Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Acupuncture
A two-year, weekend-based programme for healthcare and hands-on practitioners who want the complete medical system behind the needle — TCM diagnosis, point selection, needling and supervised practice with real patients.
- Award
- PgDip in Chinese Acupuncture
- Duration
- 2 years, part-time
- Format
- One weekend a month
- Next intake
- 6 March 2027
A complete medical system, not a single tool
Dry needling is now widely taught to physiotherapists, osteopaths and sports therapists. It is useful — but it is not acupuncture. This Diploma gives practitioners who already work with patients the whole framework behind the needle.
One purpose
Acupuncture needles used to release local muscle trigger points, grounded in Western musculoskeletal anatomy. The goal is pain relief at the point of insertion.
A full diagnostic system
A complete diagnostic and therapeutic framework — pattern differentiation, pulse and tongue, and a physiology of Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Zang-Fu and Meridians — applied across pain, internal medicine, mental health, gynaecology and more.
Built for people who already work with patients
This is a postgraduate-level programme. It builds on the clinical grounding you already have, so teaching goes straight into Traditional Chinese Medicine from the first weekend.
Entry requirements
- Academic normally a first degree in any subject
- Background training or experience in healthcare or hands-on client care — for example nursing, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, medicine, paramedic practice, sports or massage therapy
- Evidence current professional registration, a healthcare qualification, or a Level 3+ qualification in Anatomy & Physiology
- Also welcome practitioners who already use dry needling and want a proper diagnostic framework behind it
No healthcare background yet?
This Diploma is designed for people who already work with patients or clients, and every application is looked at individually.
If your background is different, tell us about it in the enquiry form. We'll give you an honest view of whether you're eligible now, or what would help before a future intake.
Ask us about your background →One small cohort — places allocated in order
The March 2027 cohort takes just 15–20 students, so every student gets close, hands-on supervision in clinic. Places are confirmed in order of registration — teaching starts in March, but the surest way to hold your seat is to enquire now rather than wait.
Four modules, two years
Year one builds the theory and the hands-on skills; year two brings them together in clinic. The full syllabus and learning outcomes are shared with applicants.
Foundation of TCM
Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Zang-Fu and pattern identification — learning to think as a TCM practitioner.
Points & Needling
The practical heart — accurate point location and confident, safe needling technique.
Clinical Application
Bringing diagnosis and treatment together for the conditions you'll really see in UK practice.
Supervised Student Clinic
You lead treatments with real patients — consulting, diagnosing and needling under direct supervision.
Clinical observation runs alongside M1–M3, so you see real patients from your first months on the course — 220 clinical hours in total by graduation.
Clinical experience is built in — not bolted on
You begin observing live consultations and treatments at our Manchester teaching clinic early in the course. By the final stage you lead treatments yourself, under direct supervision — consulting, diagnosing, needling and reviewing outcomes with real patients. Students living further from Manchester may apply for part of their supervised hours to be completed at an MATCM-approved satellite clinic, considered case by case.
120 hours · Clinical observation
Around 40 hours alongside each taught module (M1–M3), watching experienced practitioners consult, diagnose and treat.
100 hours · Supervised practice
In the Student Clinic (M4) you treat patients yourself, with a qualified supervisor signing off every session.
220 hours · In total
Every hour is recorded in a clinical logbook signed by your supervisor, so you graduate with evidence of real patient experience.
See MATCM for yourself
Two easy ways to meet our teachers and students, and feel what the training is really like — before you apply.
Visit where you'll train
Come to our teaching clinic in Sale, meet the tutors, see the treatment rooms and ask anything about the course in person. Student clinic sessions currently run on a limited schedule — when one is available, you can also book an £18 supervised treatment as part of your visit.
Arrange a visit →GZUTCM Clinical Immersion, Guiyang
A 14-day clinical programme at Guizhou University of TCM — hospital-based bedside teaching, classical theory, and rare access to Miao ethnic medicine. It draws on MATCM's standing partnerships with leading Chinese TCM universities, including Beijing, Chengdu and Guizhou Universities of TCM.
Explore the immersion →Accredited, insured, ready to practise
TCMAB-accredited
The Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Acupuncture is accredited by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Accreditation Board, audited against recognised international TCM education standards.
Verify our accreditation →ATCM membership
On graduation you are eligible to join the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture UK — one of the largest self-regulatory bodies for TCM in the country.
Insured to practise
Graduates receive block professional indemnity insurance covering acupuncture practice in the UK, so you can start treating patients as soon as you qualify.
Clear fees, paid as you study
Tuition covers teaching, e-learning, assessment and clinic access, and is fixed for the length of your course.
Postgraduate Diploma · 2 years
| Year 1 tuition (M1 + M2) | £2,980 |
| Year 2 tuition (M3 + M4) | £3,980 |
| Total tuition | £6,960 |
| Registration fee (one-off, on acceptance) | £300 |
| Total course cost | £7,260 |
Ways to pay
- 0% quarterly instalments — spread tuition across the course at no extra cost
- Pay as you study — each year's tuition is due only as that year begins
- No price rises — fees are fixed for the duration of an accepted offer
Not included: textbooks (approx. £100–200), travel, and the £60 satellite clinic inspection fee where used.
Good to know before you enquire
What does "postgraduate" mean for this Diploma?
It means the programme is designed for people who already hold a degree and bring a healthcare or clinical background, so teaching builds on that rather than starting from basic anatomy. The Diploma is awarded by MATCM and accredited by TCMAB; it is a professional qualification, not a university degree.
I don't have a healthcare background — can I apply?
The course is designed for people who already work with patients or clients, and we look at every application individually. Tell us about your background in the enquiry form and we'll give you an honest answer about eligibility, and what might help before a future intake.
Can I keep my full-time job?
Yes — most of our students do. Teaching is at weekends, e-learning is asynchronous, and self-study fits around your week.
I already do dry needling — is this course for me?
Very likely. Dry needling practitioners often find the programme especially rewarding, because it adds the diagnostic framework that decides where and why to needle. Your eligibility is based on your professional background, not your needling experience.
Is acupuncture regulated in the UK?
Acupuncture is currently under voluntary self-regulation through bodies such as ATCM. Membership shows you meet recognised education and conduct standards. Most local councils also require registration under skin-piercing legislation, which your professional body will guide you on.
Can international and EU students apply?
Yes. The course is part-time and weekend-based. EU/EEA students with settled or pre-settled status apply on the same basis as UK students; other international applicants should speak with admissions first about the right visa route.
Can I visit before applying?
We strongly recommend it. Use the enquiry form to arrange a visit to our teaching clinic in Sale, or a quick Google Meet if you're further away. Student clinic treatments (£18) run on a limited schedule, so ask us when the next session is.
Ready to begin?
Send a quick enquiry and book a no-pressure chat with us over Google Meet. We'll talk through your background, check your eligibility and answer anything this page didn't.
Prefer email? info@matcm.co.uk