BSc (Hons) in AcupunctureMSc in Acupuncture

Acupuncture Prospectus

2011-12

ContentsIntroduction 04Bright futures 06

10 reasons why you should choose to study at the NCA 08

The Northern College of Acupuncture 09

Becoming an acupuncturist - the journey 10

What kind of people choose acupuncture? 12

Accreditation & Validation 14

The Acupuncture Courses 16

The Streams 18

Year One BSc 20

Year Two BSc 21

Year Three BSc 22

BSc Course Summary 23

Year One MSc 24

Year Two MSc 25

Year Three MSc 26

Year Four MSc 26

MSc Course Summary 27

College facilities 28

Support for our students 30

Introductory days and entry requirements 32

Applying and costs 33

Our teaching staff 34

Acupuncture teaching faculty 42

How is the College run? 45

How to find us 46

Introduction - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 03

We hope that our prospectus informs and inspires you Joining us for one of our popular introductory days is a great way to find out for yourself if the NCA and acupuncture are right for you.

To find out more or to book a place go to our website www.chinese-medicine.co.uk

Or phone Denise on 01904 343309

We believe: That Chinese medicine has the potential to heal and transform at all levels of body and mind.

We value: Encouragement for everyone to develop their own style of practice, drawing on a diverse repertoire of approaches and techniques.

We aim: To provide an inspirational learning environment of a very high quality, with a range of highly motivated and professionally qualified staff.

We strive: To foster personal growth and change in a supportive environment, enabling everyone to aim for their full potential.

Some of the photos used in the prospectus were taken in the College in June 2009. It was an exciting weekend as all three cohorts were in college. Year one were having a practical massage session with tutor Clif Wicks. Popular tutor and teaching clinic supervisor Brendan O’Sullivan was teaching the second years. Our year three were in college for their final weekend before the final exam resulting in successful graduation as professional acupuncturists. Other photos were taken in our busy acupuncture teaching clinics.

BSc (Hons) in AcupunctureMSc in Acupuncture

Acupuncture Prospectus2011-12

Introduction from the College Principal, Richard Blackwell

05 Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk - Introduction04

I have been really inspired recently by the staff and students here at the NCA. We are surviving the recession in good shape, and that is very much down to the commitment and loyalty of our staff and the sterling support of our students. Sadly other Colleges have not survived the recession and we have been involved in helping students from one of these by enabling them to complete their studies with us. Our students and staff have impressed both myself and our new arrivals with their friendly welcome and determination to help, and I keep hearing praise from our new students for the

standard of our teaching too. All these qualities represent the strong spirit at the heart of the NCA and I am very proud to be part of that.

Secondly, I have been greatly encouraged by the accumulating research evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture. We now have a range of good quality research studies which compare acupuncture treatment against normal care for a variety of conditions and show a large clinical effect from acupuncture. We also have strong evidence that acupuncture is much more than just placebo. On the basis of the clinical evidence, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Effectiveness (NICE) has concluded that acupuncture for back pain should be provided on the NHS. We are eagerly anticipating similar pronouncements on a range of other conditions in the next few years.

The NCA has always been committed to promoting high quality research into acupuncture and it is exciting to see the work of colleagues here in York and around the world beginning to bear fruit.

It is over 22 years since we began teaching acupuncture. Every year we qualify a group of students who go out and benefit many patients - it’s like the ripples from

pebbles thrown into a pond. Our students become great acupuncturists because they are taught by people who are practitioners themselves, and because their course takes them on an inspiring journey of exploration, growth and change.

At the end of their journey there is membership of the professional body and a University degree, combined with the ability to make a real difference to people’s health and well-being. I hope this prospectus will inspire you to join them.

Richard BlackwellCollege Principal

06 07Introduction - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 07

Bright futures

Our graduates, with their enthusiasm, dedication and NCA training are taking acupuncture into their communities and constantly finding new ways of making it accessible.

Paul Underhill Cohort of 2003I graduated from the NCA in 2006 and have since been practising in my own clinic in a small town in the Yorkshire Dales. It was through my long-held affection for Tai Chi that I was drawn to studying acupuncture at the age of 55. Having spent 35 years analysing, building and maintaining engineering systems, what greater challenge and privilege is there than helping the most complex system of all – human beings? But it is the Daoist philosophy that underlies Traditional Chinese Medicine that fascinates me the most; to maintain balance within ourselves (which is the TCM definition of good health and well-being) and with our environment is paramount; not to do so only leads to trouble and disease. I give talks and write extensively on the subject, and have created a small group of like-thinking people, ‘Dao in the Dales’, who meet on a regular basis to discuss how Daoist thinking can help us in today’s world. There is no doubt that studying the Eastern arts changes you as a person, and challenges you when applying them in a Western context. It makes you feel enormously alive and gives you a worthwhile purpose in life.

Caitlin Allen Cohort of 2003I run a very busy full-time practice in a clinic in Leeds offering acupuncture, massage and abdominal tuina. About 70% of my caseload is fertility based and of that about 60% is IVF related. I am keen though to attract a variety of patients. One of the ways I do this

is by working with a local charity which supports carers. They refer carers onto me who get free treatment and I get paid by the charity (at a lower than usual rate). In this way I get to see people who may not be able to afford private acupuncture. I love what I do and feel very lucky that I enjoy my work so much. After 5 years in acupuncture practice (3 since I qualified and 2 offering acupressure) I still get excited by what patients offer and am challenged by new stories and symptoms. The work both nourishes and stimulates me. I’ve got lots of ideas about new ways of working that I may develop in the next few years and that keeps me interested and challenged. Hopefully this will be a job for life!

Karen Crossland Cohort of 2005I graduated from NCA in 2008 and currently run my practice from within a Chiropractic Clinic and a Complementary Health Clinic. I enjoy working in the friendly atmosphere of multi-practitioner environments and despite some warnings to the contrary, cross-referrals do happen. Whilst I treat a variety of patients the majority of my cases at the moment are related to emotional problems and women’s health.

Since leaving college I have found my support network of a small but close group of colleagues, combined with regular Supervision sessions invaluable in my continued development as a practitioner. Without a shadow of a doubt studying acupuncture changed me as a person, so much so I am now a personal mentor and member of the point location team at NCA. My three years at college were challenging, enlightening and ultimately very rewarding and life in practice is proving to be the same.

Sue Butler Cohort of 2004Well how time flies! I graduated in 2007 after 3 wonderful years at the NCA and now practice in two hospices and in a private clinic. Working in a hospice environment is wonderful but of course it can also be challenging, but it gives me great satisfaction to help patients gain their optimum quality of life. I use the skills I learnt at college on a daily basis but also use my intuition too as patients present at various stages of many long term conditions. Due to the nature of hospice care I am fortunate to be able to see these patients regularly and I believe that this is of benefit to the patients.

In contrast private practice brings patients with many other ailments, understandably these patients come for fewer treatments due to having better underlying health conditions and also finance plays a part too.

I have recently been involved in a clinical trial run by University of York, where I am treating patients with depression. From a personal perspective this is proving successful with many positive comments from the patients!

Acupuncture changed my life and I can recommend the NCA as a wonderful supportive college, for anyone considering the study of acupuncture.

Phillip Haxby Thompson Cohort of 2004My life as an acupuncture practitioner… I’m not going to lie; it has been a long and sometimes difficult journey to get to where I am today. I have taught at the fantastic college where I trained (NCA will forever be in my heart as one of the best times of my life), and I have worked on-board a cruise ship. I am now in the middle of negotiations to build, not one, but three practices in the centre of London through my work on the cruises. I have helped hundreds of people through their health concerns, whether it be coping with arthritis, bringing their digestion back to life or even starting a family, and I still get a kick out of helping each and every one of them. If you have the enthusiasm and commitment to learn and work hard, whether it be on land, at sea or teaching others, you will undoubtedly succeed in creating a fantastic profession for yourself. And one key piece of advice: believe in yourself, because you CAN do it.

We regularly hear from our graduates about their successes - couples who have had babies after many years of trying, older people with arthritis who can knit and garden again, life-long migraine sufferers who have not had a headache for a year, and many more. Our students, with their enthusiasm and high level of training, are taking acupuncture out into their communities and finding new ways of making it accessible - including services within

the NHS. We see a bright future for acupuncture, which is now practically mainstream and serving an ever increasing public desire for a more holistic approach to medicine. Research shows that people hugely value the way in which acupuncturists work with them in partnership, treat them as individuals and take into account the whole person. We are very proud of our students and graduates and would like to share some of our success stories: NCA graduates – over to you!

Our students are embarking on an exciting and life changing journey on their way to becoming great acupuncturists

The Northern College of Acupuncture

About us - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 0908

Established in 1988, the Northern College of Acupuncture is a registered charity. Since the early days the College has gone from strength to strength. We educate acupuncturists, practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional therapists and we run a thriving and well respected clinic offering acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tuina Chinese massage and nutritional therapy, to the local community.

We have always been pioneers in the field. 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, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional therapy courses. Also, back in 1990 we established our sister research charity, the Foundation for Research into Traditional Chinese Medicine (FTCM), having foreseen the need to carry out robust research into the value of these therapies.

Our building and facilities in York City Centre A milestone for us was the move in the millennium year to our beautiful Georgian building here in Micklegate – right in the heart of the historic city. Our elegant building with its sweeping staircases, high ceilings and airy rooms is beloved by staff, students and clinic patients. It was adapted to our purpose by the York Conservation Trust

10 Reasons to choose to study at the NCA We are here to turn great people into great acupuncturists.

1 Our second to none reputation Established in 1988 we are the North’s only independent acupuncture College. We take enormous pride in our College, our dedicated, hard working students, and our committed teaching staff who are leading practitioners in their fields. We have a national reputation for excellence. Our acupuncture courses were the first in the country to be accredited and validated. We have been training acupuncturists since 1988 and we continue to ensure our courses are leading edge. We are partnered with Middlesex University and our accreditation with the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB) ensures you will be eligible to apply to the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) when you have qualified.

2 Our commitment to our students Our students are at the centre of our work. Chinese medicine opens up a whole new perspective on life, so if you decide to study with us you will continually change as you connect with your studies on many different levels. We recognise how this process enables our students to become not only competent practitioners, but great practitioners. We support our students every step of the way, from walking through our door on your first day to your graduation and beyond.

3 Our flexible courses Our students have busy lives – often fitting their studies around work and family commitments. You can choose to study on our acupuncture degree courses at weekends or on weekdays. We want you to have the best chance to change your life and become an acupuncturist.

4 Our small size We are small and friendly and you are not just a number at the NCA. We recognise each of our students as individuals and support and encourage each step of your personal journey to becoming an acupuncturist.

5 Our dedicated staff We put in a lot of time and effort so you have the best possible teaching, support and clinical experience Most of our staff are already experienced practitioners as well as being very able educators, and they are all working towards a common goal - the day you walk out of our door knowing that you have become a great acupuncturist.

6 Our fantastic students Students come to us to study acupuncture from all over and from all walks of life. They include builders, journalists, massage therapists, computer programmers, nurses, office workers and midwives. Although their backgrounds, ages, and experience differ greatly, they are all caring people, who want to make a difference and have a more meaningful life.

7 Our excellent clinic Our students value the focus we put on clinical experience throughout their training, helping them to become competent, confident and grounded practitioners. Our “hands on” approach is crucial and you are in clinic from the start of the course. You will learn a range of approaches to acupuncture, enabling you to develop your own style. Our highly integrated approach creates skilled and confident acupuncturists.

8 Our amazing locationThe College is right in the centre of beautiful historic York with excellent transport links. Students love our beautiful Georgian building with our teaching clinic at its heart. York is easily accessible by road, rail and air and the College is only a 10 minute walk from the railway station. York is a vibrant city with plenty of accommodation and restaurants.

9 Our commitment to research There is a growing body of good quality research which shows a strong clinical benefit from acupuncture for a range of conditions, and that it is more than a placebo. We are strongly committed to supporting the continuing development of this evidence base, both here in the College and through our research charity the Foundation for Research into Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our MSc students in particular are crucial to the future evolution of research in our field.

10 Our philosophy We strongly believe that the education of students and practitioners is a holistic activity, involving values, spirit, mind and body.

and houses both the College and the Clinic. We have two large teaching rooms, our lovely and extensively stocked library (one of the most popular rooms in the building), IT facilities, kitchen facilities on two floors and a small outside area. The ground floor clinic has treat-ment rooms, waiting area and a large front office, with more staff offices and treatment rooms on the top floor.

The Historic City of York York is a vibrant city and a great place to be based as a student. 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 the front door and you are right in the heart of the historic centre.

York is easily accessible and one of the main stops on the London to Edinburgh East Coast line. Better still, the College is only a 10 minute walk from the station. Road links are also excellent – with a dual carriageway link to the A1/M1 North and South and M62 East and West.

Becoming an acupuncturist - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 11

What does acupuncture do? 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 energy becomes stuck or depleted and we become ill. Acupuncture works directly with the body’s qi (pronounced chee) to strengthen vitality and unravel the obstructions which cause ill health. As a practitioner it is possible to diagnose these subtle imbalances to either treat or prevent disease, and to make sense of illnesses that conventional medicine has difficulty treating. Acupuncturists use a range of highly effective and deep-acting treatment techniques which relieve symptoms and treat their underlying causes, strengthen resistance to disease and enhance wellbeing. Acupuncture can be effective for a wide range of conditions which include pain, gynaecological problems, neurological disorders, and long term debilitating disorders affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular and gastro-intestinal systems. As balance is restored there is often a sense of “coming back to oneself”, with the recovery of a sense of purpose.

What methods of acupuncture do you teach?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.

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Make a real difference to peoples lives and make a real difference to your own life

Marianne is newly qualified and writing a fascinating blog on our web site about starting out as a practitioner.

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.

Third year student Phil is in his final year of study and is planning his future careerPhil: I just like the things acupuncture can do. It’s very very versatile. And it helps people. That’s basically it. And I’ve changed as a person since I’ve been studying, too. My wife says I’m more relaxed and more tolerant of other people’s situations, and my time management has vastly improved. At present my job is renovating properties and then letting them out. My wife and I have a portfolio of properties including flats, houses and shops, renovating them is fine but running them can be very stressful. Ideally I’d like to reduce the portfolio so that my work is part time. This will enable me to start a small practice. My wife has her own hairdressing business that includes a beauty room and a chiropodist room too, so I’ll probably start off there. I’ll do a couple of days a week working one to one and do possibly an evening running two rooms, that way I can offer a cheaper rate on the evenings for those who cant afford one to one, sort of like a multi-bed clinic but with the privacy of your own room. I’ve thought a lot about the type of practice I would like, and would consider setting up a multi practice centre, but that’s for the future. At the moment I am working hard to get through this final year first with lots of help from our fantastic tutors.

Becoming an acupuncturist - the journey

Why should I choose acupuncture? 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. At the same time, you can earn a living in a way that engages you as a whole person and is true to your own values. 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 natural world.

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

• A rich and flexible approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 1312

What kind of people choose acupuncture?

All sorts! Our students mostly range in age from eighteen to fifty-something and come from many walks of life. They include doctors, builders, nurses, massage therapists, computer programmers, physiotherapists, farmers and midwives. We find that this cosmopolitan mix creates stimulating and supportive groups of students. Life-long friendships are often made, and a great deal of mutual support is available along the way. Our students bring a great deal of life and work experience with them, and we all learn from each other. There is plenty of laughter too. Many of our students have already established successful careers in other,

completely unrelated fields. Some are already working in complementary or orthodox medicine and seek to expand their understanding and their therapeutic range. Others study acupuncture as a first career choice, or begin to study after raising their families. Many have had acupuncture treatment themselves, or have friends and relations who have been greatly helped. Another popular route is from a deep interest in the martial arts. One thing is for sure – all are inspired by our holistic approach to healing underpinned by a strong and coherent theory. No matter what background they come from our students are all united by one common goal - to change their lives and those of others.

Where are they now?“Using acupuncture alongside Western medicine to treat pain in the surgery where I work as a GP”

“I practise both acupuncture and homeopathy from my own home and also visit patients in their own homes. I have a wide variety of patients but recently have been seeing a lot of couples for support with IVF”

“Very busy combining running my own complementary therapy clinic, with teaching and practising acupuncture”

“I run a full-time practice in Leeds offering acupuncture, massage and abdominal tuina.”

Will I be able to earn a living when I have qualified?NCA graduates leave College with confidence and a great amount of knowledge and skill. Our course includes teaching on business development and offers chances to learn from the experiences of other acupuncturists. Once qualified, our graduates work in a variety of situations including group practices, setting up their own clinics, from home, in GP practices or a few within the NHS. This year one of our graduates has been appointed as an acupuncturist on a Cruise ship. Graduates who set up on their own and who actively work at building their practices with commitment and determination can be busy within 6 to 12 months. More typically, most people establish a good steady practice within two years. After a few years, many practices are sustained simply by word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied patients. Once your practice becomes well established you can earn a good living, and as an acupuncturist you can certainly find that learning and practising acupuncture enriches your life in many other ways as well.

Third year student Robin is talking about where he came from and where he is now.I am a Kung fu and Tai Chi instructor and I studied around the world learning my art. I found that all my teachers were also acupuncturists and I was inspired by them to find out more. The decision to study acupuncture was really incisive and quick. My wife and I had planned to work and study in Japan but I had a “eureka moment”! I applied for the Northern College of Acupuncture on Saturday, was interviewed on Tuesday and started within two weeks. I am a big fan of the NCA. There were gaps in my education but the college has not only taught me acupuncture but my general education has also had a massive boost.

At first I really struggled with the academic side but I got a lot of support with this, not only from the tutors, but also from my cohort who are a great bunch. I can see our friendships lasting the rest of our lives. It feels like a family. I am already making firm plans for my clinic. We have had to make a business plan, in fact I am working on this right now, and when I finish the course I plan to set up my own practice working from home and in two other local clinics. I feel confident that when I step into a room with my first patients that I have the tools to be able to deal with any situation and help whoever comes through my door. I cant speak highly enough of the college and the training I am receiving - its great!

Here’s what our students have to say about why they chose acupuncture

“After hurting my back whilst at work as a heating & plumbing engineer I found that acupuncture was the best and most successful treatment, enabling me to avoid surgery. After my experience I decided to change my career and am determined to be able to “fix people” and help others in the same way I was helped. Whilst studying I am looking after my young son and also learning Tuina massage with Errol Lynch”

“As a massage therapist I want to extend my skills, offer my patients more and expand my business”

“I come from a background in teaching and management. I decided to become an acupuncturist to “rescue” my life, to get my mind, body and spirit more on an even keel, and from a desire to change my working life”

“I have come straight from full time education but didn’t see myself in a large University environment. I am enjoying the personal atmosphere here at the NCA.”

You will join a highly dedicated and committed group of students who give one another a great deal of mutual support and encouragement.

Support for qualified students - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 1514

Accreditation & Validation

What makes us different from a UniversityWe are an independent College dedicated entirely to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional therapy. You will find here a special atmosphere and ethos which is a great support in learning these extraordinary subjects and nurturing your development as a practitioner. An important part of this is that you will join a highly dedicated and committed group of students, who give one another a great deal of mutual support and encouragement. Also, because we are smaller than a University department, you will find that we know you as an individual.

Professional accreditation Our acupuncture courses are 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. Once you have qualified you will be entitled to apply to become a member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC) and your patients can be assured that you are fully qualified to treat them. The BAcC provides its members with support at both a national and local level. To find out more about the BAAB go to: www.baab.co.uk

Government and statutory regulation The aim of statutory regulation is to ensure that patients seeking treatment can be fully informed about the type of treatment that they are being offered, and the qualification of the practitioner. The government is working specifically with the professions of acupuncture and herbal medicine to establish an improved system of regulation. Here at the NCA we strongly believe that this is the best way forward for the profession. There is more information on the British Acupuncture Council ( BacC ) website: www.acupuncture.org.uk.

A Royal Charter for Acupuncture Our professional body, the British Acupuncture Council, is well along the path of pursuing the grant of a Royal Charter. This provides recognition of our high professional and educational standards and will entitle members to call themselves “chartered acupuncturists”.

Tutor and Librarian Lara chats to student Amanda.

Katie who was a practitioner in our Graduate Clinic in 2008-09My experience as an acupuncture student at NCA was very positive so when I was offered the opportunity to join the graduate clinic, I didn’t hesitate to accept. Qualifying as an acupuncturist is exciting, but making the step to practice is challenging. What was important for me was that my clinical practice was based in an environment that was familiar, supportive and friendly. As part of the graduate clinic I have gained the experience I needed to consolidate my learning and the chance to develop my own style without the pressure of being a lone practitioner or expensive start up costs. Other benefits to staying on at the College have been access to up to date resources and a variety of practitioners with many years experience.

Second year student Julie is a dedicated student on our weekday courseWhat I love about acupuncture is the idea that it treats the whole person. In Western medicine, if you visit the doctor for a sore throat, he’ll simply treat you for a sore throat. At NCA we’re taught how to listen to the person, discussing with them their personal lifestyle problems that may have lead to them having their illness in the first place. Then make a clear diagnosis for the sore throat, and hopefully prevent it happening again. The teachers vary, from doctors who trained in China, to nurses who now practise as acupuncturists, drawing on a great wealth of experience. It’s a great place to study, with help and support all the way.

University validationOur acupuncture courses are validated by Middlesex University. This means you can be assured that the quality of the education you will receive is the same as a University course, and you will receive a Middlesex University degree at the end of your studies. Middlesex University is partnered with Beijing University and runs its own programmes in herbal medicine, acupuncture and Ayurvedic medicine. We are delighted to be partnered with this University, which has a strong commitment to complementary medicine. We are also looking forward to future collaborations on education and research. To find out more about Middlesex University go to: www.mdx.ac.uk

The Acupuncture Courses - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 1716

The Acupuncture Courses BSc (Hons) & MSc

We offer the choice of a BSc or an MSc in acupuncture. These courses both lead to the same professional qualification and eligibility to apply for registration with the British Acupuncture Council and practise as a professional acupuncturist after three years. Students on both the BSc and the MSc courses can choose a weekday study option or a weekend option.

The BSc CourseThe BSc course is ideal for students who do not have prior University experience and is designed to give you plenty of structure and guidance in the early years as you grow in confidence. It is a complete practitioner training and at the end you will be a highly capable practitioner eligible to apply to join the British Acupuncture Council.

The MSc CourseStudents who already have a first degree, or degree equivalent professional qualification or work experience, have the option to pursue their practitioner training as an MSc in Acupuncture. Our MSc is a unique course which combines practitioner training with Masters level study.

For the three years of studying for Part One of your MSc you will study the same streams as the BSc course, but organised into different modules and with assessment at Masters level. Much of the content you will study is the same as for the BSc, but you are expected to explore the material more deeply and critically. You will also attend an additional six evening tutorials per year. Successful completion of the first three years makes you eligible to go into practice and to apply for membership of the professional body, the British Acupuncture Council.

You will then undertake Part Two of the MSc, the research dissertation. Some students complete this in the fourth year, while others prefer to take two years. The research dissertation is a chance to explore a subject which interests you in real depth. This process of in-depth exploration will develop your understanding and broaden your repertoire in practice. This helps you to develop further as a practitioner. For some, it is also a gateway to involvement in acupuncture education or in further research. With some dissertation topics the process of undertaking your dissertation can be integrated with the process of setting up in practice, and can help you to link up with other practitioners and with colleagues in orthodox medicine.

Undertaking Masters level research helps you develop your understanding and broaden your repertoire in practice. Research approaches you may choose include surveys, literature reviews, case study series or pilots for clinical trials. Your research will add to the knowledge base of the profession, helping us to improve practice, and may also contribute to the growing body of evidence for acupuncture’s efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

NCA has been running Masters courses in acupuncture since 1995. Our graduates make a substantial contribution to research within the profession and several have gone on to undertake PhDs. Examples of previous MSc projects can be found on our web site.

What is the difference between the BSc and the MSc?

The BSc (Hons) is designed for students who do not have prior University experience, and provides structure and guidance as you learn. The MSc is for those who already have a degree or an equivalent professional qualification, or whose work experience has given them the equivalent of degree-level learning, and who welcome the chance to explore the material in greater depth. MSc students qualify as practitioners after three years and then go on to do a dissertation.

How will my acupuncture course fit in with my life?Our students have busy lives. You can choose whether to study acupuncture mostly at weekends (with weekday clinical attendance) or entirely on weekdays.

Weekend acupuncture courses: Teaching takes place on Saturday and Sunday over 19 weekends of the academic year starting in October. Sessions run from 10.00am - 6.00pm on Saturday and 9.30am - 5.30pm on Sunday. See our web site for course dates.

Weekday acupuncture courses: For students beginning in 2011 teaching will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings 9.30 a.m. – 1.30 p.m. during term times in the academic year, starting in October. See our web site for course dates.

We begin in early October and finish mid July, with a short break over Christmas and Easter and a long break from classroom learning over the summer.

How long are the courses?Students will complete the BSc in Acupuncture course in three years. Students on the MSc in acupuncture will also qualify to practise after three years, but then take a final year or two to complete the dissertation part of their MSc. Our acupuncture courses are designed to be flexible and parts of the courses which would normally take one year can be spread over two years if other considerations in your life make this necessary.

Are the courses full time or part time?The hours of study on the three year weekday and weekend BSc and MSc in Acupuncture are those of a full time course. For Council Tax purposes each course qualifies as full time, so you should be eligible for a student exemption on your Council Tax.

What about clinic days?In addition to the teaching weekends, you are required to complete a certain amount of clinic days both in our clinic at the College and in other practices.

• In the first year this is 8 weekdays in the NCA clinic and 2 practitioner observation days with practitioners of your choice.

• In the second year this is 17 days in the NCA Clinic and 3 practitioner observation days with practitioners of your choice.

• In the third year this is 20 days in the NCA clinic.

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

The Water elementAssociated with the wisdom which comes from developing a broad perspective on our life and purpose, and with the inner stillness which helps us to develop that wisdom. The growth of these capacities is a key part of becoming a good practitioner.

Our acupuncture courses are accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board.

The Acupuncture Course - BSc/MSc - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 1918

The StreamsThe Acupuncture Course BSc / MSc

Both acupuncture courses mostly cover the same material, but the MSc looks at it in greater depth. A series of “streams” runs through both courses and the streams are integrated into the various modules, as they are in clinical practice:

Chinese MedicineChinese medicine is founded on many centuries of sensitive exploration of the energies and functions of the body-mind, combined with careful observation of the underlying forces and patterns of the natural world. This is the source of the fundamental theories you will learn, which combine the five elements, a system of correspondences, with the principles of yin and yang or polarity, to produce richly textured descriptions of health and disease.Applying these principles enables you to make a detailed diagnosis of the imbalances of the organ systems. The diagnostic process draws on many sources of information, including the patient’s experience of their symptoms and feelings, and your observation of them and examination of their tongue and pulse. You learn to see the underlying patterns revealed by this information, and hence you are able to choose for each patient the best treatment to restore balance, resolve symptoms and promote health.

Western Medicine/BiosciencesDuring your time studying acupuncture you will learn the anatomy and physiology you need to work with the body and to understand how 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

Clinical Education and SkillsWe have an excellent teaching clinic at the College which is open every week of the year and serves our local community. Chinese medicine is based on centuries of clinical experience, and theory and practice are closely linked. You begin your clinical work in your first year. 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, and some simple acupuncture. Later in the second year you begin to give full treatments with acupuncture and to take personal responsibility for patients, with close support from our outstanding clinical supervisors. In this way, your hands-on clinical experience informs and enriches your learning throughout the courses.

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.

ResearchWe think it essential that practitioners are involved in appropriate research into acupuncture. You will learn to evaluate research studies and to understand and interpret a wide range of research methods, and you will acquire research skills of your own. Go to our website to look at the research papers our MSc students have produced.The courses have a strong clinical focus and this is reflected in our research activity. Laboratory based research is not normally available.

Business SkillsTo succeed as a practitioner you need to be able to establish a successful practice and to communicate the value of what you do. You will learn about business planning, marketing, finances and legislation/regulations.

Philosophy and ContextYou will learn about the philosophies and historical developments which underpin Chinese medicine and give it such depth.

Points and ChannelsThis stream focuses on the locations of the acupuncture points and channels, and the classifications and actions of the points.

Pulse DiagnosisA structured and effective approach to the teaching of the ancient art of pulse diagnosis is a special feature of the courses.

SummaryOur acupuncture courses will broaden your horizons and stimulate and develop you as a thinking and reflective practitioner. We aim to combine a robust training in the foundations of the subject with exposure to its rich diversity.

Second year student Tim finds he gets support just when he needs it.What I like most about the NCA is that we have a great bunch of lecturers. They’re very varied, but they all just keep going until we’ve got it. There’s no clock-watching. They’re great. It’s almost impossible and certainly unfair to single any one out. However

just before last year’s TCM exam I was struggling trying to differentiate certain symptoms and I emailed our Tutor Don Clarke time and again with several queries. Time and time again his answers kept flying back; sometimes within minutes of my requests being sent. This was so helpful and so encouraging. Studying acupuncture is nothing like I expected. We do a lot of things I hadn’t expected, like psychology and anatomy and bodywork – which is fantastic because it gets you into being able to work in a clinic and deal with people. It is always interesting and very rewarding.

Personal and Practitioner DevelopmentAs a practitioner your whole being is engaged in the treatment process and qualities such as empathy and mindfulness are hugely important. The development of 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. Your development as a practitioner and as a person are consistent themes throughout the course. You develop your ability to reflect on, and direct, your own learning and growth as a practitioner. You further improve your communication skills and enhance your empathy and ability to work with feelings, and you build your awareness of the energy fields and psychological dynamics of yourself and your patients.

BodyworkA special feature of our course 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. We also teach you a systematic and detailed approach to pulse diagnosis. Through building these skills and sensitivities, you grow in understanding and confidence, and you develop as a practitioner.

(chée) n.Energy, life force, though it has a wider and more subtle meaning which is difficult to translate with a single word. Said to flow around the body through channels known as meridians which are accessed by acupuncture points.

Qi

The Acupuncture Course - BSc - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 2120

BSc Acupuncture 2011-12

BSc Year OneFoundations of Clinical Practice• Bodywork skills including acupressure, basic needling,

moxibustion, cupping and gua sha

• Sensitive diagnostic and therapeutic touch

• Anatomical and energetic structures of the body

• Introduction to the acupuncture points and channels

• Muscle anatomy and relationship to channels

• Treatment of muscles and channels

• Pulse diagnosis and the Shen-Hammer system

• Advising patients on diet and lifestyle

• Safe and ethical practice

• Using basic skills in the clinic

Being and Becoming• Developing the personal and interpersonal skills you need as

a practitioner

• Enhancing your communication skills and self-awareness

• Building on your ability to work with feelings

• Approaching patients with respect and compassion

• Psychotherapeutic models for understanding the patient-practitioner relationship

• Anxiety, depression and mood disorders

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

• Personal development planning

• Eastern and Western traditions of self-maintenance, self-development and inner knowledge

BSc Year TwoClinical Practice• Actively treating patients in our teaching clinic, under careful

supervision

• Giving preparatory massage, moxibustion and cupping, practising point location and pulse and tongue diagnosis, and later in the year beginning to add some simple needling

• Continuing development of patient-practitioner skills, including case taking and patient management, communication skills and ability to work with feelings

• Making sense of a case - diagnosis and treatment strategy

• Dealing with disability and bereavement

• Ethics in practice

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

• Using sensitive touch to diagnose and treat pain and other conditions

• Qi gong, basics of tuina (Chinese massage) and shiatsu, ear acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and deepening your learning of needling techniques

• Pulse diagnosis

• More on points and channels

Understanding Disharmony • Chinese medicine’s patterns of disharmony which cause ill

health

• Making a precise diagnosis of the energetic imbalances present in your patient

• Using a variety of diagnostic frameworks

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

• Making subtle distinctions between similar imbalances

• Emotional and spiritual aspects of disharmony

• Understanding the causes of disharmony and the development of pathology

• Qi gong, posture, breathing, visualisation and meditation

• Holistic practice and awareness of the energies involved in acupuncture

• Basic theories of bodywork - appreciating the bodily landscape

• Clinical observation

Foundations of Chinese Medicine• Fundamental terms and concepts of Chinese medicine and

their historical development and philosophical roots

• Yin and yang, the five elements 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

• Tongue and pulse diagnosis

• Study skills, including use of IT, to benefit your future study throughout the course

• Traditional and modern approaches to the development of knowledge in Chinese medicine

• Skills of critical enquiry to interpret traditional knowledge and modern research

• Research skills and the evidence base

Western Medicine in Context• Guided home study of anatomy and physiology

• Classroom work on the fundamentals of physiology and pathology in Western medicine

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

• Basic pharmacology, drug management issues and referrals

• Physiological mechanisms and effects of acupuncture

Clinical Reality 1 • Diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for a range of diseases

and conditions

• Studying Chinese and Western perspectives together to prepare for the realities of clinical practice

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

• Emotional and spiritual dimensions of acupuncture and Chinese medicine

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

• Communicating with and referring to other medical practitioners

The Chinese DragonA symbol of luck, power and wisdom. In popular belief dragons are the bringers of rain and the rulers of waterfalls, rivers and seas. Dragons are often pictured with a flaming pearl, a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

Our acupuncture courses are accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board.

The Acupuncture Course - BSc - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 2322

BSc Year ThreeClinical Management• Acting as primary practitioner for your allocated patients,

giving them acupuncture under supervision

• 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

• Giving individualised advice on diet and lifestyle

• Ethical dilemmas and complexities

• Physical assessment and integrative treatment strategies

• Maintaining yourself - qi gong and meditative approaches, being self-reflective

• Advanced skills in pulse diagnosis and applying sophisticated needle techniques. Applying your learning to the realities of clinic, consolidating your understanding of traditional Chinese medicine

• Developing skills and positive attitudes about business planning and management to optimise your business and career success

Clinical Reality 2• Continuing study of the Chinese and Western perspectives

on a range of more complicated diseases and conditions

• Diagnosis and management, treating alongside orthodox medication

• Exploration of detailed case histories, formulating comprehensive treatment principles and plans

• Chinese medicine patterns associated with Western categories of disease

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

• Collaborative and inter-professional working

• Research methods and the evidence base relating to clinical practice, including high quality and ground-breaking examples of acupuncture research

Hundred Taxations – Knotty Diseases• Conditions which are particularly complex to diagnose

and treat, with multiple causes of disease and powerful medication:

- Metabolic and endocrine conditions

- Auto-immune disorders

• Conditions which are difficult to diagnose in Western medicine

• ME and chronic fatigue

• Case study research and critical application of the evidence base

Diversity of practice• Five element approaches

• Approaches from Japanese acupuncture traditions

• Introduction to paediatric acupuncture

• Working with a repertoire of approaches and techniques

• Intuition, intention and healing

Acupuncture Research• Deepening your knowledge

by pursuing in greater depth an aspect of Chinese medicine which enthuses you

• Debating complex problems of theory and practice and identifying new insights

• Reviewing the subject area and formulating interpretations and proposals for action, development or research

We often see second year student Fern studying in the library.When I found acupuncture I was trying to bring together a lot of different feelings, thoughts and beliefs into something I could passionately do not just as a career, but also as a way of life. After a long period of travelling in which my health had deteriorated, I struggled to find answers or solutions from the doctors and looked to acupuncture as an alternative to recovering my energy and painting a picture of my health that I could understand. From this I started to explore the possibilities of acupuncture as a career. At the NCA there is a great balance between theoretical and practical training which means you are always stimulated and on the path to becoming an acupuncturist from the word go.

You also gain and develop a new perspective on life and learning through a combination of all the modules, ranging from Chinese philosophy and Chinese theory on the five elements to lectures based on psychotherapy and practitioner development.

After the first year I decided to move to York so that I could access the library and spend more time in the college. I love to come into college for self study as it is a cosy, homely and supportive environment; it is always lively with people coming and going into both college and clinic and everyone is a familiar face.

BSc in Acupuncture Course SummaryVisit our web site for 2011/12 course dates

Our acupuncture courses are designed to be flexible and parts of the courses which would normally take one year can be spread over two years if other considerations in your life make this necessary.

First Year19 weekends or two half days each week in term time

Second Year 19 weekends or two half days each week in term time

Third Year 19 weekends or two half days each week in term time

Foundations of Clinical Practice (including 5 days in clinic and 1 weekday of clinical skills)

Clinical Practice (including 17 days in clinic and 3 days practitioner observation)

Clinical Management (including 20 days in clinic)

Being and Becoming (including 3 days in clinic and 2 days practitioner observation)

Understanding Disharmony Clinical Reality 2

Western Medicine in Context Hundred Taxations - Knotty Diseases

Foundations of Chinese Medicine Clinical Reality 1 Diversity of Practice

Acupuncture Research

The Acupuncture Course - MSc - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 2524

MSc Acupuncture 2011-12

MSc Year OneFoundations of Clinical Practice• Bodywork skills including acupressure, basic needling,

moxibustion, cupping and gua sha

• Sensitive diagnostic and therapeutic touch

• Anatomical and energetic structures of the body

• Introduction to the acupuncture points and channels

• Muscle anatomy and relationship to channels

• Treatment of muscles and channels

• Pulse diagnosis and the Shen-Hammer system

• Advising patients on diet and lifestyle

• Safe and ethical practice

• Using basic skills in the clinic

• Critical debate: what are qi, points and channels? Exploring multiple perspectives and interpretations.

Being and Becoming• Developing the personal and interpersonal skills you need as

a practitioner

• Enhancing your communication skills and self-awareness

• Building on your ability to work with feelings

• Approaching patients with respect and compassion

• Psychotherapeutic models for understanding the patient-practitioner relationship

• Anxiety, depression and mood disorders

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

• Personal development planning

• Eastern and Western traditions of self-maintenance, self-development and inner knowledge

• Qi gong, posture, breathing, visualisation and meditation

• Holistic practice and awareness of the energies involved in acupuncture

MSc Year TwoClinical Practice• Actively treating patients in our teaching clinic, under careful

supervision

• Giving preparatory massage, moxibustion and cupping, practising point location and pulse and tongue diagnosis, and later in the year beginning to add some simple needling

• Continuing development of patient-practitioner skills, including case taking and patient management, communication skills and ability to work with feelings

• Making sense of a case - diagnosis and treatment strategy

• Dealing with disability and bereavement

• Ethics in practice

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

• Using sensitive touch to diagnose and treat pain and other conditions

• Qi gong, basics of tuina (Chinese massage) and shiatsu, ear acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and deepening your learning of needling techniques

• Pulse diagnosis

• More on points and channels

Understanding Disharmony • Chinese medicine’s patterns of disharmony which cause ill

health

• Making a precise diagnosis of the energetic imbalances present in your patient

• Using a variety of diagnostic frameworks

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

• Making subtle distinctions between similar imbalances

• Emotional and spiritual aspects of disharmony

• Understanding the causes of disharmony and the development of pathology

• Critical discussion: multiple perspectives on the causes of disease in Chinese and other medical traditions, influence of cultural factors and beliefs.

• Basic theories of bodywork - appreciating the bodily landscape

• Clinical observation

• Critical discussion of cross-cultural views on the nature of self and the therapeutic relationship. Reading and discussion in relation to the philosophical basis of ethical practice.

Foundations of Chinese Medicine• Fundamental terms and concepts of Chinese medicine and

their historical development and philosophical roots

• Yin and yang, the five elements 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

• Tongue and pulse diagnosis

• Study skills, including use of IT, to benefit your future study throughout the course

• Traditional and modern approaches to the development of knowledge in Chinese medicine

• Skills of critical enquiry to interpret traditional knowledge and modern research

• Research skills and the evidence base.

• Critical debate: cross-cultural and scientific views on ‘subtle energies’

• Ontological and epistemological concepts relating to research and the creation of knowledge

Western Medicine in Context• Guided home study of anatomy and physiology

• Classroom work on the fundamentals of physiology and pathology in Western medicine

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

• Basic pharmacology, drug management issues and referrals

• Physiological mechanisms and effects of acupuncture

• Critical debate: historical perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of Western medicine

• Critical debate: functional medicine and its relationship with patterns of disharmony

Clinical Reality 1• Diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for a range of diseases

and conditions

• Studying Chinese and Western perspectives together to prepare for the realities of clinical practice

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

• Emotional and spiritual dimensions of acupuncture and Chinese medicine

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

• Communicating with and referring to other medical practitioners

• Critical debate: research issues in clinical evaluations of acupuncture

Our acupuncture courses are accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board.

The Water elementAssociated with the wisdom which comes from developing a broad perspective on our life and purpose, and with the inner stillness which helps us to develop that wisdom. The growth of these capacities is a key part of becoming a good practitioner.

The Acupuncture Course - MSc - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 2726

MSc Year ThreeClinical Management• Acting as primary practitioner for your allocated patients,

giving them acupuncture under supervision

• 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

• Giving individualised advice on diet and lifestyle

• Ethical dilemmas and complexities

• Physical assessment and integrative treatment strategies

• Maintaining yourself - qi gong and meditative approaches, being self-reflective

• Advanced skills in pulse diagnosis and applying sophisticated needle techniques. Applying your learning to the realities of clinic, consolidating your understanding of traditional Chinese medicine

• Developing skills and positive attitudes about business planning and management to optimise your business and career success

Clinical Reality 2• Continuing study of the Chinese and Western perspectives

on a range of more complicated diseases and conditions

• Diagnosis and management, treating alongside orthodox medication

• Exploration of detailed case histories, formulating comprehensive treatment principles and plans

• Chinese medicine patterns associated with Western categories of disease

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

• Collaborative and inter-professional working

• Research methods and the evidence base relating to clinical practice, including high quality and ground-breaking examples of acupuncture research

• Conditions which are particularly complex to diagnose and treat, with multiple causes of disease and powerful medication:

- Metabolic and endocrine conditions

- Auto-immune disorders

• Conditions which are difficult to diagnose in Western medicine

• ME and chronic fatigue

• Case study research and critical application of the evidence base

• Five element approaches

• Approaches from Japanese acupuncture traditions

• Introduction to paediatric acupuncture

• Working with a repertoire of approaches and techniques

• Intuition, intention and healing

• Deepening your knowledge by pursuing in greater depth an aspect of Chinese medicine which enthuses you

• Debating complex problems of theory and practice and identifying new insights

• Critical debate: diversity in Oriental medicine and its implications for practice and research.

MSc Year FourWhen you have successfully completed the first three years you will be eligible to go into practice and to apply for membership of the professional body, the British Acupuncture Council.

You will then undertake Part Two of the MSc, the research dissertation. Some students complete this in the fourth year, while others prefer to take two years. The research dissertation is a chance to explore in real depth a subject which interests you. We support you throughout the process with a series of days when you come in to College to meet with our team of dissertation supervisors to learn more about approaches to in-depth inquiry and research, and to undertake the detailed

MSc in Acupuncture Course SummaryVisit our web site for 2011/12 course dates

First Year19 weekends or two half days each week in term time

Second Year 19 weekends or two half days each week in term time

Third Year 19 weekends or two half days each week in term time

Foundation of Clinical Practice (including 5 days in clinic and 1 weekday of clinical skills)

Clinical Practice (including 17 days in clinic and 3 days practitioner observation)

Clinical Management (including 20 days in clinic)

Being and Becoming (including 3 days in clinic and 2 days practitioner observation)

Understanding Disharmony Clinical Reality 2

Western Medicine in Context

Foundations of Chinese Medicine Clinical Reality 1

planning of your research project. You then complete your project and write it up in a 20,000 word dissertation, supported by your personal supervisor, who is an experienced researcher.

The MSc dissertation phase is run by our Research Director, Peggy Welch who is strongly committed to ensuring you are well supported throughout the process and able to produce an excellent research study.

Undertaking Masters level research helps you develop your understanding and broaden your repertoire in practice. Research approaches you may choose include surveys, literature reviews, case study series or pilots for clinical trials. Your research will add to the knowledge base of the profession, helping us to improve practice, and may also contribute to the growing body of evidence for acupuncture’s efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

The College’s teaching clinic collaborated with the Foundation for Research into Traditional Chinese Medicine and Sheffield University on a large pragmatic controlled trial into the provision of an acupuncture service for low back pain. This was the UK’s largest ever research study into acupuncture, with major funding from the Department of Health. Patients were followed up for two years after treatment and the results of the trial have now been published in the British Medical Journal. This research means that acupuncture is now one of the best evidenced interventions for back pain. For more information on the Foundation and its work visit www.frtcm.org

NCA has been running Masters degree courses in acupuncture since 1995. Our graduates make a substantial contribution to research within the profession and several have gone on to undertake PhDs.

1991 NCA Graduate June is a successful acupuncturist and runs “The healing clinic” in YorkWhen I initially chose acupuncture my children were very small, and I was a single parent. I wanted to help them have better health right from the beginning. I felt that the acupuncture at the NCA was one of the best trainings in the country, and it still is. What I love about acupuncture the most is seeing people get relief and get back in touch with themselves, and thinking to themselves, ‘oh, that’s what it feels like to feel OK again’. You can make such a difference to someone’s life.

Our acupuncture courses are designed to be flexible and parts of the courses which would normally take one year can be spread over two years if other considerations in your life make this necessary.

College facilities - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 2928

College facilities

Tell me about the teaching clinicThe acupuncture courses have a very integrated approach, ensuring that everything you learn in class is backed up with practical experience. Right from the start of studying acupuncture you will be working with our clinic supervisors and your student colleagues in our busy and vibrant clinic. In the first year you will spend 8 days in clinic, 3 days in the first term, so expect to get “hands on” from the very beginning! In the second and third years your clinic days increase to 17 and 20 respectively. Halfway through the second year you will start to do some simple needling and from the beginning of the third year you will be leading a team of first and second year students and making decisions about treatment. This may seem a little daunting at first, but don’t worry, we work hard to ensure that you have the skills and tools you need to meet the various milestones in clinical practice. Our dedicated

clinic supervisors are dynamic people and experienced practitioners who will help you every step of the way to put your learning of theory and skills into practice and become a confident acupuncturist. Clinic days are scheduled well in advance and student preferences are taken into account.

Do you have a library and what happens about buying books?Our 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. Electronic journals and the Acupuncture Research Resource Centre database are available. High levels of support and assistance are available from our popular librarian Lara. Essential text books, which you are expected to buy, cost about £150 in the first year and around £100 in subsequent years.

What on-line resources are available for me as a student?You will have access to a range of on-line resources including access to all course materials, discussion forums and on-line journals.You are also entitled to student membership of the British Acupuncture Council, with access to their excellent website for students: www.acupuncture.org.uk.

Am I entitled to any help towards the cost of travelling?You will be eligible for a student rail card

How easy is it to get accommodation?As York is one of the country’s top tourist destinations there is a wide range of accommodation to choose from. We are centrally located so there is a lot of choice nearby including guest houses, back packers, budget, mid-range and top-end hotels. Staying with local families who offer overnight accommodation in their homes is also popular with students who want to keep the costs down. We will provide you with a list of local accommodation. Expect to pay from £20 - £55 a night.

What about disabled access?There is good access to the whole College for students with disabilities. We will discuss your needs with you individually to assess how we can best support you.

What about IT and will I have access to a computer? We have good IT facilities and wireless internet access here in the College. Students are also required to have their own access to word-processing, internet and e-mail facilities from the beginning of the course and we expect all written work to be submitted in word-processed form.

Our clinic supervisor Brendan is “passionate about pain” – here is what he has to say:“I have a long history of treating pain with acupuncture both in the private sector and the NHS. Pain may be identified as the body’s way of letting us know that something is wrong. I strongly believe that acupuncture (with its long and venerable history) is a system of medicine that offers highly effective management and treatment of pain. Here at the NCA teaching clinic our students work under a team of supervisors. We are all experienced and passionate acupuncturists with a vast array of skills dedicated to pain management. Personally I am rewarded by seeing the well being effected in our patients after treatment and also helping our students and observing their progressive development in clinic. Their delight when they see all they are learning in class come together in effective treatments for their patients gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

Third year student Philin the library.

Support for students - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 3130

As a College we take pride in our friendly and personal approach and we aim to provide you with high levels of support

Support for our students

What sort of support can I expect during my training? We are committed to supporting you in your efforts to successfully complete the course. From the very start every student is allocated a personal tutor who will give support and advice throughout your course. You will meet with your tutor regularly to discuss your learning and your development as a practitioner. When you start you and your tutor will write a personal development plan which helps you to identify any support you may need during your time with us and we will then set up additional one-to-one input as you need it. There are also regular classroom sessions on the skills you need to enjoy your studies and to succeed in your assessments and, of course, you will find your fellow students an important source of mutual support.

Our courses can be demanding but we will help you to get the best from us and us from you. As a College we take pride in our friendly and personal approach and we aim to provide you with high levels of support. To get the most out of the course you also need to play your part, using the time available to access the libraries and on-line resources, and working with the information you are acquiring. Our expectations are that you will take more responsibility for your own learning as you progress through the course.

If you think you may need extra support from the start, please discuss this with Julia our Registrar: on 01904 343300 or e-mail juliabrooks-leonard@chinese-medicine.co.uk

What help will I get if I am struggling?Life can be complicated at times and we understand that unexpected things happen. Also our experience tells us that training to be an acupuncturist can be challenging and can sometimes bring up personal issues. Within their three or more years with us some students will need our help - their problem may be study related, family, health issues, money worries or simply a crisis in confidence. Our Registrar Julia is responsible overall for pastoral welfare at the College and she or your personal tutor are the people to turn to when life becomes difficult.

I found Lyn and Steven to be very helpful when

experiencing a difficult period tying to overcome life

changing events. I really value the support we get

from our tutors and fellow students. The NCA is a

very special place.

What support can I expect once I have qualified?The transition from College student to professional practice is a crucial time and it is important to have ongoing support and encouragement. The regional groups of the British Acupuncture Council provide valuable support and networking with your fellow practitioners, and of course our students support each other long after they have graduated. Students who live in the York area are offered the opportunity to practise at our Graduates Clinic which is the out of hours and weekend clinic here at the NCA. Of course, Chinese medicine continues to fascinate long after you complete the course and begin your professional practice. Practitioners are keen to study aspects of the subject in greater depth, and the College arranges practitioner seminars to meet this need. Some of our acupuncture graduates go on to study Chinese herbal medicine or Nutritional Therapy with us.

Tutor and clinic supervisor Hilary helps Karen (now graduated) during a lively ear acupuncture teaching session.

Applying for the course - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 3332

Introductory events and entry requirements

Come and meet usJoining us for one of our lively and informative introductory events held throughout the year is a great way to help you make up your mind about whether the acupuncture courses, and the NCA, are right for you. The events are interactive, stimulating and a reflection of the way we teach. You get the chance to look round the College, meet staff and students, and talk to others considering acupuncture as a career. You also meet one of our graduates already in practice. You can book a place on our website or call Denise on 01904 343309.We also offer the chance to come and look around the College on a one to one basis at a mutually convenient time. If you would like to do this please contact our Registrar Julia on: 01904 343300 or email: juliabrooks-leonard@chinese-medicine.co.uk

Applying for the BSc/MSc in Acupuncture To apply for our acupuncture courses you will need to download and complete the College application form on our website and e-mail it to our Registrar Julia at: juliabrooks-leonard@chinese-medicine.co.uk. Julia will acknowledge receipt of your application and, if you are successful, she will contact you as soon as possible to organise an interview date.If you have a long way to travel you can request an interview on the afternoon of attending one of our introductory events - please let us know when you apply.

Closing dateThe closing date for applications in 2011 is the 31st July. Late applications will be considered on a case by case basis, depending on availability.

Once I have applied what happens nextIf your application is successful we will contact you to arrange an interview. We are looking for the right people to become the next generation of NCA trained acupuncture practitioners. We are looking for commitment, motivation and an ability to work with others. This will also be your opportunity to ask any questions, and to ensure that the NCA is right for you. Your interview will last 20 - 30 minutes and you will be interviewed by two senior members of our team. If you are chosen we will offer you a place within two weeks of a successful interview.

How much do the acupuncture courses cost?Fees for 2011-12 can be found on our website.

Assistance with funding 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. Some students already working in the NHS have found funding via their NHS trusts. For more information about assistance with funding for the courses please see our website: www.chinese-medicine.co.uk/studying/acupuncture/applying-acupuncture.htm

Am I eligible to apply?Candidates will be over 18 with the following educational requirements:

I am not sure if I have the formal qualifications you need, can I still apply?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 will do everything we can to help you succeed. Every application is assessed on its individual merits.

If you don’t have the formal qualifications which make you eligible for the BSc or MSc degrees in acupuncture, you may be able to make a case based on your learning from work and life experience. We will help you to do this. The process begins at interview, where we work with you to identify evidence of your experience. For example, we will help you to identify what you have learnt about your specific area of work, how you have learnt to investigate, interpret and apply information, and examples of areas of responsibility, projects, decision making, problem solving and communication skills. For further guidance on this, please contact our Registrar, Julia, who will be happy to help: e-mail juliabrooks-leonard@chinese-medicine.co.uk or phone: 01904 343300

I am an EU student, is there an English language requirement?We welcome applicants from the EU. Communication is such an important part both of the course, and in interactions with patients, that students should be proficient in the use of spoken and written English. If English is not your first language you must take an English language assessment with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We require an overall IELTS score of 6.5. For more information go to www.ielts.org. We are unable to accept applications from non EU students at present.

BSc in AcupunctureYou are welcome to apply if you have non-standard qualifications with relevant work or life experience, and can demonstrate that you will be able to cope with and benefit from degree level studies. We will help you to do this.

If you are coming to us straight from A-levels, the standard entry requirements are 260 points at A2 level, or equivalent. As a guide A-level grades give the following points: A =120 B =100 C= 80. For more information about how the points system works go to the “tariff” section on the UCAS web site www.ucas.ac.uk

MSc in AcupunctureApplicants should have either an honours degree, an equivalent professional qualification, or relevant and responsible work experience equivalent to degree-level learning.

Applying and Costs

Our teaching staff - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 3534

The College is very much a community of learnersOur dedicated teachers are at the heart of that community

Our Teaching staff

What makes our teaching staff so special?One of our greatest assets here at the NCA is, undoubtedly, our dedicated teaching faculty. Some of our teachers have taught with us since 1989. Most of them

Here is what our students have to say about their tutors

‘The staff are very friendly and helpful.’

‘Excellent tutors, range of practical experience and knowledge, they’re enthusiastic and motivating.’

‘The staff, lectures and the cohort have made this a wonderful life experience.’

‘A very supportive college with a variety of interesting and inspiring teachers.’

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 somehow they also find time to conduct research or develop areas of expertise. The College is very much a community of learners and our dedicated staff are at the heart of that community.

“We have such a great job

helping our students though

their incredible journey to

becoming practitioners.

Each and every one

makes us proud.”

And let’s hear from the tutors:‘Teaching Western medicine is interesting as it gives the students a different perspective on disease and its causes, and there are often surprising parallels with TCM. What I like about NCA is the family feel of the place, it really is about the individual, rather than a nameless organisation.’ Non Owen

‘I get a real buzz when I see students envisaging how they will use the points we are teaching to treat their patients in the future. At the College, we help students build a foundation of practical skills on which to draw and develop throughout their professional careers as acupuncturists’. April Joslin

‘Because of the flexible schedules, we are working with students who are so dedicated that they take on these studies in addition to everything else they are doing - their inspiration makes it all so rewarding. The College’s commitment to research not only enhances professionalism - it’s challenging and fun!’ Peggy Welch

Tutors Lynne and Lara chatting in the library.

are practitioners and they bring to their classes a huge wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for their subject. Students comment regularly on the dedication and commitment of the teaching team. They in turn aspire to see their students become great practitioners

Our year leaders - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 3736

Acupuncture teaching faculty Our Year Leaders

Richard Blackwell BMedSci LicAc MSc(Ac) MBAcC FRCHM ClinAc(Nanjing) • College Principal

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

• Philosophy and Context Stream Tutor

• Personal and Professional Development Stream Tutor

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 post-graduate 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.

Amy Best Dip Ac MScAc MBAcC BSRn BA • Acupuncture Course Director

• Locum Clinic Supervisor

• Bodywork Stream Team

Amy spent the start of her career working as a Congressional speech/issue writer and critical care nurse before undertaking a course in acupuncture. She received her Diploma in Acupuncture and recently her MSc in acupuncture from the NCA. Alongside her role as Course

Director she has established a busy private practice and enjoys her work as Bodywork Tutor and Clinical Supervisor Locum here at the College. Amy has undertaken additional study

Eileen Gibbon BA DipAc MBAcC MRCHM MSTAT• Year Leader for year one

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

• Pulses Diagnosis Stream Tutor

Eileen has been practising acupuncture since 1994 when she graduated from the NCA. She went on

to qualify in Chinese herbal medicine, uses this alongside acupuncture and has a special interest in chronic illness and how physical habits affect function. She has been lecturing in Chinese Medicine for 10 years and is a member of the Accreditation Board of the EHTPA. Eileen practises in Sheffield and also teaches the Alexander Technique.

Lara McClure BA(Cantab) MA(Cantab) PhD• Year Leader for year two

• Research Stream Leader

• College Librarian

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 worked as a Librarian in a variety of academic contexts and has provided support services to students at the Universities of Cambridge and York. She also has a strong research background and she has been our popular College Librarian for the past five years.

Lyn Clarke MSc(Ac) DipAc MBAcC • Year Leader for year three

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

Lyn is an MSc graduate of NCA. Lyn‘s first degree was in Education, studying exercise physiology and

physical education. She worked as a manager in corporate health programmes and for 8 years in business management. She now practises acupuncture and runs a health clinic in the Malvern Hills and also teaches taoist yoga and Tai Chi Chuan.

Our stream leaders - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 39

Our Stream Leaders

Deb ConnorBSc (Hons) Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture), MBAcC, RGN, RSCN, DPSN.

• Philosophy and Context Stream Leader

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

• Western Medicine Stream Tutor

Deb has a background in general and paediatric nursing, including clinical education and lecturing within the field of acute and critical care. She graduated as an acupuncturist from Salford University with first class honours and has studied at the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She now runs a successful acupuncture practice in St Helens, Merseyside. Deb is regional group co-ordinator for the North West BAcC group. Her current practice interests include women’s health issues and patient empowerment.

Mark Guggiari BA(Econ), MBA, DipM,

PGDip(Acu), MBAcC• Business Stream Leader Mark has Bachelors and Masters degrees in finance and marketing and his professional commercial experience was in corporate banking. Mark has been a practitioner and teacher of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong for many years and through this became interested in Traditional Chinese medicine. Mark is a graduate of the Northern College of Acupuncture and practises in Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Non Owen BA(Cantab) MA(Cantab) PhD

• Western Medicine Stream Leader

Non grew up in wild Wales and was interested in plants from an early age. She went the science route, trained as a microbiologist and was interested in why people became ill. She is fascinated with the prevention of disease, particularly infectious disease. She then retrained as a medical herbalist to fuse both her interests: health and plants. She gardens and grows herbs to make medicines. Non says “When I work with patients it’s like being a detective, trying to discover the underlying cause of a person’s illness from a holistic perspective. Teaching Western medicine is interesting as it gives the students a different perspective on disease and its causes, and there are often surprising parallels with TCM.”

Lynne Dean RGN DipAc PGDip MBAcC • Points Stream Leader

• Clinical Education Stream Leader

Lynne trained as a nurse originally, and then pursued her interest in complementary health by studying at the NCA. She graduated in 1999 and has built up a very busy practice where massage is an integral part of the treatment. Lynne is a Safe Practice Verifier and Accreditation Visitor for the BAcC. Lynne has been involved in teaching acupuncture at the University of Salford.

Richard Chamberlain PhD MSc BSc MBAcC

• Philosophy and Context Stream Leader

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

• Personal and Practitioner Development Stream 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 on 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. Richard now lives in North Wales where he runs clinics in Ruthin and Flint.

Jo Wright DipAc MBAcC

• Bodywork Stream Leader

Jo is an NCA graduate. Her nursing background led her to provide acupuncture services within GP surgeries and the NHS. She won the Alliance Acorn Award for Integrated Care. Jo has a personal interest in seeing acupuncture treatment as a choice for patients within the NHS. She has been recruited as an acupuncturist in a research trial (2010) to evaluate effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in treatment of depression, led by Hugh Macpherson at York University and is about to open a new clinic in Newcastle.

Carole Wicks MSc CertEd UKCP Registered Psychotherapist

• Stream Leader for Practitioner and Personal Development

Carole has a Certificate in Education and taught for 15 years before going on to study Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapy, gaining an MSc from the University of Wales. She has worked extensively in private practice and for the NHS and has taught and supervised counsellors and psychotherapists. She runs training workshops in communication skills and is an examiner for counselling/psychotherapy courses.

Peggy Welch PhD MSc DipCN

• Research Director

Peggy was operations manager for a large firm of stockbrokers before becoming a massage therapist and nutritionist specialising in remedial bodywork with a focus on postural correction, injury recovery and managing chronic pain. She has been in practice since 1993 and in 1997 she founded the Oregon Coast School of Massage, of which she was owner/director until 2001. Peggy has an MSc in Complementary Therapies: Bodywork from the University of Westminster and a PhD from the Institute for Health Research at Lancaster University. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Cumbria (St. Martins College). Peggy is interested in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. She is keen to help students to develop their own critical thinking and to match the best methodology to the question at hand.

More teaching staff - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 4140

Don Clarke BA MSc (Ac) MBAcC MRCHM

• Acupuncture Clinic Supervisor

• Pulse Diagnosis Stream Leader

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

Don worked as a teacher and as an educational advisor before graduating from the NCA in 1999. He went on to obtain his MSc in Acupuncture and also completed a diploma in Chinese herbal medicine. He runs a busy practice in Leeds.

Cheng Hao Zhou BMedAcu(China) MBAcC MRCHM

• Acupuncture Clinic Supervisor

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

• Pulse Diagnosis Stream Tutor

• Philosophy and Context Stream Tutor

Cheng trained in China at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, qualifying in 1992. She worked as a Chinese Health Service acupuncturist and herbalist for eight years and was titled “doctor-in-charge” in 1998. She came to the UK in 2000, joining the NCA team in 2001, and soon acquired a reputation as an excellent practitioner with a sophisticated treatment style.

Ian Appleyard BScAc(Hons) MBAcC Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor, Philosophy and Context Stream Tutor

Ian trained in acupuncture at the University of Westminster. He has studied extensively in Japan and China and also taught at the Shanghai Second Medical University Health School. He has worked as an acupuncturist since 1999 and his special interests include hyperthyroidism and facial paralysis, as well as the translation of Chinese medical terms and concepts.

Elaine Aldred MSc Science Bsc ( Hons), D.C., Lic.AC. DipHerbMed, DipCHM Western Medicine Stream Tutor

Elaine gained a degree in biochemistry and chemistry from the University of Sheffield and qualified as a chiropractor with the Anglo European Chiropractic College, as an acupuncturist with the British College of Acupuncture, as a Medical Herbalist with the College of Phytotherapy and in Chinese herbal medicine here at the NCA. She has written two books – “How to start your own Practice” published in 2007 and “Pharmacology - a Handbook for the Complementary Healthcare Profession”, published in 2008. Her chief interests are molecular chemistry and pharmacology and their application to clinical practice. She is currently undertaking a pilot study into the science learning experiences of Acupuncture students, as part of an Msc in Science with the Open University. This is with a view to conducting larger scale research in this area. She is also co-authoring a series of papers on clinically related pharmacology, and concepts.

Caitlin Allen BSc, DipAc, MBAcCPersonal and Practitioner Development Stream Tutor

Caitlin’s career background was in addiction, counselling and mental health. She came to acupuncture seeking a way of continuing to work with people but in a holistic way. Caitlin graduated from the Northern College in 1995 having established a busy and varied acupressure clinic. Caitlin offers supervision to other acupuncturists and practices acupuncture from her own clinic in Leeds. She has worked with a number of voluntary and charitable organisations and has a special interest in working with fertility and pregnancy.

Sarah Byfield BSc(Hons) PGDipAc MBAcC Points Stream TutorSarah gained a degree in Human Psychology and went on to work in the field of learning disabilities, both as a researcher and a psychologist. She later went on to study acupuncture at NCA, pre-prepared Chinese herbal formulae, tuina and oriental bodywork. She has thriving practices in Yorkshire, with special interests in musculoskeletal dysfunction, mental-emotional problems and fertility.

Karen Crossland Dip Ac MBAcC Points Stream Tutor Initially trained in Reiki, Karen went on to qualify in acupuncture at NCA where she is currently completing her MSc. Karen practices in Harrogate and Knaresborough and is particularly interested in mental-emotional problems and women’s health.

Alison Gould BA LicAc MSc(Ac) ClinAc(Chengdu) MBAcC MRCHM Pulse Diagnosis Stream Tutor MSc Research SupervisorAlison has been affiliated with the NCA for many years and has a strong interest in research having managed the Acupuncture Research Centre. She is a member of the BAAB Accreditation committee, runs a busy practice in York and also practises and teaches Tai Chi and Qi Gong.

Nick Hudis MA MRCHM Bodywork Stream Tutor Nick Hudis trained in oriental and western herbal medicine with Michael and Leslie Tierra. After further intensive clinical study in Nanjing he specialised in Chinese herbs. He runs busy practices in York and Newcastle mainly working with gynaecological and reproductive issues. He has previously taught TCM for the East West College of Herbalism. Nick is also a highly regarded Tuina practitioner and teacher and is well known at NCA for his lively and practical seminars.

April Joslin DipAc MBAcC Points Stream Tutor, Additional Clinical Skills Tutor April has a nursing background and is a graduate of the NCA. Her work has been published in EJOM and she has led a conference in Acupuncture in Cancer Care. April runs a busy clinic in Hexham.

Hilary Coles BSc DipAc MBAcC RGN DipHEd

• Acupuncture Clinic Supervisor

• Pulse Diagnosis Stream Tutor

Hilary has a background in nursing, training and health promotion management in the NHS. Her interest in acupuncture grew whilst commissioning acupuncture services for community groups and she trained here at the NCA, graduating in 1996. Since then she has practised both privately and within the NHS and currently has practices in Bradford and Skipton.

Brendan O’Sullivan LicAc MBAcC

• Acupuncture Clinic Supervisor

• Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor

• Western Medicine Stream Tutor

• Pulse Diagnosis Stream Tutor

• Bodywork Stream Tutor

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.

Clinic Supervisors Other members of our teaching faculty include:

42 39College administration - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 43

Our staff work hard to look after our students and make sure that everyone is supported

How is the College run?

As a student on our acupuncture courses you will mostly see your tutors, the College administration staff and the clinic staff. The decisions and day to day running of the College are in the capable hands of our Principal, Richard, and members of the management team backed up by all the staff. The College is overseen by a Board of Trustees, a voluntary group of people from a variety of backgrounds with an impressive range of expertise who provide knowledge and experience to help steer the College. Students also have their say and each cohort chooses a student representative whose job is to feed back their cohort’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.

College administrationRegistrar Julia Brookes-Leonard BA(Hons) MA Julia provides support and information to students, manages admissions, year end results and awards.

Finance Manager Martin George Martin manages the accounts, financial planning, payroll and course fees.

College Administrator Linda Johnson Linda provides the administration for the College and courses.

Marketing and Sales Manager Denise Magson Denise is responsible for marketing and sales.

Principal Richard and student Michelle are discussing Michelle’s research interest in acupuncture for vocal problems.

Board of TrusteesNicholas Haines MBAcC MRCHM (Chair)Penny Badcoe CPFAMike Fitter BSc PhDLynda HeatonDavid Lipman MAGraham Webb HonFISMM FISSM Hugh MacPherson PhD

Eric Tessier Lavigne BA, PGDE, PGDipAc, MBAcC, KHT-1, TEFL Chinese Medicine Stream Tutor, Bodywork Stream Tutor Eric is an NCA graduate and runs his own practice in Scotland, incorporating tuina, shiatsu, acupuncture and pre-prepared herbal medicines. He has a background in dance-theatre, choreography and teaching, and is also a Taiqi and Qigong practitioner. He is frequently sought out as a locum acupuncturist and has special interests in chronic neurological conditions, geriatric medicine and medical qigong. Eric is also “the voice” of the CD-ROM version of “A Manual of Acupuncture”.

Rachel Millsted BSc (Hons)Ac MBAcC BSc (Hons) Psychology Personal and Practitioner and Development Stream TutorRachel holds a degree in Psychology and has previously worked in mental health roles within the NHS; in both secure and community settings. She completed her acupuncture training at Salford University and studied at the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Rachel practises as acupuncture in Chester and Knutsford.

Nicola Rawstron BSc MSc DipAc Points Stream Tutor Nicola has a Masters degree in pathology, specialising in haematology, with a particular interest in anemia’s. Nicola studied acupuncture at the NCA and has pursued the integration of TCM in conventional medical settings to provide acupuncture free for those who may not otherwise be able to access it.

Mary Tassell MSc, MNIMH Medical Herbalist Western Medicine Stream Tutor After working for ten years as a biomedical scientist in Clinical Biochemistry for the NHS, Mary the completed a three year training course in Western Herbal Medicine with the College of Phytotherapy, and subsequently set up in practice as a medical herbalist. Her twin passions are her practice as a herbalist and teaching. During the last ten years, alongside her practice, Mary has taught GCSE biology as an evening course for adults in Bedfordshire, taught herbal pharmacology for the BSc course in western herbal medicine at Middlesex University, acted as locum clinic manager for Preston Clinic of Herbal Medicine. She is currently studying for a PhD in analytical chemistry with Cork Institute of Technology.

Clif Wicks MBAcC MRCHM Chinese Medicine Stream Team Clif trained in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at the Northern College of Acupuncture between 1992 and 1997. After qualifying, he practised acupuncture and herbal medicine in the Teesside area and also held the posts of Herb Course Director and Herb Clinic Manager at the NCA. He now practises in the Stirlingshire and Fife areas and continues to teach on the acupuncture course at the NCA.

Louise Wright DipDH. DipAc. MBAcC Bodywork Stream Tutor, Points Stream Tutor Louise has worked for many years as a Dental hygienist within the NHS. Her interest in Dental Acupuncture led her to further study at the NCA where she graduated in both Acupuncture and Chinese Pre-prepared herbal formulae. In 2010 Louise gained a PG Cert. in Acupuncture, from the Guiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China. Louise divides her time between two busy practices in Ripon and Harrogate.

Our MSc Research Supervisors are:• Stan Switala• Charles Buck• Sonia Williams• Irina Szmelskyj• Jacqueline Young• Lara McClure• Alison Gould• John Hughes• Morag Heirs• Arthur Kang’ombe• Julia Brooks-Leonard

To ensure a dynamic and interesting programme for our students, we regularly invite guest tutors to lecture in their speciality subjects.

In 2010 our guest tutors included: Daverick Leggett, Fiona Wolfenden, David Mayor, June Tranmer, Chris Nortley, Andy Harrop.

Other members of our teaching faculty continued...

Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 4544

We offer more

Your journey through the fascinating world of Chinese medicine will take you in many directions. One of the most popular ways for acupuncturists to explore the subject in greater depth is to study Chinese herbal medicine. Like acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine focuses on treating the individual and their underling disharmonies, rather than the symptoms alone. Practitioners who have both acupuncture and herbs in their repertoire are able to draw on their extensive knowledge of Chinese medicine, combining acupuncture with herbal treatment to provide further benefits for their patients. The NCA has run courses in Chinese herbal medicine since 1994, with our next course scheduled for 2012.

We are constantly growing and developing to ensure the continuing development of our practitioners and the profession

Chinese medicine is a large and diverse subject with many approaches to helping patients, so there is always more to learn and more skills to master. We provide a variety of courses for practitioners, ranging from one day seminars and skills workshops to longer courses. These are popular with our own graduates and teaching staff, and practitioners join us from all over the UK and EU. In addition, there are regional group meetings of acupuncturists throughout the UK where practitioners share experience and learn from invited speakers, and the North Yorkshire group meets at the College. There are also a number of supervision groups run by NCA graduates and tutors.

Many practitioners are finding that more and more of their patients have health problems that can be greatly helped with the correct nutrition. Others have food allergies or weight problems that need addressing alongside

other health problems they present with. Our PG Diploma/MSc in nutritional therapy offers CAM and orthodox health care professionals the opportunity to learn the clinical skills and knowledge you need to give your patients precise and individual nutritional advice in order to support their healing and well-being. The course is now also open to people with degree level learning and a strong interest in the subject. This is a part-time two year course with an optional third year for those wanting to complete the MSc dissertation component. Our unique curriculum, experienced and well qualified faculty, outstanding guest lecturers and the excellent training in our clinic make this an exceptional course. You will gain both a solid academic grounding and extensive clinical skills that can be applied confidently and expertly in your practice. The course is fully accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC), and once qualified our students are eligible to apply for membership of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council. Our next course will run in October 2011.

PgDip/MSc in Nutritional Therapy Chinese Herbal Medicine

Continuing professional development - workshops and seminars

Placements in ChinaClinical placements in China give practitioners the opportunity to learn from Chinese professors and doctors in hospitals and clinics, and to experience Chinese treatments and culture for themselves. NCA

graduates have the opportunity to undertake clinical placements in Beijing organised by colleagues at our partner Middlesex University. In addition, Tuina massage practitioner and teacher Errol Lynch, who is based at the College, runs popular twice yearly three week study tours/clinical placements in Hangzhou in China.

Tuina Chinese massageTuina is the ancient Chinese practice of medical massage. It can be used as a therapy on its own or alongside acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine. Tuina practitioner and teacher Errol Lynch runs his Northern school of “Tuina UK” and his teaching clinic here at the NCA. He offers a Certificate in Tuina course - a one year course aimed at acupuncturists and others who already have Chinese medicine training. During this course you learn the basics in Tuina hand techniques and orthopaedic massage routines, enhancing your therapeutic repertoire when treating people with musculo-skeletal problems. There is also one year Diploma in Tuina course which is a complete practitioner training from scratch, covering the theory of Chinese medicine as well as practical massage techniques. To find out more about studying Tuina with Errol go to www.tuinauk.co.uk

York

Edinburgh

London

Peterborough

Manchester

Glasgow

Aberdeen

Newcastle

How to find us - Northern College of Acupuncture www.chinese-medicine.co.uk 4746

How to find us

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 10 minute walk from the station.

Rail journey times:Edinburgh 2 hours 45 minutesGlasgow 3 hours 50 minutesLondon 2 hours 10 minutesPeterborough 1 hour 15 minutesManchester 1 hour 30 minutesNewcastle 1 hour

By BusBuses to York either terminate at York Station, a 10 minute walk , 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 2nd 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 Wyvale 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’.

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

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 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.

Northern College of Acupuncture 61 Micklegate, York YO1 6LJ

Tel 01904 343303 info@chinese-medicine.co.uk www.chinese-medicine.co.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 if you are coming in from the A64 is the Askham Bar park and ride scheme that operates from Tesco on Tadcaster Road (A1036). The buses run every 10 minutes to and from the city centre from Monday to Saturday 6am - 7pm and from 10am - 5.45pm on Sunday. The average journey time is 11 minutes. Ask for the Rougier Street stop and the College is just around the corner, see map above. There are also more park and ride schemes in York connecting the major routes with the city centre.

By AirThe College is within easy reach of Leeds Bradford Airport and there is an hourly shuttle bus service from the airport to York station taking 55 minutes.

Useful websites to help you plan your journey:www.nationalrail.co.ukwww.yorkaircoach.comwww.york.gov.uk/parkandridewww.york.gov.uk/parkingwww.theaa.com/routeplanner www.nationalexpress.com

Our acupuncture courses are accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board.

The Northern College of Acupuncture, 61 Micklegate, York, YO1 6LJ

T: 01904 343303 email: info@chinese-medicine.co.ukwww.chinese-medicine.co.uk