketing Manager Denise on +44 (0)1904 343309

or e-mail Denise at denisemagson@nca.ac.uk

Carole Cook - graduate“I fitted in the BSc in Acupuncture with my part

time work and bringing up a young family. I had

a lot of juggling but it was manageable as long

as I organised my time well. However, it was

hugely rewarding, I really enjoyed the course

and feel excited about my new career.”

Clinic Stream Leader Lynne Hampson observing Rikke Wagnes

(now graduated) in clinic.

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Karen Johnson – Year 3 student “I really like the e-learning as it is both convenient

and flexible. Moodle has several handy features

including being able to download sessions and

listen and learn whilst doing daily activities,

download and store for the future, and also go

back and revise when you want to.”

How we teach you via e-learning Part of your course is delivered by e-learning - a series of lectures and demonstrations that

you access at home via your computer. These sessions are lively and interactive - don’t worry

if you have not accessed this kind of learning before, you will receive all the support and

help you need to use our online resources confidently. Each session has a ‘live’ period of one

to two weeks, during which you can complete the session at home, at a time that suits you,

answering a series of questions that will demonstrate your attendance and your understanding

of the material. The tutor will be online periodically during the week to provide feedback and

answer questions. Once the ‘live’ period has finished, the session remains available to watch,

for revision purposes, throughout the duration of the course.

Home studyFor every hour of directed study (i.e. classroom and e-learning) you need to factor in two

hours of home study. This includes a variety of activities such as further reading, writing

assignments, exam revision, practising point location and massage techniques.

How we teach and assess you BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture

Our acupuncture course combines a number of different ways of learning including classroom teaching, e-learning at home, practising in our teaching clinic and home study.

How we teach you in the classroomThere is classroom contact time which includes some presentation of material by

tutors but is mostly either hands on practical classes or interactive time on theory

when you work on exercises and case studies in class and discuss with your fellow

students and tutors.

22 23

How we teach you in our clinicOur BSc in Acupuncture (weekend and weekday) course has an integrated approach,

ensuring that everything you learn in class is backed up with practical experience. Right

from the start you will be working in our busy and vibrant clinic here at the College

alongside our clinic supervisors and your fellow students. In the first year you will spend

eight days in clinic, three of them in the first term, so expect to get “hands on” from early

on. In the second and third years your clinic days increase to seventeen and twenty

respectively. In the first year you will be observing, assisting and learning from your

peers and clinic supervisor and halfway through the second year you will start to do some

simple needling. From the beginning of the third year you will be beginning to make

decisions about treatment and administering the acupuncture, and towards the end of

your final year you will be confident in leading the consultations and treatments. This may

seem a little daunting at first, but don’t worry -

Students in clinic with Supervisor Brendan O’Sullivan

Graduate Carlos Lewis is using the NCA clinic computer

all our teaching, practice and support come together to ensure that you have the skills

and tools you need to meet the various milestones in clinical practice. Our dedicated

clinic supervisors are experienced practitioners who will help you every step of the way

to put your learning of theory and skills into practice, building up to the end of the third

year when you will be a confident acupuncturist practising with minimal supervision.

Clinic days are scheduled well in advance and student preferences are taken into

account.

22 23

Tam Nortley - graduate “The clinic was invaluable for learning, and the

inspiration it gave me during the course was equally

valuable. The patients and supervisors challenged

my understanding each step of the way and gave

me directions to get back to the books and reflect.

I am incredibly grateful for the knowledge of the

supervisors, and having attended under all of them

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn

from their very individual approaches. Now I am

a practising acupuncturist I fully appreciate the

amazing teaching and experience I gained. I can’t

big up the clinic enough!”

Sam Milner - recent graduate“I like the way the course is split between practical

and theoretical material and the way that we are

assessed in the skills we will use as practitioners.

For example in year one there are lots of point

location and practical skills assessments that help to

consolidate these areas and give you a foundation

of knowledge to build on throughout your training.”

How we assess you:As part of your learning you will undertake a wide variety of

assessments which allow different students to show their individual

strengths.

Some assessments are formative, meaning that they are designed to

help you to gauge your progress through the course but they do not

attract a mark that counts towards your degree. Other assessments are

summative, meaning that they do attract a mark that counts towards

your degree.

Each assessment is relevant to you as a future practitioner.

Assessments include:

• Case-based examinations

• Case studies relating to bodywork and to patients seen in the acupuncture clinic

• Posters and brief informal presentations of these

• Reflective accounts of your work in clinic

• Annual personal development plans

• An anatomy and physiology workbook

• A literature critique

• Short practical tests of competence in clinical skills, point location and bodywork

• Clinical competence logs and clinic supervisors’ assessments

• A business plan

• A research project

24 25

Preparing for studyAs well as coming from a wide range of backgrounds, our students have a variety of academic qualifications and experiences. Some of you may not have studied for a while, or not have much previous academic study experience. During the first year of our BSc in Acupuncture we will help you to gain the academic skills you need to succeed on the course and there is extra help if you need it from our study support tutors. However, you can help yourself to prepare in advance for studying with us - in a variety of ways.

IT skills

If your IT skills are a bit rusty, or you have not worked much with IT, we recommend you

take a basic IT course such as CLAIT or ECDL. You can access these courses online or

get in touch with your local Further Education College to see what they have on offer.

Not only will you find enhanced IT skills useful on the course but they will stand you in

good stead when you are running your own business as a fully qualified acupuncture

practitioner.

Reading

Our suggested reading list has a variety of books recommended by our tutors to help

you to find out more about acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. You can read

these as a way of helping to decide whether studying acupuncture is right for you, or to

help you to prepare for study with us. If you are excited and interested in what you read

then you know you are on the right track.

Paul Davison Year 1 student “I am from a military background and hadn’t done much

academic study before, so the NCA’s advice about online

courses was very helpful . I took a couple of free courses in

the year before I started at the NCA including the

courses.org “Learning how to learn” which helped me to

recognise how I learn and put strategies into place. Now I

have started I am glad that I did this and would highly

recommend looking into what’s available and choosing the

right preparation course(s) for you.”

Introduction to academic learning

If you are returning to study after a long break or have English as a second language, you

may have concerns about being ready to study at university level. There are some free

online courses which you may like to study, before coming to the NCA, or within your first

year here.

Taking an A level or GCSE

Taking an A level or GCSE is a good way to get back into academic study and your local

Further Education College will probably provide A level and GCSE as night classes. We

suggest Human Biology as a useful area of study – however any subject will get the grey

matter working and get you back into study mode.

Getting hands on

Taking an introduction to bodywork course or another complementary discipline such

as aromatherapy can be a great way of learning how to work with people in a healing

environment.

24 25

Graduate Profiles

Lots of our students fit in their acupuncture careers around family

life. Our graduate Lindsay Fieldhouse not only started a family

during her acupuncture training but also attained a First!

Lindsay Fieldhouse – graduated in 2017

“When I started the BSc, I set myself an unofficial

goal of getting a first but I didn’t quite believe

it was possible. In the past, I’ve never pushed

myself academically, I’ve just relied on my natural

intelligence, but with this course I thought ‘I really

want this’. This was my future, and I really put myself

into it. I did a lot of research, read lots around the

subjects for the assignments, and looked at a lot

of the classics, and I think this all really helped and

I ended up with a First! For anyone considering

studying at the NCA, I’d say ‘absolutely, go for it!’ This course changes you as

a person. I grew up thinking success was working for a large company but now

being self-employed is one of my greatest achievements. As an acupuncturist you

can work what hours you want, there’s so much flexibility. I have 2 clinics within

Wetherby and Tadcaster and it’s been great to be able to fit my practice around

my young family and work with others in their practices. Acupuncture involves

a lot of problem solving and creative thinking, when you add that to the human

connections you make with people it brings me a lot of joy. It’s taken me nearly

40 years to find my calling, but it’s been worth waiting for, I can

finally say, I love my job.”

Some of our graduates see a wide variety of patients in

their practices and some focus on one group of patients and

develop a specialty, like our graduate Fiona who specialises in

fertility and runs a well-respected multi-disciplinary clinic in

Edinburgh.

Fiona Woolfenden – graduated in 1996

“I became an acupuncturist because I felt

Western medicine wasn’t answering all

the questions. I originally did a university

degree, trained as a nurse and worked on

the wards. I felt there was a gap though,

there just wasn’t enough preventative

medicine, not enough lifestyle

interventions and I found that I didn’t

want to continue in that system. When I qualified as an acupuncturist,

working in my specialty of infertility just evolved. I started to see more

clients coming through with gynae or fertility issues, so decided to offer it

more as a specialism. People with fertility issues tend to be very motivated,

and that’s not always the case in other patient groups. I now work

alongside other practitioners in our Edinburgh clinic and we offer a holistic

treatment package of acupuncture, massage and nutrition. Seeing so many

patients become pregnant over the years is very satisfying personally and

professionally.”

26 27

A typical day in College Clinic day with Lynne Hampson supervising Third year student Rikke and first year student Caroline are working with Clinical Stream Leader Lynne Hampson during one of their clinical practice days here at the NCA teaching clinic. We take great pride in giving our students a practical clinical training and experience, and our acupuncture courses are designed so that everything that you learn in class you then practise in our busy clinic on real patients. We gradually build your clinical expertise throughout your three years - from your first day’s observation, through your second year when you are getting more hands on, to your third year when you will be leading the consultations and treatments and right through to becoming a fully-fledged acupuncturist! In clinic you are taught and guided by our team of clinical supervisors who care about our students and their progress, and who all bring their own personal skills and expertise to their sessions.

Tell us about students’ progress in clinic and how this actually works? Clinical Stream Leader Lynne Hampson “In our teaching clinic all our students are individually supported

and assessed and during this particular session I am “light touch”

supervising Rikke who is coming towards the end of her training,

and encouraging Caroline in her first year. Here at the NCA we

recognise that each student progresses at their own pace. We

have small numbers of students in clinic and we get to know the

students as individuals, give individual attention to each student,

and monitor their progress throughout their three years in clinic.

I love the interaction with the patients and the students and clinic

days are always challenging but thoroughly rewarding. Students

enjoy the clinic as it brings together all the theory and practice

from the classroom; they get to see how it all comes together.”

“I am assisting Rikke by selecting the correct size of needle to pass to her and I am observing the needling technique being used after assisting Rikke to locate the point. One of the surprises in clinic is how much you learn from fellow students. The third years have been more than happy to share their knowledge and experience and have encouraged me to develop my skills by getting me involved in the consultation. In the second year I am really looking forward to becoming more hands-on, beginning to needle and putting some of the theory into practice, and to building up my bank of clinical knowledge by seeing more cases. I have seen successes during my time in clinic this year and one that particularly comes to mind is successfully treating a patient with shoulder pain who said she wouldn’t be able to continue working in her physically demanding job if she didn’t have treatment.”

Caroline Wardropper (left) - What are you

doing and how has your first year in

clinic been?

26 27

“One of the perks of working in the College is that I can access acupuncture treatments! As the IT Administrator I work most of the day on a computer and sometimes this leads to neck stiffness. I manage this with a combination of acupuncture and tuina Chinese massage - treatments that I receive in the clinics, and this really helps to keep things under control. I also really like to see how the students and staff, whom I am supporting with their IT needs, work together for the benefit of their patients. In this instance - me!”

Patient Dave Laverick - How was the treatment from the patient’s perspective?

“In preparation for opening our own clinic, the main focus in the third year is getting us ready for treating patients and overcoming as many fears and obstacles as possible under supervision. In the photo on the left, Lynne is explaining the importance of direction of needle and technique, demonstrating the needle insertion of this particular point. Clinic is the best part of my training, and where I feel the most confident. Having had the chance to practise and be part of such a wonderful team, has made me confident and ready. There are many highlights during my three years, and all due to the co-operation of the team.”

Rikke Wagnes (left) - Can you tell us about your experience in clinic during your training?

28 29

The acupuncture course curriculum

BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture A series of integrated “streams” run throughout the course building your knowledge and confidence as you progress.

Course Director, Lara McClure “A series of “streams” runs through all three years of the acupuncture

course. The streams are integrated into the various modules so that

you encounter the subject matter woven together into a greater

whole, which is how you will experience it in clinic. Each year the

streams build on what you have already learnt. You will establish

the strong foundations that you need and then as you continue

throughout the years you will add layers of detail and diversity to build

a broad repertoire of skills and knowledge, so that by the end of the

third year you are ready to go into practice with confidence, ability

and enthusiasm.”

The Streams

Gaynor Grozier - graduate “The College is a fantastic place to learn,

develop and grow on an academic and

personal level; the tutors are fantastic

and pivotal to the College’s success.

The points, needling, pulse and tongue

diagnosis teaching are second to none.”

28 29

The Streams

Chinese Medicine

In order to achieve the best results for your patients you need to be able to make a diagnosis which leads you to

the choice of the best treatment for each individual. Chinese medicine is a series of theories and models which

are founded on many centuries of in-depth exploration of mind and body, combined with careful observation of

the underlying forces and patterns of the natural world. You will begin by learning these fundamental theories,

including yin and yang and the five phases (often called the five “elements”) and how they combine to produce

richly textured descriptions of health and disease.

Next you will learn to apply these principles to real cases, which enables you to make a detailed diagnosis of the imbalances that produce symptoms and cause disease.

The diagnostic process draws on many sources of information, including what the patient tells you about their

experience of their symptoms and their feelings, and your observation of the patient and examination of their

tongue and pulse. You will learn to see the underlying patterns revealed by this information, and hence you will

be able to draw on the accumulated experience of two millennia of clinical practice in China to choose the best

treatment for each patient to restore balance, resolve symptoms and promote health.

We teach you this material using case studies from the very start, so that your learning of the theory is always

closely tied to clinical reality. You will learn to recognise simple patterns of imbalance very quickly and then

you will build layers of detail onto these solid foundations so that by the third year you are able to work out the

diagnosis and appropriate treatment for the most complex of cases.

Chrissie Thomas - recent graduate

“On the Chinese Medicine stream

I totally love Don Clarke’s sessions

because he has a brilliant way of

teaching. His analogies have been

very helpful to me in understanding

Chinese Medicine.”

30 31

Chinese Medicine / Year 1

In year 1 this stream delivers the basics of Chinese medicine acupuncture theory. It is aimed at providing the building blocks of Chinese medicine that you will rely upon throughout the course and on into your own practice. The first year includes:

• Fundamental concepts including yin and yang and the energetic role of the internal organs

• Diagnosing simple patterns of disharmony, including deficiency, stagnation and pathogenic factors

• Energetic effects of foods, emotions and environmental factors, and how these and other causes lead to illness

• Traditional and modern aspects of Chinese medicine

Chinese Medicine / Year 2

In year 2 this stream examines the patterns of disharmony in detail to ensure that you are confident in your ability to identify and diagnose these patterns. At this stage you will begin to think about formulating the best treatment for an individual patient. The first half of the second year includes:

• Making a precise diagnosis of the energetic imbalances present in your patient by identifying the patterns of disharmony which cause ill health

• Using a variety of diagnostic frameworks

• Questioning, reading the pulse, observing the tongue, face and body language

• Emotional and spiritual aspects of disharmony

• Understanding the causes of disharmony and how illness develops

In the second half of year two the Chinese medicine stream is closely integrated with the Biomedicine stream in a module called Clinical Reality 1. This prepares you for the realities of practice where patients will arrive at your clinic with a Biomedicine diagnosis already in place, and will often be receiving medication or other conventional treatment. Also, when necessary on occasion you will be able to identify a need to refer a patient back to their doctor. The integrated module includes:

• Diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for a range of diseases and conditions, from both Chinese and Western perspectives

• Work with case histories to explore the diagnosis and management of complex cases

• Emotional and spiritual dimensions of acupuncture and Chinese medicine

Chinese Medicine / Year 3

In year 3 of the course this stream helps you to apply the Chinese medicine knowledge you have acquired by looking at specific diseases including those that are more difficult to treat. You will become confident in your ability to diagnose and treat complex cases in readiness for practice. This year includes the Clinical Reality 2 module, which builds on Clinical Reality 1 and again integrates Chinese and Biomedicine approaches, covering:

• Continuing study of the Chinese and Western perspectives on a range of more complicated diseases and conditions

• Diagnosis and management, and treating alongside orthodox medication

• Exploration of detailed case histories, making subtle distinctions between similar imbalances and formulating comprehensive treatment plans

• Working with the patterns of disharmony in creative and flexible ways, responding to each patient as an individual

• Collaborative and inter-professional working

30 31

Biomedicine for Acupuncturists

In the Biomedicine stream you will learn the anatomy and physiology you need to work with the body using both acupuncture and bodywork techniques, and you will learn how conventional medical science understands illness and the effects of acupuncture. Later in the course you explore the biomedical approaches to the major disease categories, in order to understand treatments and outcomes and refer patients when appropriate. This training enables you to practise acupuncture safely, competently and appropriately. It also opens avenues for co-operation with other medical practitioners, and helps you to be aware of the choices available to your patients.

Biomedicine for Acupuncturists / Year 1

At the end of year 1 there is an introduction to this stream, leading into a period of guided home study of anatomy and physiology.This is done using our own workbook.

Biomedicine for Acupuncturists / Year 2

This stream plays a major role in the first half of year 2. You will learn to identify ‘red flags’ preparing you to be a safe practitioner and you will gain confidence in dealing with biomedicine terminology in the teaching clinic and later in your own practice. You will cover:

• Fundamentals of physiology and pathology in biomedicine

• Introduction to diagnostics, investigations, management, and treatment interventions

• Basic pharmacology, drug management issues and referrals

• Physiological mechanisms and effects of acupuncture

A second third year module, Clinical Complexities looks at the treatment of conditions which are particularly complex to diagnose and treat. These often have multiple causes and patients may be taking powerful medication. You will learn treatment approaches that draw on the diversity of theory and practice within Chinese medicine. You will cover:

• Metabolic and endocrine conditions, auto-immune disorders, ME and chronic fatigue and conditions which are difficult to diagnose in Biomedicine

• Case study research and using the evidence base to inform your practice

• Approaches from five phase (five “element”) and Japanese acupuncture traditions

• Introduction to acupuncture for children

• Introduction to electro-acupuncture

Brig Ashton - Year 3 student “As a nurse of many years I especially enjoy

the Chinese Medicine module which has

given me a clear understanding of how the

body functions according to the Chinese

principles. This also sits well with my own

values, in particular treating the whole

person and not just the symptom.”

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Personal and Practitioner Development

The Chinese tradition has always recognised that an important aspect of treatment is the qualities of the practitioner themselves. The development of empathy and mindfulness, a subtle awareness of oneself and others, an inner focus and a calm mind and spirit, have always been central to the development of practitioners in the East and this stream enables you to experience ways of cultivating these qualities in yourself.This stream also enables you to develop your reflective skills and ethical awareness, because good practitioners never stop learning, and part of the secret of that is to keep asking yourself questions: “how did that consultation go?”, “is there anything I could have done differently?”, “what is the best thing for this patient?” It’s also crucial to be able to establish a good relationship with your patients, and you will improve your communication skills and ability to work with feelings, and learn ways of understanding and optimising the psychological dynamics between practitioner and patient.

You will also practise your consultation skills incrementally in each year of the course in staged encounters with simulated patients played by experienced actors. Our students tell us that this experience is invaluable in preparing them for clinical work with real patients.

Personal Development Planning (PDP) will enable you to be reflective in your approach to learning, and this element continues to feature in each year of the course.

Personal and Practitioner Development/Year 1

In year 1 of the course the PPD stream looks at key issues that practitioners face during the consultation and you learn important communication skills. You will also learn about self-maintenance to help you to apply good habits of self-care as a student. The stream covers:

• Developing the personal and interpersonal skills you need as a practitioner

• Approaching patients with respect and compassion

• Observing the patient-practitioner relationship in clinic

• Psychotherapeutic models for understanding the patient-practitioner relationship

In the second half of year two the biomedicine stream is closely integrated with the Chinese medicine stream in a module called Clinical Reality 1, as discussed above. This integration helps to ensure that your learning is clinically relevant and prepares you well for communicating with and referring to other medical practitioners.

Biomedicine for Acupuncturists / Year 3

In year 3 of the course this stream is again interwoven with Chinese medicine principles, ensuring the integration of the two as you study further diseases and conditions. This integration provides an important holistic approach to treatment and a deeper understanding of Chinese medicine and biomedicine disease processes.

Amanda Gordon - Year 2 student“I particularly enjoy being able to study both Chinese

medicine and biomedicine modules as part of the

course. We learn in detail about the anatomy and

physiology of different conditions and how they

are treated in a Western medicine context. It is really

robust content and makes all the difference to be able

to interpret and treat patients conditions in clinic.”

32 33

• Reflecting on your experiences, making professional judgements and acting ethically in the best interests of your patients

• Eastern and Western traditions of self-maintenance, self-development and inner knowledge, including mindfulness, Qi Gong and medical NLP

• Breathing, visualisation and meditation

Personal and Practitioner Development/Year 2

In year 2 of the course you will explore in detail various elements of the therapeutic relationship, and employ your reflective skills in the teaching clinic. Self-maintenance practice continues and you gain further insight into how these practices and techniques can help your future patients as well as yourself. Personal Development Planning continues. The second year includes:

• Dealing with disability and bereavement

• Anxiety, depression and mood disorders

• Ethics in practice

• Deepening your awareness of mindfulness and reflection as the basis of good professional judgement

Personal and Practitioner Development/Year 3

In year 3 you will be deeply reflective on your time spent in the teaching clinic and you will continue to develop your PDP with a view to the transition from student to practitioner. You will begin to look at how the mindfulness and medical NLP self-maintenance techniques you learnt during the first two years of the course can be used in your own practice to help your patients. You will be confident in your ability to establish a therapeutic relationship and to reflect upon critical incidents that you may experience in the clinical setting. Information regarding supervision and continuing professional development is vital as you prepare to start your own practice upon completion of the course.

• Further development of inter-personal and communication skills

• Giving individualised advice on diet and lifestyle

• Most recent developments in the field of ethics; how to maintain an ethical practice including complex understanding of ethical dilemmas and contradictions

Laura Biddle - graduate “The professional development tutor

has really helped me to develop skills in

reflective thinking and learning.”

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Bodywork for Acupuncturists

A special feature of our BSc in Acupuncture is the emphasis on developing high quality hands on skills. These develop your awareness of qi, your skills at diagnosis through touch, and your ability to give appropriate and effective treatment. Through building these skills and sensitivities, you grow in understanding and confidence, and you develop as a practitioner. You will be able to treat your patients using a powerful combination of bodywork approaches with acupuncture. This is a practical hands on stream and the classroom teaching takes place in small groups of about six students to each tutor.

Bodywork for Acupuncturists / Year 1

In year 1 of the course you begin to understand the basics of touch/massage and explore various massage techniques including channel palpation. This introduction aims at building confidence and providing you with the basic skills you need to begin to understand pain and painful conditions.

• Basic theories of bodywork - appreciating the bodily landscape

• Basic bodywork techniques - massage and acupressure techniques

• Qi Gong and the importance of posture

• Sensitive diagnostic and therapeutic touch

• Treatment of muscles and channels

• Optional massage qualification course over the summer (see page 45)

Optional massage qualification

During the summer between the first and second years of the course there is an opportunity to complete a standalone Therapeutic Massage Certificate Course over two weekends at the college. This is taught by the same teaching team that deliver all our bodywork sessions, and is designed to build on the skills learned in the Year 1 Bodywork for Acupuncturists module. The Certificate enables you to obtain professional liability insurance as a Therapeutic Massage Practitioner, which our students tell us is a great way of building a client base in advance of qualifying as an acupuncturist.

Bodywork for Acupuncturists / Year 2

In year 2 of the course you build upon your knowledge and look at pain and its diagnosis and treatment in greater detail and sophistication. Teaching is further aimed at building confidence in the explanation of bodywork to patients, taking into account body sensitivities, experience of pain and expectations of outcomes. You will apply your bodywork skills in the teaching clinic and gain valuable insight into the integration of massage and acupuncture in the treatment of pain.

• Using sensitive touch to diagnose musculoskeletal pain and other conditions

• Detailed study of a range of bodywork and acupuncture approaches to the treatment of painful conditions

• Qi Gong and the basics of tuina (Chinese deep tissue massage, pronounced “twee-nah”)

• Gua Sha

Sam Parsons - graduate “I really loved bodywork and points as I learn better

“hands-on”. The teaching was really lively and enjoyable.”

Sam Dale - Year 3 student “After a full weekend of points location,

Chinese medicine and pulse diagnosis

- nothing beats a relaxing massage in a

bodywork class!”

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Clinical Education and Skills

The teaching clinic is at the heart of the College and this stream is at the heart of the course. This is where everything you are learning comes together to benefit patients. You attend clinic from early in the first year and your learning in clinic goes through a series of phases. All the rest of the course is constructed so that you learn what you need at the right time for each phase of your clinical experience. Chinese medicine is based on centuries of clinical experience, and theory and practice are closely linked.

This stream includes some classroom-based learning of clinical skills together with time spent in clinic and observing practitioners. The classroom teaching takes place in small groups of about six students to each tutor.

Most of your time during this stream will be spent in our excellent teaching clinic at the College, which is open every week of the year and serves our local community. You work in clinic with a clinical supervisor who is a highly experienced practitioner, and a small group of typically four or five other students from all years of the course. Students love their time in clinic and no wonder, this is what it’s all about! You will quickly become actively engaged in relating to patients, contributing to their treatment, and discussing with other students and the supervisor the diagnosis and the best ways to treat each patient. As you progress through the course you move on to needling points and then to giving the full treatment and gradually taking increasing responsibility for patients, all under the protective wing of your supervisor.

Clinical Education and Skills/Year 1

You begin your clinical work in your first year, just observing at first but soon engaging in talking to patients, attempting pulse and tongue diagnosis, and assisting in the running of the clinic.

• Moxibustion and cupping are learnt in class and then applied in clinic

• You learn basic needling skills in class

• Advising patients on diet and lifestyle

• Safe and ethical practice

• Using basic skills in the clinic

Clinical Education and Skills/Year 2

By the beginning of the second year you are not just observing, you are actively engaged in treating patients in our clinic with preparatory massage, cupping and moxibustion. Later in the second year you begin to needle some acupuncture points and you progress to providing full treatments with acupuncture. Nearer the end of the second year you begin to take personal responsibility for patients, with close support from our clinical supervisors. In this way, your hands-on clinical experience informs and enriches your learning throughout the course.

• Actively treating patients in our teaching clinic, under careful supervision

• Practising point location and pulse and tongue diagnosis in clinic

• Clinical skills: including case taking and patient management

• Making sense of a case - diagnosis and treatment strategy

• Ear acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and deepening your learning of needling techniques

Bodywork for Acupuncturists / Year 3

In year 3 you continue to develop your bodywork skills with a strong focus on the integration of learned bodywork techniques with your needling skills. You will learn advanced massage techniques that will allow you to confidently treat painful conditions in the teaching clinic and later in your own practice.

• Advanced physical assessment and integrated treatment strategies

• Further theory, application and techniques for musculoskeletal problems

• Maintaining yourself - Qi Gong and meditative approaches, being self-reflective

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Clinical Education and Skills/Year 3

In year 3 your clinical skills teaching focuses on building your confidence by providing the opportunity to practise ‘difficult points’ and advanced needling skills in supervised practical sessions. In clinic you are now acting as primary practitioner for your allocated patients, delivering full treatments under supervision and with assistance from students from years one and two. There is careful support for you as you take increasing responsibility for the care and treatment of your patients, with increasingly “light touch” supervision as you build your confidence and ability to practise autonomously.

• Further development of your diagnostic skills, taking the cases of new patients yourself

• Taking new patients from diagnosis through the whole treatment process, fine-tuning your diagnosis and choice of best treatment

• Further development of inter-personal and communication skills

• Applying sophisticated needle techniques

• Ensuring safe practice and preparing to set up in practice yourself

• Applying your learning to the realities of clinic, consolidating your understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, and preparing to practise with confidence and ability on your own

Research

This stream is focussed on clinical relevance - what do you need to know about research that will benefit you and your patients when you are in practice? So you will look at published research which is relevant to what you are learning in the rest of the course. You will learn to evaluate research studies and to understand and interpret a wide range of research methods, and you will acquire some research skills of your own. We think it is essential that some practitioners are actively involved in appropriate research into acupuncture.

Research/Year 1

In year 1, the research stream establishes its main focus which runs through the three years of the course: equipping you to become a research-literate practitioner. We also begin to develop students’ presentation skills; this is then picked up in CM in year 2 and the business stream in year 3. Year 1 sessions look at:

• The concept of Evidence-Based Medicine and acupuncture’s place within it

• Searching techniques and the fundamentals of literature review

• Critical approaches to the evidence base for acupuncture

• The philosophical underpinning of acupuncture research

Research/Year 2

In year 2, research sessions focus on the investigation and treatment of the range of diseases and conditions studied in the second year. Year 2 sessions look at:

• Research relating to acupuncture as a treatment option for pain conditions

• Introduction to outcome measures in both quantitative and qualitative research

• The case study as a medium for research

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Research/Year 3

In year 3, the research stream receives a bigger slice of the schedule and each student has the opportunity to explore different methodologies in order to identify those that best resonate with their own personality as a practitioner. A research project is completed, with a choice between a literature review and a proposal for a larger-scale research study. Year 3 sessions look at:

• Formal introduction to a comprehensive range of extant and emergent methodological models to be found in research into acupuncture, including surveys, clinical trials and mixed methods

• Data analysis options in both quantitative and qualitative research

• Study design and tools for assessing quality in published research

• High quality and ground-breaking examples of research into the efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture

• The spectrum of literature review techniques and the concepts of systematic review and meta-analysis

• The context for acupuncture research both within the discipline and within the wider world of clinical research

Business Skills

To succeed as a practitioner you need to be able to establish a successful practice and to communicate the value of what you do. In the business skills module you will learn about business planning, marketing, finances, legislation and regulations. You will produce your own business and marketing plan to ensure that you graduate feeling confident to start your own practice. Your plan will ensure you don’t leave anything to chance. You will receive helpful insights from graduates who are currently practising as well as learning from the expertise of our Business Skills Stream Leader.

Business Skills/Year 1

In the first year you will begin to articulate your vision of your future practice, and to work out the steps you need to take to achieve it.

Business Skills/Year 2

In the second year you will begin to consider marketing and practice building and you will explore the value of research informing your marketing.

Business Skills/Year 3

In your final year you will learn about necessary aspects of finance and marketing, and interfacing with other health professionals. You will also practise giving a presentation to different groups,e.g.; GPs, midwives, WI, young farmers etc. Crucially and most usefully you will produce your own business plan to help you establish your own practice when your finish the course.

Jane Wood - recent graduate“I love the Research Stream! It’s great to be to tell people

how well acupuncture stands up against other treatments

and how to explain this in terms that other people

understand. Lara is so enthusiastic about her stream and

really brings this subject to life during the lessons. Most

of the teachers at the NCA are practitioners and I love the

way they weave their personal experiences of treating

patients into their theory lessons.”

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Philosophy and Context

This stream is taught in a series of inspiring sessions designed to open windows onto the philosophies and historical developments which underpin Chinese medicine and give it such depth. The aim is to help you to understand the context for the material you are studying.

Philosophy and Context/Year 1

In year 1 of the course this stream includes a variety of fascinating topics including the historical evolution of Chinese medicine and acupuncture both in China and the West. You also explore cultural influences, Eastern philosophies, and the classical texts of Chinese medicine.

Philosophy and Context/Year 2

In the second year you are introduced to some of the traditional concepts relating to emotions and spiritual qualities. You also have an introduction to the complex meanings buried within some key Chinese characters relevant to Chinese medicine.

Philosophy and Context/Year 3

In year 3 of the course this stream focuses on the implications of practising an ancient medicine in a modern world. Topics include: intuition, intention and healing; the art of Chinese medicine and ideas behind what makes a good practitioner; an appreciation of Chinese medicine ‘rooted in spirit’; and the concepts of Chinese philosophy applied to modern practice.

Students in class

Phil Trubshaw - Stream Leader“I really enjoy leading this Stream because I’m fascinated by the origins of

acupuncture and Chinese medicine and the alternative perspective this provides

to typical Western logic. In this stream you will learn about the philosophical

underpinnings of acupuncture and Chinese thought from the traditions of Daoism

and Confucianism. There will be an introduction to ‘The Classics’ where the roots of

acupuncture practice can be found. Students will also learn about how acupuncture

came to be practiced in the UK in its present form. This stream will be of benefit to

help you develop an understanding of how an ancient practice like acupuncture can

be utilised in a modern clinical context and inform our thought processes.”

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Points and Channels

This stream is an essential part of the course in which you learn to find the correct locations of the acupuncture points and channels. You will start needling patients in our clinic in the second year, which gives you plenty of time to refine your treatment skills. Before you can do this you need to know where the points are, so the bulk of this stream is taught in the first year. In subsequent years you add some more points to your repertoire.

The second key aspect of this stream is your learning about the effect or “actions” of each point and when it is appropriate to use each point in line with your diagnosis. This is a practical hands on stream and the classroom teaching takes place in small groups of about six students to each tutor.

Points and Channels/Year 1

In year 1 you will learn to locate a set number of points, and you will learn the relevant anatomy you need both to locate the points and later to needle them safely and effectively. You are given handbooks developed by the College to help you in developing this skill. The classes are very hands on and tutors ‘check’ your point location as you go along, giving you immediate feedback to facilitate your learning.

Points and Channels/Year 2

In year 2 you learn locations of some further points, continuing to attend practical sessions to provide on-going support. At this stage the point actions are highlighted as you begin to take a more involved role in the teaching clinic and take part in discussion regarding treatment.

Points and Channels/Year 3

In year 3 you are integrating all of your learning about point location and actions to inform you as you take the lead (under supervision) in the teaching clinic. At this stage you will add to your repertoire some of the more powerful acupuncture points. You will have frequent opportunities to needle “difficult” points with supervision to allow you to build your confidence. You will look at the art of tailoring point prescriptions to each patient.

Students in a points class

Philippa Sajjanhar - Year 3 student“From the very beginning the points classes are

my favourite! They are practical classes and not

only do they teach you actual point location and

needle techniques, they are a great way to get

to know your fellow classmates!”

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Pulse Diagnosis

We are particularly proud of this stream, which offers a structured and effective approach to the teaching of the ancient art of pulse diagnosis and is a special feature of our BSc in Acupuncture course. You will learn to recognise identifiable qualities in different individuals’ pulses and what they tell you about the diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. You will learn the Shen-Hammer method of pulse taking which provides you with the building blocks you need to develop your pulse diagnosis over the three years of the course. You will benefit from practical sessions with experts in this field who provide instant feedback, with ratios of about six students to each tutor.

Pulse Diagnosis/Year 1

In year 1 you will have an introduction to the system, learning to take the pulse at precise locations and depths and beginning to differentiate the main features of the pulse, such as its width, force and tension. You will also learn the basics of tongue diagnosis.

Pulses Stream Leader Eileen Gibbon

“Pulse diagnosis is one the really exciting parts of learning Chinese medicine. It is one of the ways that

we can “see” into the body to reveal the disharmonies that patients experience as ill-health. Students are

often initially daunted at the prospect of learning these skills but the methods we have been using at the

College have meant that they quickly begin to develop the necessary competency which they use when

they come into the College clinic and treat the patients. The College regards developing these practical

skills as crucial in becoming excellent practitioners and we make sure that there is a high student-staff

ratio during the pulses teaching sessions.”

Pulse Diagnosis/Year 2

In the second year you will learn how to combine the main features of the pulse in order to recognise a range of specific pulse qualities; you will learn what those qualities tell you about the patient’s imbalances, and you will be able apply your skills in the teaching clinic. You will also deepen your knowledge of tongue diagnosis.

Pulse Diagnosis/Year 3

At this stage you will learn to distinguish between similar pulse qualities and to interpret the diagnostic significance of more complex pulses. You will be gaining in confidence with your pulse diagnosis, which will enhance your ability to diagnose and treat patients. At the end of the course you will be a confident pulse taker and ready to apply your skills in practice.

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Ben Elliot - bodywork tutor

“I was initially a massage therapist and added

acupuncture training at the NCA. I now specialise in

musculoskeletal conditions using a combination

of bodywork techniques and acupuncture. When

I am teaching I get a real buzz from seeing students,

often starting with little or no experience, develop and

explore the hands on approaches we offer. The massage

qualification is going to be a real bonus for our students.

Experience and practice is a huge part of development

using hands on techniques. The qualification will allow

students who choose this option to treat real people

during the final two years of the course, allowing them

to build up experience and introduce Chinese medicine

theory to their bodywork treatments, and increasing skill

in touch, palpation and communication along the way.”

Massage qualification at the end of Year 1 There is an additional option of obtaining a qualification in massage during the summer between years 1 and 2 of the course that allows you to go into practice as a massage therapist at that point. This short top-up course is designed to build on what you have learned in the bodywork stream during your first year of study and refine your massage skills so that you can offer clients a full and accredited routine. This can be really helpful in generating an income during the remainder of your studies, and can give you the opportunity to build up a client base while you complete your acupuncture training. The course will be taught by the regular bodywork team and will consist of a full weekend’s attendance followed by an assessment day, with a workbook provided for home-study in between.

Bodywork tutors Ben Elliot and Jo Curle are discussing

their lesson plan

Angela Lithgow-MacLean - recent graduate“The massage qualification course really pulled

together all we have been taught and I feel I can now

give a smoother, more connected massage to clients

rather than simply perform a series of standalone

routines. Jenny, Jo and Ben were great and I felt the

course hugely improved my confidence in bodywork.

Each section of the body was broken down into easily

understood areas and the techniques flowed well.

We got plenty of time to practise and the fact that

Jenny made us change partners each time was great

as you got to understand different body types and

indeed feel different approaches to the techniques.”

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Slow pathway

If you have work or other commitments which would make

studying full time over three years difficult, or if you are not

eligible for a student loan and would like to work more hours in

order to spread the cost – we offer a slow pathway. This means

taking the BSc in Acupuncture over four years. You can still

choose between weekend and weekday study.

Chrissy Thomas – recent graduate

“I studied for my BSc in Acupuncture over 4 years. After the first

year of full-time study it became clear to me, that as a mother of

three and working part-time, I could not find enough time to study.

I was not prepared to just scrape through to get to the end of the

course. I am passionate about Chinese Medicine AND about my family

so after discussion and advise from the helpful staff at NCA, I decided

to split my second year and take the slow pathway. It was absolutely

right for me, It could give both my family and my studies the attention it needed. I gave

up work in my final year, which enabled me to consolidate everything I had learnt over

the four years. I am now a qualified acupuncturist, working part-time in my previous

profession whilst devoting the rest of my working hours to building my private practice

and working in a community acupuncture clinic.”

Fees

We also offer you the opportunity to spread the fee payments over 45 monthly

instalments over the 4 years of study. For students starting with us in 2019

taking the four year pathway your fees would be:

2019-20 fees

Payments will start in October of your first year and finish in the June of your

final year.

*For students commencing study in 2019 these fees are fixed until July 2022, unless the national

inflation rate (CPI) exceeds 5% or is less than 1%, in which case the College reserves the right to

vary the fees quoted here.

*The annual sum you can borrow as a part time tuition fee loan may increase in future.

Loans

For eligible students you will be able to apply for a part-time tuition fee loan to

help with the course fees and a maintenance loan to help with your living costs.

Modules in each year for the four year pathway

Year 1 Modules – Level 4

Being and Becoming 20 credits

Foundations of Clinical Practice 40 credits

Foundations of Chinese Medicine 40 credits

Bodywork for Acupuncturists 20 credits

Days in clinic - 8

Year 2 Modules – Level 5

Biomedicine for Acupuncturists 20 credits

Understanding Disharmony 20 credits

Days in clinic - 5 top up days

Year 3 Modules – Level 5

Clinical Practice 40 credits

Clinical Reality 1 40 credits

Days in Clinic – 17

Year 4 Modules – Level 6

Clinical Management 40 credits

Clinical Reality 2 40 credits

Acupuncture Research 20 credits

Integration and Diversity 20 credits

Days in clinic - 20

*Paying your own fees 45 payments of £561

*Taking out a part-time tuition fee student loan over four years of £4,625 each year 45 top up payments of £150

42 43

Reduced fees and attendance for healthcare practitionersIf you are a current healthcare practitioner with a degree in your field of practice you may be

exempt from certain modules of our acupuncture course. This will mean some reduction in your

time in class and reduced fees.

You can still choose to study on either

our weekend or weekday BSc in

Acupuncture course. It is possible for

healthcare practitioners with exemption

from the modules “Being and Becoming”

and “Biomedicine for Acupuncturists” to

omit some days of classroom teaching

and e-learning sessions. This will reduce

time, travel and expense. If you are a

healthcare practitioner and think you may

be eligible for exemptions, and would like

to find out more, please get in touch.

Healthcare practitioners that we recognise as eligible for exemption:

• Doctor

• Nurse

• Midwife

• Physiotherapist

• Chiropractor

• Osteopath

• Medical herbalist

• Counsellor

Talk to usIf you are interested in studying over more than

three years we would encourage you to talk to us

about how this might work for you.

Call our Marketing Manager Denise on

+44 (0)1904 343309

or email denisemagson@nca.ac.uk

How does the slow pathway work?

There is more classroom attendance, e-learning and

home study in the first year as we introduce you to

traditional Chinese medicine and practical aspects

of studying acupuncture, and also in the fourth year

as we consolidate your learning and prepare you for

practice.

In the second and third year you will only attend

the lectures scheduled for the modules that you are

studying that year. If you are studying on the weekday

course this will mean that there are whole days you

do not have to attend. However if you are studying on

the weekend course you may find yourself in class for

part of each teaching weekend.

Your clinic days are scheduled well in advance.

Cohorts

If you study on the four year pathway you will find

yourself studying with different cohorts in different

years. However, don’t worry, our friendly cohorts are

a very welcoming bunch and each year the dynamic

of most cohorts will naturally change.

Principal Richard Blackwell is teaching a “points master-class”

to our students who are about to complete their training.

44 45

Why do we do bodywork?

“Hands on massage (or bodywork) is an integral part of Chinese medicine and the art of touch can be a powerful element of any treatment. By becoming bodyworkers, the students develop their skills in palpation and the practical based stream is designed to create a ‘toolkit’ of hands on methods and techniques that can be used alongside acupuncture or as a stand-alone treatments. The teaching team bring a wealth of experience from varying backgrounds and areas of speciality, meaning the students get a well - rounded and in depth learning experience. ”

A typical day in College

Bodywork class with tutors Ben Elliot and Alex HumphriesIn early January our first year students

are having a body work lesson with

tutors Ben Elliot and Alex Humphries.

In the first year there are a lot of

“hands on” classes, teaching practical

techniques such as massage and

point location. It is important for

our students to get used to working

with people and their bodies. In this

particular class the group are learning

about back and neck massage

techniques. Once they have learned

from the tutors they practise on each

other. Most students come out of this

class very relaxed, especially as Ben

and Alex have some relaxing music

playing in the background during the

student practice session - nice touch

gentlemen!

Bodywork Tutor Ben Elliot (above)

What are the students learning in this lesson?

“In this lesson we are teaching a neck and shoulder routine. The routine gives the students a foundation for treating common neck and shoulder complaints and allows them to develop a flexible framework of hands on techniques that can be used alongside acupuncture or as a stand-alone treatment. When teaching the routine we discuss both Chinese medicine theory and western anatomy and treatment models to make sure the students have a broad and relevant outcome from the lesson.”

Bodywork tutor Alex Humphries (below)

What do the students gain from the bodywork sessions?

“In bodywork sessions we aim for students to start to get comfortable and explore western and eastern

approaches to working with the body. It allows them to have specific techniques they can use with patients in the

teaching clinic and beyond to use alongside acupuncture to increase the effectiveness of treatment. Sessions

involve a lot of working together and hands on learning.”

What are you enjoying about teaching bodywork?

“I really enjoy teaching bodywork to the students as my background and

interest is in massage for musculo-skeletal issues. As a graduate of the NCA I know

how important bodywork is within the clinic to use alongside acupuncture,

therefore it has been a pleasure sharing this knowledge but also working with a

wonderful group of students.”

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“Here I am palpating my class mate’s trapezius and scalene muscles and practising a neck and shoulders massage routine. Good palpation skills and anatomy knowledge are an essential part of informed diagnosis and decision making when treating patients. Learning and practising these skills is therefore an important part of our first year studies.”

“During bodywork we use a variety of techniques including long full effleurage strokes (water) to move the lymphatic and

circulatory system, and strong brisk strokes of petrissage (fire) to loosen and stretch the muscles, skin, tendons and ligaments.

Traction of the muscles and joints bring flexibility (wind). The sessions are very centred and grounded, and the treatment is

reciprocated so we experience from both a practitioner and patient point of view. I really enjoy bodywork as the lessons

allow us to get out of our minds and back into the intuitive body experience.”

“This year has been challenging but I feel we have been given the opportunity to discover many different aspects of the whole.

Each topic is like the spoke of a wheel, and all aspects are developing simultaneously; all very exciting and a great foundation for the next

few years ahead.”

“I am writing notes about the arm and shoulder massage routine. The body work classes are a good way to connect with people. To become more aware of how people’s bodies differ, both anatomically and energetically, allowing me to improve both my bodywork skills and my anatomical landmark skills which will help me to locate acupuncture points. I have really enjoyed being able to learn about Chinese medicine, which is something I have been interested in learning for a long time. Meeting my fellow students and tutors has made it fun and exciting and having their support is really helping with being a mature student and all it entails!”

Student Pavlinka Peters (above)

Can you tell us about what you are doing?

Student Andrea Lascelles (right)

Can you explain about how the bodywork classes work?

What are you enjoying most about the first year?

Student Teresa Plant (left)

What are you writing in your note book?

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Supporting our studentsAs a College we take pride in our friendly and personal approach and we will

provide you with high levels of support.

Angie Di Benedetto - graduate“I am very grateful to the NCA for giving me the chance to continue in my TCM journey –

everyone has been very supportive and understanding. I love the College’s relaxed “way”

and I would choose the NCA above any other.”

Clinic Supervisor Brendan O’Sullivan teaching moxa techniques

46 47

Support during your training

We are committed to supporting you to succeed in completing our acupuncture course. When you

start you will be allocated a personal tutor who will give support and advice throughout your training.

Together you write a personal development plan which helps you to identify any support you may need

during your time with us, and you will meet regularly to discuss your learning and your development

as a practitioner. If you need additional one-to-one input we have dedicated learning support tutors

who will help you. We also offer access to a counselling service. There are regular classroom sessions

on the skills you need to enjoy your studies and to succeed in your assessments. You will find your

fellow students an important source of mutual support and our cohorts form strong bonds of friendship

throughout their three years in College and beyond. Our acupuncture course can be demanding - but

we help you to get the best from us and us from you!

What our students say:

“I am in debt to my personal tutor. At a time when my long

distance travel and the onset of travel sickness resulted in

losing a lot of precious study time, and it was very stressful

trying to catch up and do well, I was seriously reconsidering

whether I should continue with the course. Her honest and

reassuring advice was invaluable ”

“Last year, due to work commitments, I had a stressful time.

Lara was able to ease my worries and helped me see a way

forward clearly. Lara gave me all the information I needed

to help me make the right decisions. She is a real asset to the

College.”

“I am dyslexic and at the beginning of the course the College

arranged and funded me to have a dyslexia assessment. I

was able to access a Disabled Student Allowance and have

regular sessions with an external dyslexia tutor. This is

fantastic as she helps me with study skills and specific help

with assignments. I also get extra time in exams which is very

helpful to me. I can’t deny that it is sometimes a struggle to

study to degree level with dyslexia – but here I am in year

three and looking forward to starting my own practice!”

Tutor Julie Williams demonstrating cupping techniques to Year 1 weekend students

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Assistance and support for students with dyslexia and disabilities Students with dyslexia

If you need to have a dyslexia assessment we will contribute up to £250, which is most of the cost

of the assessment. You will not receive this as a separate payment, but it will be deducted from

your course fees. Once you have had your assessment you may receive financial help from the

government that will enable you to purchase learning aids such as software. Some people also

receive funding for extra study help from a specialised dyslexia support tutor. We will support you

during your studies, particularly with access to one to one sessions with our learning support tutors.

Markers will make allowance for your dyslexia when marking your written assignments, and for

examinations you may have extra time or a scribe, and even the option of taking the exam orally.

Natalie Horsman - recent graduate“After leaving school, I went straight into hairdressing and one of

my lecturers pointed out to me that I may be dyslexic but I decided not

to do anything about it because of the cost of the assessment. The NCA

were great not only for suggesting that I be assessed, but for arranging and

paying most of the cost of the dyslexia assessment. Following my initial assessment I then had

a one to one needs assessment at York University. This resulted in being given some specific

software and equipment such as a dictaphone. I was also allocated two hours on how to use the

equipment. The dictaphone has been helpful to me as due to the dyslexia my memory is not

all that great, and being able to record the sessions really helps me to review my lessons. I also

get extra time in exams to finish my work. I have also been awarded a disability allowance. This

is extra to my student loan as extra costs to help me succeed on the course. I still struggle with

certain areas, but in general I have surprised myself, even with the academic work. The good

teaching at the College helps, and the fact that I am really inspired by the course. It is the first

time I have been taught something that I want to learn and that makes a big difference.”

Kristen Remmer - graduate “My disability is a spinal injury which limits

my mobility and causes problems with

constant chronic pain and nerve

damage to my right leg. College access

has been brilliant as I am allowed to park

in the car park. It’s basically door to door

and then within the College there is a lift to access all floors. The staff are very

approachable and supportive and always make the time to listen. Richard has

been very supportive and helpful as my personal tutor. Lara has always been

very helpful too when it has come to looking for materials and books, research

and structuring essays, and in addition has been a great personal support and

good listener. The College have been very understanding when it’s come to

additional time I’ve needed to complete work. A personal plan for my particular

circumstances has also been set up to meet the needs of my disability to make

things easier. The College bought two RH chairs for use in the clinic rooms and

in practical lessons and I have found these seats to be invaluable. I also receive

Disabled Students Allowance for support with equipment and travel costs etc.”

Students with a disability

We are an accessible College and we work hard to support and accommodate

students with disabilities. For example we recently purchased “perching stools”

to help our students with mobility difficulties treating patients in clinic. In recent

years students have trained with us who have had problems with fatigue, visual

impairment and chronic back problems. You may be eligible for a Disabled Student

Allowance (DSA) from the government – this will give you some funding to help

towards special needs such as transportation, accommodation, equipment etc.

48 49

Support once you have qualifiedThe transition from College student to professional practice is a crucial time and it is

important to have on-going support and encouragement.

Practice Development Workshop In the New Year after graduation we invite our most recently graduated groups back

to College for a free day of workshops aimed at helping them to further develop their

practices. Each year different business development topics will be chosen such as:

optimising your website, finding your way around social media, running a multi bed clinic

and working within the NHS. Of course, one of the most rewarding aspects of the day is

getting together with friends and tutors.

Cat Cormack - graduate “I got a lot out of the day, it has triggered a lot of thought processes for me about how

I’m going about things at the moment. All the SEO advice was very timely and I am

going to incorporate a lot of the advice into my web design.”

Rachel Blackeby - graduate “The day was really excellent, the food was fantastic and I have already ordered my

AAW promotional items and started preparing my press release for the local paper.

I would recommend this day to other newbie practitioners!”

Further study at the NCAWhen you are in practice you will be keen to study aspects of the subject in greater depth,

and the NCA arranges a series of practitioner seminars throughout the year to help to meet

this need.

Some of our acupuncture graduates go on to study Chinese herbal medicine or nutrition

with us. Also we offer an online MSc in Advanced Oriental Medicine (Research and

Practice) for our graduates and the wider global oriental medicine community.

British Acupuncture Council The regional groups of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) provide valuable

networking with your fellow practitioners. The annual BAcC conference, which is held

in venues around the country, is a great opportunity for you to meet up with your fellow

graduates, network and add to your knowledge. The NCA runs a stand which creates a

“focal point” for our students and graduates.

Supervision One popular way of having a helping hand when you first start your practice is “personal

supervision” from a qualified local practitioner.

50 51

Entry requirements Our courses are accessible for all and we encourage

a diversity of ages and backgrounds.

You will need to be over 18 and have gained either the standard entry requirements (if you are

coming to us straight from A levels) or be able to give us satisfactory evidence of your life and work

experience (if you are coming in as a mature student). Our students come to study acupuncture at the

NCA from a variety of backgrounds and a variety of qualifications. Some of our students already have

a degree and some a practitioner training in another field.

BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture

Applying as a mature student without formal qualifications We welcome applications from mature students and those who do not have a conventional

educational background. We provide ample support for those returning to, or new to, academic

study and we do everything we can to help you succeed. Every application is assessed on its

individual merits. If you do not have the formal qualifications which make you eligible for the BSc

in Acupuncture, we encourage you to make a case based on your learning from work and life

experience. We will help you to do this during your interview, when we discuss with you your life and

work experience to identify areas of responsibility, communication skills, and times in your life when

you have worked with information, or been involved in decision-making and problem-solving. It’s not

unusual for our students to start without formal qualifications and to become excellent practitioners.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) - entry to BSc in Acupuncture for students who have already undertaken some acupuncture training and are looking to complete at the NCAIf you would like to transfer to the NCA from another College or University,

or if you have previously completed part of your training and had to stop,

we will work with you to assess what level of study you have attained and

how this fits with our acupuncture course. This is called Recognition of Prior

Learning (RPL).Typically we will ask you to provide transcripts and syllabus

of your previous study programme and we may ask you to complete an

assessment or sit an exam. Our Registrar Alison will guide and support you

though this process. For more information read our RPL policy.

Katie Lee – Year 1 student

“Coming (almost) straight from school I was worried about being the

youngest student, however there are quite a few younger students in my cohort,

and I have fitted in really well. Everyone at the College is so warm and welcoming

and treats me as an equal. I moved into private student accommodation in York

and my worries about not meeting other my age were completely unnecessary.

I met people in student accommodation straight away and I have a great social

life here. Studying at the NCA is undeniably different to a standard university

experience but I feel it is every bit as enjoyable and supportive.”

• three GCE A Level passes of 32 points each (Grade C)

• two GCE A level passes of 48 points each (Grade A)

• three Scottish Highers at Grade A

• two Advanced Scottish Highers,

one at grade A, one at grade B

• a pass in Edexcel BTEC National Certificate/Diploma or HNC/HND (merit and distinction passes)

• a pass in an Access to HE Diploma course recognised by the College

• an International Baccalaureate Diploma

Coming straight from secondary education If you are coming to us straight from A-levels, our entry requirements are:

96 UCAS points, plus at least a GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) in

English and Mathematics. 96 UCAS points corresponds, for example, to:

50 51

EU/EAA students We welcome applicants from the EU/EAA. You will need to have successfully completed

an academic English language test, such as IELTS, to prove that you have written and

spoken English that is to a level acceptable to take an academic/practitioner degree

course.

Overseas students Due to visa restrictions we are unable to accept applications from non-EU/EAA students

at present.

Academic English language requirement Communication is such an important part both of the course, and in interactions with

patients, that our students need to be proficient in the use of spoken and written English.

If English is not your first language we will expect you to take an academic English

language assessment before you start the course with one of the many providers such as

Academic IELTS and Cambridge English Advanced. Read the following information about

the various providers and the levels / minimum scores required.

Talk to usIf you have any questions about your eligibility please

do not hesitate to call us. Call our Marketing Manager Denise on

+44 (0)1904 343309

or e-mail denisemagson@nca.ac.uk

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check As we take the safety of our patients seriously you are required to undergo a check with

the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This is something that we help you to organise

in your first term before you start in clinic. Some of you will already have your DBS check

in place and will be able to bring your certificate in to the College.

Equal Opportunities PolicyThe College aims to select applicants on an equal opportunities basis and is keen that the

intake reflects the cultural diversity of Britain.

Access and ParticipationOur student cohorts are diverse, covering a wide range of ages, class and cultural

backgrounds, and ethnicities. We have a strategic mission to continue to improve access

to our courses to all.

Alba Riba - Year 3 student“I moved to the UK from Spain and what initially

attracted me to the NCA was the College’s

commitment to research and the opportunity to study

to Masters level. I was also attracted to York because

I wanted to study in a city with a good quality of life.

The NCA has really delivered for me. The clinical

experience is invaluable – especially the opportunity

to learn with different year groups. I also like that

there are lots of different tutors who all bring different

qualities and experience to their teaching sessions.”

52 53

InterviewsIf your application is successful, we will contact you to arrange an interview. Our interviews

have been designed to enable us to explore in more detail your interest in studying here,

and how the skills and experience you have will support you in successfully completing

the course. Your interview will last around 45 minutes and you will be interviewed by two

senior members of staff in a friendly and informal atmosphere and you will also have plenty

of opportunity to ask questions. If you are successful we will offer you a place shortly after

your interview.

How to applyTo apply for our acupuncture course (weekend or weekday) you will need to complete the

online application process, following the instructions on our website. We will acknowledge

receipt of your application. If your application is successful we will contact you to organise

your interview, which is the next stage in the process. If you wish, you can ask to be

interviewed in the afternoon after attending one of our introductory events. Please let us

know when you apply.

If you are applying for the BSc in Acupuncture and are eligible for a student loan Please note:

Due to the government cap we only have a limited number of places for students who are

eligible for a student loan. Places will be allocated as applications are received and processed

and we advise you to apply to us as soon as possible.

If you are applying for the BSc in Acupuncture and are not eligible for a student loan

We are not subject to a government cap on student numbers for the BSc in

Acupuncture course for students who are not eligible for a student loan. However the total

numbers on our courses are still limited and early application is advisable.

Closing DateThe closing date for applications in 2019 is the 31st August. Late applications will be

considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on availability.

Beth Fairweather - Year 3 student“I transferred from another University to start my second year at

the NCA. The transfer process was made as easy as possible by

the College. The courses were compared and I was given extra

sessions where I needed it to make up for gaps in my knowledge.

I’m now in my third year and I’m loving it - I feel very nurtured and

supported here.”

Talk to us

If you have any questions about the courses or applying for the courses please do not

hesitate to call us. Call our Marketing Manager Denise on +44 (0)1904 343309

or e-mail denisemagson@nca.ac.uk

Other costs to factor in• Travelling - At the start of the course you will be given a rail-card form that will enable

you to buy a student rail-card and benefit from reduced rail fares.

• Staying over - If you need to stay overnight, there is a variety of reasonably priced

accommodation close to the College. The majority of our students stay with local

families who offer bed and “help-yourself” breakfast accommodation at around £25 per

night. There are also several local guest houses offering reasonably priced rooms.

• Books - At the beginning of the course you are encouraged to buy essential text books

which cost about £250. Some of these can be ordered with our librarian and others via

the BAcC. Please note that these do not need to be bought all at once and our librarian

Cath will be able to advise you on which books you will need, and when, in order to

spread the costs. After this any further books you buy will be of your choosing.

• Clinical Jacket - You will need to buy a white clinical jacket to wear on your days in

clinic, at a cost of around £25.

Fees and other costsWe provide a high quality, hands-on acupuncture training at a cost that is

lower than many of the universities. As a registered educational charity you

can be assured that all our income is spent on ensuring a quality education for

our students.

Course fees general information • Your fees include all the teaching and learning opportunities provided by our teaching

staff, all your clinical experience in our teaching clinic, tutorials, library and support

services, access to our online e-learning facility, and your University registration fees.

• Both the weekend and the weekday courses have the same amount of attendance hoursand our courses are designed to ensure that you will still be able to combine work, familyand other commitments, whilst you study.

• You can choose to pay your course fees in a lump sum at the beginning of the academicyear and take advantage of a 2% discount. Or you can pay in nine instalments over theyear by direct debit.

• If you have been awarded a tuition fee loan, Student Finance will pay us an annual feeof £6,165 directly to us and the remainder of the fee can be paid in instalments by directdebit.

• The enrolment fee of £100 paid on acceptance of a place, is non-refundable, and is notpaid by Student Finance.

52 53

Tutor Ric Chamberlain with Year two father and daughter students Donna and Dennis

54 55

Student loans and how to fund the course Studying full time on the BSc in Acupuncture (weekend and weekday)

Student loans

If you are eligible for a student loan you will be able to apply via the Student Finance systems in England, Scotland and Wales.

You will be eligible for a student tuition fee loan and a means tested maintenance

loan if you:

• Have not already accessed government higher education loans and grants.

You may be eligible for one or more years of student finance if you:

• Have completed a HND or diploma course (such as a nursing diploma).

• Started but did not finish a degree course.

You will not be eligible for student finance if you:

• Have already completed a degree or equivalent, regardless of how it was funded.

What you will get:

• A tuition fee loan of £6,165 each year for three years. Please note that this money does not cover the whole of the course fee and the top up fee is paid in 9 instalments.

• Depending upon your household income you may be able to access an annual maintenance loan to help with living expenses.

The tuition fee loan is paid directly to the College and the maintenance loan is paid to you.

Repaying your loans

You will start to pay back your loans once you have started to earn over £21,000. If your income drops below this the repayments stop until you have reached this earning threshold again.

When to apply for your loan

The window for applying for your 2019/20 student loan should be open in May. However you can create a log in and prepare your application form ready to send at any time before this. You don’t need a confirmed place on our course to apply for your loan - you can add this at a later date.

54 55

Students with children or dependent adults can also apply for:

• Childcare Grant - full-time students only

• Parents’ Learning Allowance - full-time students only

• Adult Dependents’ Grant - full-time students only

• Child Tax Credit

• Extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship

Disabled students

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia) you can apply for:

• Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

• Extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship

• You may also qualify for disability related benefits

EU/EAA students living in the UK

If you are a student from another EU/EEA country living in the UK you may be eligible for student finance. We advise you to contact the relevant student finance agency in your area of the country to find out the current situation.

Studying part time on the BSc in Acupuncture If you are looking to study part time (up to six years in total) and you have not already previously studied to degree level, you may be able to access part-time student loans. You will get up to £4,625 tuition fee loan per year and a maintenance loan to help with living costs which is assessed on your household income.

Applying for your student loan

Students living in England apply to Student Finance England - call 0300 100 0607

Students living in Scotland apply to Student Awards Scotland 0300 555 0505

Our BSc in Acupuncture is classified by the Students Award Agency for Scotland as full time and students will be eligible for student tuition fee loans of up to £6,165 per year, and for maintenance loans and grants which are assessed on your household income. Students resident in Scotland who already have a degree are not eligible for a tuition fee loan (unless their first degree was self-funded), but can apply for loan support to help with living costs.

Students living in Wales apply to Student Finance Wales 0300 200 4050

Students in Wales are entitled to the same loans as students in England.

Student Finance Northern Ireland

If you live in Northern Ireland please contact us.

56 57

Funding for the BSc in Acupuncture if you are not eligible for a student loan If you are applying for the BSc in Acupuncture and you already have a degree, you will not be eligible for a student loan. This is the case for many of our students who fund their studies by:

• Using savings

• Combining study with work

Other ideas

Financial help from your employer

If you are employed by an organisation such as the NHS and the acupuncture course is related to your job, it is possible, though unusual, that you may be able to get your employer to sponsor you. It may help to present the idea as a business case, emphasising the benefits to them. In large companies, the human resources or training department may have information about any funding schemes. If your employer cannot provide funding, they may be willing to offer paid or unpaid study leave.

Charities and Trusts

NCA students have on occasions been able to access small amounts of funding from charities or trusts but please be aware that, because this is an unorthodox subject area, many of the charities and trusts will not fund it. You can find out more about charities and trusts at your local library and on the internet.

Other Ideas

Our students have been creative about finding ways to help finance their studies. Some have approached family members for interest free loans or released equity from their properties.

Slow Pathway

This option provides a way of “earning and learning” by spreading the cost and study hours over four years.

Davey Hynman - Year 3 student “The flexibility of the course helps me

to keep a handle on my busy life and

I study and work at the same time. I like

this mix as the study is the fun element of

my life and the work helps me to afford

the course on top of my student loan!”

Marjana gets “hands-on” during a bodywork class

56 57

Talk to usFunding the course is one of the main considerations for our students. If you are not eligible for a postgraduate loan and would like to talk to a member of staff about how to arrange your finances in order to fund the course - please get in touch with our Finance Director Daphne Smith.

Call Daphne on +44 (0)1904 343302

or send her an email enquiry: daphnesmith@nca.ac.uk

Year two weekday students talk about how they fund the course

Jacqueline Shaw

“I don’t get a student loan so

when it came to paying my

course fees I decided to take

advantage of the 2% discount and

pay the fees upfront. I had some

savings and this seemed to be

the best option. I am in the lucky

position of not having to work so I

can concentrate on my studies.”

Emma Clarke

“I applied for my

student loan in June,

just as soon as I had

decided that this was

the right course for me.

I decided to secure my

loan before I applied

for the acupuncture

course because I wanted to make sure that I could

get the funding. It was all very straightforward, I had a

positive experience and the loan came through within

a couple of weeks. I get both the tuition fee loan and a

full maintenance loan. Because of some health issues I

decided not to continue working but to concentrate on

my studies for now, and I am loving every minute of the

course. I look at my studies as my new job!”

Emily Smith

“I had not studied

for a degree before

so I receive the full

time BSc tuition

fee loan and a

maintenance loan.

Although I still

live at home my

maintenance loan was based on my income as I have

worked and been financially independent for over

five years. As well as the tuition fee loan that goes

straight to the College, I get £2,500 per term to help

with my living costs and this also helps me to pay the

shortfall of the NCA course fees. I also work 2 days

a week at my job as a carer in the community. I find

that this balance between working and studying is

working really well for me and I am enjoying my job

and have plenty of time for my studies.”

58

College facilities and information

The libraryOur library is one of the most popular rooms in the building. It is a substantial specialist

library which holds a wide range of key texts, journals and dissertations. There is

plenty of support and assistance available from our librarian Cath.

College Librarian Cath Mortimer “I really enjoy running our friendly library here at the

College. It is a substantial specialist library, holding a wide

range of key texts, journals and dissertations. It covers

both Chinese medicine and nutrition, along with the

Western medical texts which our students need. I also

help students to access an amazing variety of items from

the huge range of references which are available online.

Contact with our students and staff can be inspirational,

and the library is a focal point for enthusiastic exchange of

ideas. It’s brilliant to be at the centre of it all!”

58

College Librarian Cath chats with Clinic Supervisor Nicky

Online learning resources You will have access to a range of

online resources including our virtual

learning environment (VLE) on Moodle

which gives you access to all course

materials, discussion forums, e-learning

sessions and a variety of other online resources and information about the College. You

will also have access to a range of online journals appropriate to your academic needs.

Minimum IT specificationsStudents are required to have access to a computer and this needs to be compatible

with the NCA e-learning programme which can be accessed on a PC (Windows 7, 8

or 10), on a Mac (System 10.6 or later) or on an iPad (1, 2 or 3); although please note

that not all areas of e-learning sessions may be completed on an iPad. Please read our

“minimum specification document” to check that your computer is ready for e-learning.

Wireless internet and IT We have wireless internet access throughout the building and a number of PCs for

student use here in the College and we expect all written work to be submitted in

word-processed form.

58 59

Become a student member of the British Acupuncture Council

During your time as an acupuncture undergraduate the BAcC invites you to

become a student member, free of charge. Being a student member offers

various benefits including:

• Acu. – the in house BAcC magazine published five times a year to keep

members up to date with practice and professional news

• Access to the student only online forum: a place to chat with students from

other Colleges and get advice from a panel of BAcC advisors

• Access to regional groups: many regional group meetings are open to students

and give you an opportunity to meet practising acupuncturists for networking,

speakers, practitioner development, etc

• Access to all the latest research news, plus access to the Acupuncture

Research and Resource Centre (ARRC) database with over 16,000 citations on

acupuncture based research

• Links: to outside organisations, suppliers, and teaching institutions

• Study resources including articles by experienced practitioners

• Professional guidance including current BAcC documents and updates

covering ethics and continuing professional development (CPD)

• A further information pack in your final year to guide you into full UK

membership and into practice.

Successful students will be eligible to apply for full BAcC membership in

September of their final year.

Disabled access There is good access to the whole College for students with disabilities who also have

permission to park in the College car park.

Accommodation There is a wide range of accommodation to choose from in York. We are centrally located with

plenty of choice close to the College including guest houses, back-packers, budget and mid-

range hotels. Many of our students stay with local families who offer reasonably priced bed and

breakfast accommodation in their homes.

Parking As a student you are only allowed to use our car park if you have a disability blue badge. There

are several long stay car parks close by with the nearest being Nunnery Lane. Many of our

students use the various “park and ride” facilities on the outskirts of the city with a drop off

point on Rougier Street, which is a 5 minute walk from the College.

Coming by train We are a ten minute walk from the station. You will be entitled to buy a railcard to help toward

the cost of rail travel.

Aymeric Lecomte – Year 1 student“Being a student member of the BAcC gives me a range of benefits including

access to discounted textbooks, helping me to grow a library I can refer to

throughout my career. They are also about Codes and Regulation, and the Code

of Safe Practice which is helpful for me as a student. The BAcC also produce online guides to

starting out in practice which I can already see will be useful information at this crucial stage.”

60 61

Course Director Lara McClure“Part of my job is to enthuse and enlighten our students about the value of being a

“research literate practitioner”, although many are quite skeptical about this at the start

of their training! The principle is that our graduates have the ability to understand and

interpret up-to-date clinical evidence, and bring this to the treatment of their patients.

Patients themselves are often aware of recent research in the age of the internet, and

it’s important that practitioners are able to engage with patients and other healthcare

professionals about research issues in a well-informed and confident way. Skeptical

students soon realise that research is an essential part of their clinical toolkit!”

Acupuncture and the growing evidence base

It is vital for the continuing development and credibility of our profession that we can answer our

critics with scientific proof of the effectiveness of acupuncture and each year this evidence is growing.

Acupuncture research at the NCAHere at the NCA we are strongly committed to research and building the evidence base for

acupuncture. Research literacy is an abiding goal of our BSc in Acupuncture course, and

training in critical appraisal is the cornerstone of the Research Stream that builds from year one

onwards.

Our research wing the Foundation for Research into Traditional Chinese Medicine (FRTCM)

was set up in 1990 to further the cause of research into acupuncture. We have collaborated

on research projects such as a major back pain research study and regularly carry out in-house

research projects in our teaching clinics.

So why is research so important to our profession? Let’s hear what our Course Director and Research Stream Leader Lara McClure has to say.

60 61

A brief history of research into acupuncture By Hugh MacPherson, College co-founder and Professor of Health Sciences at the University of York.

“Early research into acupuncture explored

physiological correlates, identifying that acupuncture

has a profound effect on endorphins and

neurotransmitters. The impact of acupuncture in

modulating the effect of pain has been explored

in many neuroimaging studies. As an example,

researchers based at the University of York, and under

my leadership, explored the effect of acupuncture

on brain waves using neuroimaging techniques (1).

What has been important for us is to know whether

acupuncture is clinically effective for the many

chronic conditions that are prevalent in primary care,

especially conditions for which patients are seeking

non-pharmacological alternatives. These problematic

conditions include chronic musculoskeletal pain in the

neck or back, headache and migraine, osteoarthritis,

irritable bowel syndrome and depression. As an

example of research that involved acupuncturists

at the Northern College of Acupuncture, the York

Acupuncture for Back Pain Study was a randomised

controlled trial that showed acupuncture reduces low

back pain over the longer term (2), a benefit that is

also cost-effective (3).

One of the questions posed by scientists is to ask

whether or not acupuncture is simply a placebo,

albeit a powerful one. This question has been

answered definitively by a systematic review of high

quality clinical trials of acupuncture for chronic pain,

namely musculoskeletal pain in the low back and

neck, headache and migraine, and osteoarthritis.

Researchers found statistically significant differences

between acupuncture and sham acupuncture,

showing that acupuncture is unequivocally more

effective than a placebo, as well as more effective than

standard conventional medical care (4). Beyond chronic pain, recent

evidence from trials conducted by us at the Department of Health.

Sciences, University of York, has shown that acupuncture is statistically

significantly better than usual care for irritable bowel syndrome (5),

depression (6) and chronic neck pain (7). And finally, in a ground-

breaking network meta-analysis, a research team at the Centre for

Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York found that

acupuncture is as good as, or better than, other physical therapies for

osteoarthritis of the knee (8). The combined effect of these research

studies is contributing to a critical mass of evidence that will feed into

policy and practice over the years to come.”

College co-founder Professor Hugh MacPherson

62 63

Opportunities abroadOur students, with their enthusiasm and high level of training, are taking acupuncture out into their communities and beyond, and finding new ways of making it accessible in all parts of the globe.

We love to hear from our graduates about all the interesting ways that they

find to practise, and how their careers as acupuncturists are developing.

Some of our graduates have set up their own clinics from scratch, often

from their homes. This year we have seen some really beautiful and

innovative treatment spaces being developed – including one in York

with a sedum roof! A popular way to set up in practice is to rent a room

in a multi-disciplinary clinic; our graduates tell us that the interaction with

other practitioners is both enjoyable and beneficial to their business.

Running a “multi-bed” clinic, often alongside other practitioners, is a

popular way for our graduates to provide low cost acupuncture within

their communities. Some of our graduates also work within the NHS,

and palliative care in a hospice is just one of the many ways they are

helping people with acupuncture.

We also hear from our graduates who have been working abroad.

Some have re-located to other countries such as Poland, Canada,

Australia and the USA. Some have been taking time out for further studies

in China. We are proud of the many graduates who travel abroad as part

of charitable causes, providing acupuncture in poorer regions of the world

such as India, Nepal and Vietnam. This year several students who have

been abroad have come into College to talk about their experience and this

has been inspirational for students and staff.

Being a professional acupuncturist with a degree opens doors and

opportunities in the UK, Europe and out into the world.

Hi everyone,

I am volunteering for the UK charity “World Medicine”

in Gujarat, a remote part of India – with few

medical facilities. We are here not only to treat

patients, but to pilot an auricular (ear) acupuncture

protocol to be taught to a local team to continue

our work. As the treatments are all free we are

able to treat the patients regularly - averaging a

treatment every 2 or 3 days- daily on the auricular

protocol. We are having some incredible successes! The

romantic in me likes to think this would have been

the type of environment in which acupuncture was

originally developed and used, with patients living

a simple uncomplicated lifestyle. This is the most

inspirational thing that I have ever done and looking

forward to coming back.

Cheers, Phil

Hi all at NCA,

Greetings from Namo Buddha wh

ich is a remote Buddhis

t

monastery high in the Eas

tern Nepalese Himalayas. I am

here to help the people

in the area with acupun

cture

and to train a selected

group of monks in acupressure

for knee problems. I am having an am

azing and

challenging time – treating

up to 60 patients a da

y in

a “multi-bed” clinic. I can’t

believe how different it

is from my practice at home! The highli

ght so far is

being taught by the Tibet

an Llama Llodr who has over 50

years’ experience of acup

uncture in this amazing area. I

t

has also been great to b

e occasionally working a

longside

fellow NCA graduates wh

o are visiting. Looking

forward

to telling you all about

it.

Wish you were here, Dean

62 63

Hello all at NCAAll is well here in Australia and we are loving the life! Nic still works for Ford in Geelong and I am still at City Health as a receptionist and have ‘miraculously’ landed a position as an acupuncturist - yes, they do somehow exist. So now I also work for Prickle Community Acupuncture in Richmond - great place, great team & great way of working. Acupuncture Accreditation via AHPRA/Chinese Medicine Board of Australia was smooth but trying to become a member of an acupuncture association in order to obtain a provider number (for private health insurance claims - very popular over here) took quite a bit longer! In the end I went with a small association and everything is in place – so onwards and upwards down under!

Best wishes to you all, Elisabeth

Hi everyone,We are really enjoying our time here at the Apricot Forest Hospital in the Anhui district of China. The private hospital is nestled in the foothills of the Yellow Mountains and is devoted solely to the practice of pre-Cultural Revolution classical Chinese medicine. The purpose of our trip is to explore the full spectrum of classical Chinese Medicine and see how it is practised differently here. What we love the most about it is having the chance to experience and see the truly traditional ways of practising ancient Chinese medicine. In the future we plan to buy some land and build a clinic in nature in our country of choice and in the meantime we will continue to learn and study all aspects of Chinese medicine.

Love fromLawrence and Ferne

Dearest all you lovely tutors, supervisors,

mentors, peers and other

amazing people at the NCA.

Here is a little mail filled with love and t

hanks all the way from Nepal.

We are having the most amazing experien

ce here seeing 20-30 patients

each day- who’d have thought it! With t

hat come many struggles and

challenges that we never envisioned. We h

ave witnessed patients with

severe, life threatening illnesses where the

only help we can provide is

a caring hand or assistance pushing thro

ugh the intricate healthcare

system. It’s truly an emotional roller-coa

ster but the people are so

amazing. They are what keep us going da

y to day. So thank you to all

of you who have helped us on this journe

y and supported us with your

knowledge and wisdom this past 3 years

– we are so grateful and can’t

wait to share our stories on our return.

Kim and Rachel xxx

64 65

Our teaching staff The College is very much a community of learners and our dedicated teachers are at the heart of that community.

One of our greatest assets here at the NCA is undoubtedly our dedicated teaching faculty. All of the teaching

staff on our acupuncture course are practitioners and they bring to their classes a huge wealth of knowledge,

enthusiasm and passion for their subject. As well as teaching at the College and working in their busy practices,

our staff devote time to learning more about education to ensure the highest of teaching standards, and they

also find time to conduct research or develop areas of expertise. Students regularly comment on the dedication

and commitment of the teaching team. They in turn aspire to see their students become confident, fully qualified

acupuncture practitioners.

Friendly, supportive and helpful. The

tutors go out of their way for the students.

Excellent teaching

staffStaff are very helpful,

friendly and well prepared professionally.

A very supportive College with a variety of

interesting and inspiring teachers.

The tutors are supportive with

College work and home issues.

Here is what our students have to say about their tutors

The staff, lecturers and the cohort have made this a wonderful life

experience.

Chinese Medicine Tutor Cheng Hao Zhou is teaching

our weekend third year group on the first day of

their teaching year

64 65

Here is what our students have to say about their tutors

Let’s hear from our tutors

Points and Clinical Skills Tutor Julie Williams

“As a student at NCA I received outstanding

tuition and this inspired me to share my

knowledge with others. Point location classes

involve learning and measuring the specific

locations for acupuncture points, where the

needles should be inserted, whilst at the same

time building knowledge of human anatomy.

Clinical Skills covers a comprehensive range

of needling techniques, moxa and cupping.

Each new academic year sees an influx of

students from different backgrounds and

cultures who have come together to gain a

greater understanding of acupuncture. I am

very much a “people person” and over the

three years the students are at NCA, I enjoy

seeing them develop as individuals who will

be able to fulfil their potential as practitioners

once they graduate.”

Biomedicine for Acupuncturists Tutor Annie Walker “Thanks to NCA, I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Higher

Education with Middlesex University. This has enhanced how I

teach - opening my awareness of different learning theories and

underpinning them in practice has given me a stronger framework

on which to hang teaching practice. My lectures have changed in

their timings, structure and content and provide lots of opportunities

to check and balance what is learnt throughout the day - no more

‘death by PowerPoint’!”

Clinic Supervisor Nicky Thomas

“I see my role as a supervisor in the clinic as one that helps

students learn what it means to be an acupuncturist. I do

this by weaving together students’ own knowledge and

skills; strengths and personalities so that they can develop

their own personal style. My job is to ensure that patients

receive the best quality care and that students develop into

competent practitioners through the assessment of various

skills, filling in gaps in knowledge through the experience

of clinical practice. In many ways my relationship with

students mirrors that of the practitioner and patient in that

I am providing encouragement, and positive feedback;

helping students trust themselves and adjusting support

and structure in line with students’ experience and needs.”

66 67

Acupuncture courses teaching faculty - Principal, Course Director and Research Director

Richard BlackwellBMedSci LicAc MSc(Ac) College Principal

Richard has a Medical Sciences degree from Nottingham

University Medical School, and graduated from the

British College of Acupuncture in 1982 before going

on to study Chinese herbal medicine. He established

busy practices in Birmingham and then in York, and has

taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate level

for many years. He is a past president of the Register of

Chinese Herbal Medicine. He has published widely on

Chinese medicine theory, clinical practice, research and

education and has a particular interest in the treatment of

multiple sclerosis.

Lara McClureBA(Cantab) MA(Cantab) PhD PGCHE Course Director and Research Stream Leader

Lara obtained a PhD in Medieval Studies from

the University of York in 2003 and has a special

interest in the history of medicine, religion and

popular culture. She has a strong research

background and leads the Research Stream on

the acupuncture courses. Lara has completed a

Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education with

Middlesex University and is a member of the British

Acupuncture Accreditation Board.

Karen Charlesworth MSc (Acupuncture) MBAcCResearch Director

After many years working as a journalist, Karen

retrained as an acupuncturist, qualifying with an

MSc from NCA in 2013. She runs a busy community

acupuncture clinic in York. Karen’s MSc dissertation

‘invented’ by consensus a new auricular acupuncture

protocol (known as APPA) for the attenuation of

pain and anxiety in humanitarian aid situations. She

is currently studying for her PhD in Acupuncture at

the University of York, looking at the effectiveness of

acupuncture for atrial fibrillation.

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Acupuncture courses teaching faculty - Year Leaders

Eileen GibbonBA(Hons) DipAc DipCHM MBAcC MRCHM Year One Leader and Pulses Stream Leader

Eileen has been practising acupuncture since 1994 when

she graduated from the NCA. She went on to qualify

in Chinese herbal medicine which she uses alongside

acupuncture. Arising from her long experience as a

teacher of the Alexander Technique, she has a strong

interest in how physical habits affect function and in a

subtle ‘listening’ approach to palpation and bodywork.

She is a longstanding tutor on the acupuncture course

and is a member of the Accreditation Board of the EHTPA

which accredits herbal medicine courses. Eileen lives and

practises in Sheffield.

Annie WalkerRGN BSc MBAcC LicAc PCGHEYear Two Leader and Biomedicine for Acupuncturists Stream Leader

Annie has been a Registered Nurse for twenty

years, working as a clinical nurse specialist in

accident and emergency, and drug and alcohol

treatment. She studied acupuncture in London,

practises acupuncture in Cheshire and is a

director of Manchester’s multi-bed acupuncture

practice ‘The Acupuncture Works’.

Cheng Hao Zhou BM (TCM China) MBAcC MRCHM Year Three Leader

Cheng was trained at the Shanghai University of

Traditional Chinese Medicine, and qualified in 1992

as Doctor of TCM. She worked in the Chinese

Health Service for eight years and qualified as

“Doctor-in-Charge” in 1998. She joined the NCA

team in 2001. Currently Cheng works as a Clinical

Supervisor at both of the Acupuncture and Chinese

Herb Medicine teaching clinics, while teaches

various subjects on both programmes. She is also

an External Examiner for other Acupuncture course

providers which involves academic quality control

and development.

68 69

Acupuncture courses teaching faculty - Stream Leaders

Annie MillesDipAc MBAcC MSc Ac Dip CHM MRCHM PGCHE BA MSc PhDChinese Medicine Stream Leader

Annie trained in acupuncture at the

NCA, and gained a Master’s degree

in acupuncture for examining the

effects of using Japanese acupuncture

in her practice. She also completed

the College’s post-graduate training

in Chinese herbal medicine. She has

been teaching acupuncture students

since 2005 and has taught at the NCA,

Leeds Metropolitan University and

Manchester Metropolitan University.

She is currently on the BAAB

Accreditation Committee which seeks

to maintain and improve standards

in acupuncture education, and has a

private practice in York.

Lynne HampsonDipAc PGDip MBAcC RGN PGCert EdPoints, Clinical Education and Skills Stream Leader and Clinic Supervisor

Lynne originally trained as a nurse,

and then pursued her interest in

complementary health by studying

at the NCA. She graduated in 1999

and has built up a busy practice

where massage is an integral part

of the treatment. Lynne worked

as a Safe Practice Verifier and

Accreditation Visitor for the BAcC and

was previously involved in teaching

acupuncture at the University of

Salford. She has also studied at the

university hospital at Guiyang in China.

Lynne is also a clinic supervisor.

Phil MontgomeryBSc Ac MBAcCBusiness Stream Leader and Clinic Supervisor

Phil has run a variety of different

successful businesses before

changing career and graduating

as an acupuncturist at the NCA in

2011. He runs a busy acupuncture

practice near Selby. Alongside

his Business Stream Leader role

Phil is a Locum Supervisor at the

NCA and works on the Points

and Clinical skills streams. Phil

has been on a number of World

Medicine trips volunteering his

acupuncture skills to the rural

communities in India.

Ben ElliottPGDip Ac MBAcCBodywork for Acupuncturists Stream Leader

Ben graduated from the Northern College

of Acupuncture in 2012 and has a private

practice at York Clinic for Integrated

Healthcare where he uses acupuncture

alongside his previous qualification in

remedial sports massage to primarily

treat musculo-skeletal conditions. He has

been involved with the Health Sciences

department at the University of York

through which he has had academic

papers published by Hindawi and The

Journal of Alternative and Complementary

Medicine in the field of acupuncture in the

treatment of depression and neck pain.

Ben also worked for five years at St James

Hospital giving treatment for symptomatic

issues arising from cancer treatment.

68 69

Stream Leaders continued

Phil TrubshawBSc(Ac) MBAcC PGDip(CHM)

Philosophy and Context Stream Leader

Phil studied acupuncture

at the University of Salford,

graduating in 2011. Following

this he studied tui na at

post-registration level at

Tui Na Tuition North West

in Stockport. Currently.

Phil practises in Salford and

Manchester, integrating

Acupuncture, Chinese herbal

medicine and Tui Na. He

is currently completing his

Dissertation in Chinese Herbal

Medicine.

Other members of our acupuncture courses teaching faculty

Helen ComptonBSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine PGCHE MCPPBiomedicine for Acupuncturists tutor

Helen graduated from the College of Phytotherapy in 2004

and practises herbal medicine in Harrogate. She is also

helped design and teach the BSc in Herbal Medicine from

Leeds Beckett University between 2007 and 2012 and runs

workshops, talks and walks on herbal medicine.

Ric ChamberlainBSc MSc(Ac) PhD MBAcCChinese Medicine tutor

Ric has a Biological Sciences (Genetics) degree from the

University of East Anglia and a PhD in molecular virology

from the University of Reading. He later worked in the fields

of Hepatitis C and HIV in the Universities of Glasgow and

Edinburgh. He graduated with an MSc in Chinese Medicine

from the Northern College of Acupuncture in 2002. His

dissertation was on the nature of intuition and its role in the

practice of Chinese medicine. Since then Ric studied for and

was awarded a PGCHE from Middlesex university Ric now lives

in North Wales where he runs clinics in Ruthin and Flint. In

addition he also runs the acupuncture programme at Wrexham

University.

Jo CurleBSc (Hons) Cert Ed MBAcC

Jo has worked as a massage and holistic therapist since 2002

and as a spa manager in both Australia and Northumberland.

Following on from a Certificate in Education in 2010 she

combined her interests in massage and teaching to teach

massage at a local college. After completing a BSc in

Acupuncture at the NCA in 2015, she joined the bodywork

teaching team. Jo works as an acupuncturist in and

around Newcastle specialising in facial acupuncture and

musculoskeletal pain treatment with Gua Sha and acupuncture.

Sabine Green Pgdip Acu MBAcC

Sabine studied her Post Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture at

the NCA and graduated in 2010. She is running her clinic in

Stockton in Tees with a strong emphasis on women’s health

and fertility. She is also a trained supervisor.

Helen Singleton BSc MSc MCSP

Helen is a Chartered Physiotherapist who then studied for a

Masters degree in Acupuncture. She practises in Beverley

and Market Weighton and also conducts Pilates classes. Her

speciality is musculoskeletal conditions.

Michael RanftBA(hons) PGCE PGDipAcu MBAcC

Michael worked in secondary education for over a decade as

an English teacher before studying acupuncture at the NCA,

graduating in 2017. He runs his own clinics in Northumberland

and Newcastle, specialising in distal methods of acupuncture

from the lineages of Dr Tan and Master Tung. Having

practised various traditional Chinese martial arts for almost 20

years, Michael also teaches Tai Chi and Qigong, as well as the

Filipino style of Eskrima.

70 71

Julie Williams (locum)

BScAc(Hons)

MBAcC

Julie graduated

from NCA in

2012. She runs

a busy clinic at

home in Northallerton and also in Yarm. Julie is

an affiliated member of the Zita West Fertility

Network specialising in Fertility. Julie’s ethos is

“acupuncture for life”. Julie also teaches on the

points and clinical skills stream.

Clinic Supervisors

Sarah Dixon(locum)

MScAC MBAc

Sarah graduated

from the NCA

in 2000. Her

MSc looked at

the effects of

acupuncture on post natal depression. She visits

patients in their own homes in and around the

city of York specialising in chronic, psychological

and gynaecological conditions.

Brendan O’SullivanLicAc MBAcC

Brendan studied five

element acupuncture

before completing

his TCM training, and

also gaining a diploma

in the treatment of

children with acupuncture. He has worked

extensively in the NHS, in GP acupuncture clinics

and hospital pain clinics, and now runs his own

busy clinic in Scarborough where he specialises in

the treatment of pain.

Nicky Thomas DipAc MBAcC

Nicky Thomas

qualified as an

acupuncturist in

1999 after studying

for 4 years at the

NCA. Over the

past 14 years Nicky has practised acupuncture

in York and then in Bahrain in the Middle East,

from where she has recently returned to join the

clinical supervisors’ team at the NCA. As well

as practising acupuncture in York, Nicky also

teaches yoga, qi gong and tai chi and thai chi and

teaching qi gong on the acupuncture course.

70 71

Points team - under the leadership of Lynne Hampson

Emma Houston Jupp

DipAc BA(Hons) MRes PGCE

Emma graduated from the NCA in 2012

and practises acupuncture and clinical

aromatherapy in Scarborough. She is

a qualified teacher and also teaches

children with profound and multiple

learning difficulties.

Hannah Palfreyman

BScAc(Hons) MBAcC

Hannah graduated from the NCA in

2011 and now runs an acupuncture clinic

in Leicester within a multidisciplinary

practice.

Alex Humphries

BScAc(Hons)

Alex graduated from the NCA in 2015

and practises acupuncture and Tui Na in

his own Clinic in York. Alex has a passion

for the treatment of pain and musculo-

skeletal issues and is inspired by the

lineage of channel acupuncture of Master

Tung and Dr Tan. He Integrates both

Western and Eastern models of body

work alongside Acupuncture.

Adam Stott

BScAc(Hons) MBAcC

Adam graduated from the NCA in 2016,

practices in a multi-bed clinic in York and

is also interested in the spiritual welfare of

his patients.

Jill Marks

BA PGCE PGDipAc MBAcC

Jill is an NCA graduate who practises in Barnard Castle and works at a multidisciplinary

practice in Durham. She became an acupuncturist following a 20 year career in secondary

education.

Jude Blair

BScAc(Hons) PGDipCHM MBAcC MRCHM

After a career in nursing, Judy studied at NCA, firstly in acupuncture and subsequently in

Chinese Herbal Medicine. She currently runs private clinics in Leeds, as well as a Nada clinic

for men suffering with side effects from treatment for prostate cancer at St. James’s Hospital,

Leeds. She is also involved with a World Medicine project, bringing acupuncture to people

who live in a rural and impoverished area in India.

Pulse team - under the leadership of Eileen Gibbon

72 73

• Andy Harrop - Japanese acupuncture Andy has spent many years perfecting his practice

of Japanese acupuncture, shiatsu, macrobiotics, and

aikido in the UK, Japan and the USA.

• David Mayor - Electro-acupuncture David is the author of “Electro-acupuncture - A

Practical Manual and Resource” and is a well-

respected teacher of electro-acupuncture and

associated treatment methods.

• Alan Hext - 5 element acupuncture Alan has been in practice and teaching acupuncture

for over 30 years and is the co-author of a translation

and commentary of the Chinese classic, Huainanzi

chapter 7 entitled Jing Shen.

• Neil Quinton - Mental and emotional problems

Neil has a special interest in the treatment of

psychiatric illness with acupuncture and Chinese

herbal medicine. He has been working as an

acupuncturist as part of mainstream mental health

services in Walsall for the last seven years.

• Irina Szmelskyj - Fertility Irina has specialist skills and interest in acupuncture

for infertility, IVF, pregnancy and post-natal care.

With her colleague Lianne Aquilina, Irina is the

author of “Acupuncture for IVF and Assisted

Reproduction: An integrated approach to treatment

and management”.

• June Tranmer - Paediatric acupuncture. June is an NCA graduate and Director of the Healing

Clinic in York. She has many years’ experience as a

paediatric acupuncturist and teacher.

Guest Specialty TutorsTo ensure a dynamic and interesting programme for our students, we regularly invite guest tutors to lecture in their speciality subjects. In 2019/20 our guest tutors may include:

Electro-acupuncture guest tutor David Mayor is

teaching Jo Curle the technique

Pip Bolland -

recent graduate

“I am really enjoyed to all the year three

Masterclasses in our final two terms –

particularly finding out more about Japanese

acupuncture with Andy Harrop. Neil Quinton’s

lectures on mental and emotional problems

were been extremely useful in preparing me for

treating patients with anxiety and depression

when I started my own practice this year.”

72 73

“Learning pulses is a long

process and having a good

tutor that helps make sense

of it all is amazing. Our

tutors sessions of calibrating

pulse taking have been a

great help to me.”

“My favourite lesson is research with Lara.

She has a passion for her subject which

is contagious. She makes it humorous,

relevant, and really encourages you to think

about what you are reading, which you can

apply to anything and everything, not just

acupuncture research.”

“I really enjoyed the TCM theory lessons, as

they introduced a completely different way of

thinking about illness and disharmony to our

western minds. Ric is an excellent tutor and

delivers lessons with passion, enthusiasm and

patience, keeping them light-hearted and fun.”

Let’s hear what our students sayPoints tutor

Julie Williams in class

74 75

How the College is runOur staff work hard to look after our students and make sure everyone is supported.

College Principal Richard Blackwell “I have been in post as the head of the College

since 1998 and head up a really dedicated

team. I am in charge of the day-to-day running

of the College backed up by members of

the management team and all the staff. The

College is overseen by a Board of Trustees,

a voluntary group of people from a variety

of backgrounds and expertise who provide

knowledge and experience to help steer the

College. As a student on our Acupuncture course

you will mostly see your tutors, the College

administration staff and the clinic staff. Students

also have their say and each cohort chooses a

student representative whose job is to feed back

their group’s thoughts and ideas to the teaching

team, with whom they meet on a regular basis.

As we are a registered charity any profit made

goes straight back into the College.”

Management team

Finance Manager,Daphne Smith

“I manage the accounts, financial planning, payroll and course fees.”

Marketing and Facilities Manager, Denise Magson RGN

“I am responsible for marketing and student recruitment, and look after the building and equipment.”

Course Director Lara McClure

“As well as Course Director I am also part of the Management Team along with the other Course Directors.”

74 75

The Board of Directors/Trustees

The College is managed by a Board of Directors which

ensures that everything we do is in line with our philosophy

and charitable objectives, and is the final decision making

body for all strategic and major financial decisions.

College administration

Reception Team Leader, Michelle Bowie

“I run the teaching clinic reception.”

Admin Support,Abby Foreman

“I provide admin support.”

IT Administrator,David Laverick

“I look after the College’s IT needs and development.”

College Administrator, Marie Clarkson

“I provide the administration for the College.”

Librarian,Cath Mortimer

“I am the College librarian and a learning support tutor. I manage the personal tutor system and offer students learning support.”

College Administrator,Linda Johnson

“I provide the administration for the courses and organise student clinic days.”

Receptionist,Adele Dyson

“I am a clinic receptionist.”

Receptionist,Viv Chamberlain-Kidd

“I am a clinic receptionist.”

Receptionist,Jade Richards

“I am a clinic receptionist.”

E-learning Editor, Tom Laverick

“I produce the e-learning sessions.”

Members of the BoardProf. Hugh McPherson (Chair) PhD FBAcC

Nicolas Haines - MSc

Graham Webb - FCIM FCMI FISM FSSSM Life F.IPFM FRSA Assoc CIPD

Jenni Flanders - MSc

David Jay - FCA

Helen Thomas - BA MA RSA Dip TEFLA FRSA

Eamonn Anderson - BSc(Econ) FCA

David Lipman - MA MBE

York

Edinburgh

London

Peterborough

Manchester

Glasgow

Aberdeen

Newcastle

How to find usNorthern College of Acupuncture61 Micklegate, York YO1 6LJ

Tel 01904 343309www.acupuncture-courses.org.uk

By Rail York is on the main East coast train line that links London with Edinburgh and there are excellent links by rail to every major city in the country. We are about a 5 minute walk from the station.

Rail journey times:London 2 hoursEdinburgh 2 hours 30 minutesGlasgow 3 hours 32 minutesPeterborough 1 hour 15 minutesManchester 1 hour 15 minutesNewcastle 1 hour

By BusBuses to York either terminate at York Station, or Rougier Street which is just round the corner from the College. (see map on opposite page.)

By Car

Approaching York from the via the A19 (North)From the A19 turn right at the traffic lights at Clifton Green. Cross over Clifton Bridge and keep straight on till the 3rd set of lights where you turn left into Poppleton Road. Follow this road into the town centre. At the lights at the end of Holgate Road turn left and follow ‘all routes’.

Approaching York from the A59 (North and West)Go straight on at the roundabout just after the Garden Centre and follow Poppleton Road into the town Centre. At the lights at the end of Holgate road turn left and follow ‘all routes’.

Approaching York from the A64 (South and West)From the A64 take the exit signed York West (A1036), then turn left at the 2nd and 3rd set of traffic lights and follow the city centre signs. You will pass the racecourse on your right keep going straight ahead and follow ‘all routes’.

All routes

As you approach the city walls turn right for the Nunnery Lane car park or turn left for a cheaper one close to the railway station on Queen Street, next to Fleetways taxi office. Walk back to the traffic lights and through the medieval archway called Micklegate Bar. The College is 300 yards along Micklegate in a Georgian terrace (between two medieval churches) on the right hand side of the road.

Please allow yourself enough time to find a parking space. York can be very busy especially in school holidays and on race fixture days.

76 77

LEEMAN ROAD

YorkCity

Centre

RailwayStation

Clifford’sTower

A19

MUSEUM ST

A103

6 BLOSS

OM ST

GILLY

GATE

QUE EN ST

NUNNERY LANE

BISHO

PGATE ST

FISHERGATE A19

PARAGON ST

BAR

BICA

NRD

A1079

A1079 FOSS ISLANDRD

A10

LORD MAYOR’S WK

HEWORTH GREEN

B136

3

A59 HOLGATE RD

MICKLEGATE

WATER

END

CLIFTON BR

IDGE

POPPLETON RDA1

North A64/A1South

CHURCH

City WallRailway

Station

QUEENST

M ICKLEGATE

PRIORY STTRINITY LA

ROUGIER ST

GEORGE HUDSONST

BARLA

MicklegateBar

BLOSSOMSTREET

Northern College of Acupuncture 61 Micklegate, York YO1 6LJ

Tel: +44 (0) 1904 343309 info@nca.ac.ukwww.acupuncture-courses.org.uk

The Northern College of Acupuncture is a registered charity No.1081184 and is a company limited by guarantee with no shareholders registered in England number 2400056

The College reserves the right to make necessary changes to the courses and curricula as outlined in this prospectus.

Park and Ride Scheme One of the most convenient ways of getting to the College is to use one of the many Park and Ride facilities located on all the major routes coming in to the city.

By AirThe College is in easy reach from Leeds Bradford and Manchester Airport.

Useful websites to help you plan your journey:

Our acupuncture courses are accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board.

76 77

The Northern College of Acupuncture Telephone: 01904 343309

Email: info@nca.ac.uk

61 Micklegate, York, YO1 6LJ

www.acupuncture-courses.org.uk

NCAYORK nca_york @YorkNCA