Diploma in Chinese Acupuncture
(2025-2027/28)
Fully accredited by ATCM
Programme Overview
Acupuncture has been an important tool for human health and wellbeing for over 4500 years. Over more recent times acupuncture has been supported by research studies and continues to be extensively used around the world and has growing popularity in the west.
At Manchester Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we are committed to providing quality teaching and supervised practice in the ancient art of acupuncture. Acupuncture is now widely accepted within Western society and there are more and more health professionals practising acupuncture after a short training course. They often lack understanding of the principles and philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and as the result, lack confidence to treat conditions other than pain relief. We aim to provide the students with the breadth and depth of study and clinical experience required to become knowledgeable in both the understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine and western view of acupuncture, to ensure entry into a traditional acupuncture profession.
The course aims to provide students with the necessary skills to begin independent practice as a traditional acupuncturist, with emphasis on holistic approach to best look after your clients’ health and wellbeing. The differences, similarities and relationship between modern medical acupuncture and traditional acupuncture are explored to give students the necessary skills to practice in western society today.
The MATCM student clinical training facility is open to members of the public offering subsidised treatment in acupuncture. There is an opportunity for acupuncture students to undertake supervised practice, reception, publicity, and research work in the clinic.
Diploma Awarded
MATCM Diploma in Chinese Acupuncture
Accreditation
Our Diploma in Chinese Acupuncture is fully accredited by the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ATCM).
What this means for students:
- Assurance of quality learning facilities
- High standard of teaching staff and syllabus
- Students will be eligible to become members of ATCM upon graduation, or gain full registration with their chosen regulatory body, and gain insurance to practise traditional acupuncture.
Study Mode
The Diploma in Chinese Acupuncture programme is a part-time study course built on a modular format. The standard programme covers six modules over three years, requiring 400 hours of clinical practice to be completed during this period. Teaching and examinations are conducted over 10 weekends per year.
However, candidates with a qualifying healthcare background may follow an accelerated pathway, completing four core modules over two years and undertaking 200 hours of clinical practice during this shortened timeframe.
Programme Structure
Biomedicine Bridging Module The programme commences with a Biomedicine Bridging Module (Anatomy & Physiology) starting on 4th October 2025, running for six months to provide essential foundational knowledge.
Core Modules Following the bridging module, four core modules begin on 7th March 2026, delivered over weekends. Each core module runs for six months, except for students without a healthcare background who complete M4 over one year with additional Personal Development components.
Module Schedule
| Module | Title | Content | Duration | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridging | Biomedicine Bridging Module | Anatomy & Physiology | 6 months | 4th October 2025 |
| M1 | Foundation of TCM | Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory, TCM Diagnosis | 6 months | 7th March 2026 |
| M2 | Acupuncture and Needling Technique | Meridian Theory, Point Location, Needling Techniques | 6 months | 26th September 2026 |
| M3 | Acupuncture for Common Diseases and Symptoms | Acupuncture Treatment for Common Conditions | 6 months | 20th March 2027 |
| M4 | Clinical Practice | Student Clinics (Practical Application) |
6 months/ 12 months* |
7th September 2027 |
*For students without healthcare background in three-year pathway: M4 extends to 12 months and includes Personal Development module (09/2027 – 08/2028).
Note: All teaching is conducted over 10 weekends per year.
For students who do not wish to obtain the diploma, you may choose to study any of the individual weekends as part of their CPD training, to cover the topics of your specific interests. You can also choose to only attend one or both days of the weekend.
All training is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts and will cover the following:
- Chinese medicine foundation and diagnostic skills
- Meridians and acupuncture points including point location skills
- Acupuncture techniques and practice
- Acupuncture for common diseases
- Acupuncture clinical practice
Assessments
Assessments will take the form of both written and practical examinations in order for the student to demonstrate they have suitably understood acupuncture theory and can appropriately carry out treatments.
Resources Available
Teaching will take place at on-site at the Manchester Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine located at 52-54 Washway Road, Sale M33 7QZ or online. The academy is operated in a working Chinese medicine clinic with access to appropriate equipment, specialised teaching space, and literature.
Teaching Staff
Key staff: Professor Mei Xing:
Professor Mei Xing became a qualified medical doctor in 1985, after 5 years of training at Guiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She continued to further her integrated medicine knowledge at Beijing’s Dong Zhi Men Hospital, the first affiliated hospital of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine University in 1989 and then worked at the No. 301 General Hospital of People’s Liberation Army in Beijing in 1999.
She also gained her MSc degree from Chengdu Traditional Chinese Medicine University. Prior to coming to the UK, she worked as an associate professor and medical consultant in Endocrinology. In 2001, she was appointed lecturer by the University of Salford in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She became the Programme Leader for BSc in Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and was promoted to Senior Lecturer later on, until the University of Salford closed the programme. She continued teaching the acupuncture programme at Manchester Metropolitan University until 2017..
In 2016, Mei founded the Manchester Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a centre for excellence in teaching authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine in the UK, where she now works as the Principal and runs the multi-disciplinary clinic from.
Mei has treated patients for over 35 years and has made a great contribution to acupuncture and Chinese Medicine as an educator, lecturer, tutor as well as a member of British Acupuncture Accreditation Committee. She has been Programme Leader and external examiner for several teaching institutes and universities, both in the UK and abroad. Through dedicating herself to excellent patient care in clinical practice, Mei has grown ever more passionate about the necessity and importance of teaching authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine to a new generation of practitioners in the UK. Mei regularly advises and gives talks to professional bodies such as the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the British Acupuncture Council and the British Medical Acupuncture Society.
Other staff: Qualified and experienced guest lecturers will be teaching various modules throughout the year. Bios of these lectures will be available nearer to the time.
Course Fees
All students enrolling on the Diploma programme are required to pay a registration fee of £300 upon enrolment.
Core Programme Fees:
- Year One: £2,980 (applicable to both 2-year and 3-year pathways)
- Year Two: £3,980 (applicable to both 2-year and 3-year pathways)
Additional Requirements for Three-Year Pathway:
- Bridging Module: £1,990 (completed before Year One)
- Extra Half Year: £1,990 (completed after Year Two)
Total Programme Costs:
- Two-year pathway: £7,260
- Three-year pathway: £11,240
CPD Attendance: Participants wishing to attend individual weekend courses for continuing professional development may do so at £320 per weekend (2 days), with no registration fee required.
