BSc (Hons) Acupuncture
Transforming Lives Through Acupuncture – Learn with Excellence, Flexibility, and Purpose
With over 30 years of experience training acupuncturists, we’ve built a reputation for excellence, innovation, and meaningful student transformation. Our BSc (Hons) Acupuncture degree is more than a qualification - it’s a journey into a respected and life-changing profession.
Many of our students begin their training after experiencing the power of acupuncture themselves. They come to us inspired to understand more, to help others, and to become skilled, confident practitioners who make a real difference. We honour that motivation by offering a programme that blends academic depth with real-world clinical training, flexible study pathways, and a strong foundation in both traditional knowledge and modern healthcare practice.
Is acupuncture training financially worth it? Beth says it is!
One of the main concerns we hear from prospective students is whether studying acupuncture can become a worthwhile financial investment. Beth, who finished studying with us in 2019, is a shining example of just how valuable taking up acupuncture training can be – and why we really do believe it could be the best investment of your life...
Why Choose the Northern College of Acupuncture?
A Legacy of Excellence
- Over three decades of leadership in acupuncture education in the UK.
- Delivered by a team of expert practitioners and educators combining biomedicine, Chinese medicine, and professional skills.
- A supportive learning community where students are known, encouraged, and challenged to grow.
Flexible, Student-Centred Learning
- Study full-time or part-time, with weekday or weekend options.
- Engage in a dynamic mix of live online sessions, self-paced study, and in-person clinical training.
- Designed for people balancing study with work, family, or career transitions.
Hands-On Clinical Experience
- Develop real-world confidence through supervised treatments with patients from the public.
- Clinical training delivered in our purpose-built teaching clinics with expert support.
- Learn to integrate theory and practice from day one.
A Transformative Journey
- Learn how acupuncture can not only change your own life, but also empower you to transform the health and wellbeing of others.
- Build both professional and personal skills that will prepare you for a meaningful, sustainable career.
Start Your Journey
Wherever you are in life, this course offers a way forward - grounded in tradition, guided by innovation, and shaped around your needs. Join a college that’s proud of its past, passionate about your future, and committed to educational and professional excellence.
Apply for our acupuncture course
Contents
We are proud of our legacy as one of the most prestigious acupuncture colleges in the Western world, having been training people to be great acupuncturists for overs 35 years! Our syllabus is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, however, we don’t just teach you one style or approach to Chinese medicine; we celebrate and teach Chinese medicine in all its complexity and diversity. Find out more about acupuncture and what we teach at the NCA Our three-year (full-time) BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture is the course which is most popular with students who do not have a degree and therefore can access a full-time student loan. Our four-year (part-time) BSc in Acupuncture is designed to enable you to manage work or other commitment. If you already have a degree, you can now access a part-time student loan to help to pay for the course. Find out more about our three-year (full-time) and four-year (part-time) study options Our acupuncture course is accessible for all UK students and we encourage applications from all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. If you are a mature student without many qualifications, we will assess your experience and motivation to succeed on the course. We are unable to accept overseas students (apart from Hong Kong citizens with BNO visas). Find out what the entry requirements are for our BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture All students can now apply for a student loan for our weekend and weekday acupuncture courses. If you have not completed an undergraduate degree you can apply for our three-year (full-time) course. If you have completed a degree you can apply for our four-year (part-time) course. Find out more about student loans and how to fund the course We provide a high-quality acupuncture training at a cost that is lower than many of the universities. As a registered educational charity, you can be assured that all our income is spent on ensuring a quality education for our students. Most students will access a student loan to fund most of the course. You don't need a confirmed place on the course to apply for your student finance-please ask us for the course codes and titles you will need when you apply. We recently launched a small number of scholarships to support and recognise students joining our BSc (Hons) Acupuncture course. These awards are designed to acknowledge academic achievement and personal resilience, helping to support you by reducing tuition fees in the first year of study. If you have a strong story to share, we would love to hear from you. Our online interviews have been designed to enable us to explore your interest in studying here in more detail and how the skills and experience you have will support you in successfully completing the course. We’ve compiled frequently asked questions (FAQs) to give you an overview of studying acupuncture at the Northern College of Acupuncture.The legend that is the NCA
All about acupuncture
Three-year (full-time) course and four-year (part-time) course
Entry requirements
Student loans and how to fund the course
Acupuncture course fees
Scholarship awards
How to apply
FAQs
Becoming an acupuncturist means that you can earn a living in a way that engages you as a whole person and is true to your own values, working with people to ease their physical, emotional, and mental suffering and make a real difference to their lives. Are you living in London and looking for an affordable acupuncture course to kick-start your career? We know that there are some great colleges in and around London that are closer to home - but if you already have a degree, we have some good news for you! At the NCA in York, you can get a student loan on our BSc in Acupuncture to help pay for your course. London students don’t have to travel to York for your clinic days – our London teaching clinic in Southwark is now open! Click the link below to find out more and register your interest. Find out more about travelling from London to York to study at NCA If you are looking to study acupuncture and live in the Birmingham area then take a look at NCA. York is closer than you think (2 hours direct train) and the NCA is the only acupuncture college to have an option to access student funding for a second degree. We are exploring opening a teaching clinic in Northwich (closer to the West Midlands than York). Click the link below to find out more and register your interest. Find out more about travelling from Birmingham to York to study at NCA If you are looking to study acupuncture and live in the Greater Manchester and the North West area then take a look at NCA. York is closer than you think (roughly 2 hours direct train) and the NCA is the only acupuncture college to have an option to access student funding for a second degree. Click the link below to find out more and register your interest. Find out more about travelling from Greater Manchester and the North West to York to study at NCA If you're interested in studying acupuncture and reside in the Nottingham area, consider the NCA. York is more accessible than you might think, with a direct train taking roughly 2 hours. Plus, the NCA is the only acupuncture college offering student funding options for a second degree. Click the link below to find out more and register your interest. Find out more about travelling from Nottingham to York to study at NCA At the NCA you get the best of both worlds – a fully accredited, university validated education AND the joy of training to become an acupuncturist at a small and friendly college where you will be known as an individual. On our accredited acupuncture course, you will find yourself studying with a wide range of students of different ages, backgrounds and ethnicity, united with their passion to make a difference with a training in acupuncture. Most of our students are mature people with jobs and families. Studying on our BSc in Acupuncture takes dedication and commitment - however we offer study choices that allow you to fit your studies around work and other obligations. Find out more about the flexible study options available to you Our BSc in Acupuncture is a blended learning course. You will be taught in College, via live online classes, e-learning sessions that you access at times that suit you, home study, and treating real patients in our teaching clinic. There are a wide variety of assessments to ensure all our students have a chance to shine and yearly exams to make sure you are on the right track. Each academic year of our acupuncture course consists of several modules which blend together to give you a total acupuncture training. At the heart of this training is hands on training in our community teaching clinic. Training confident and safe practitioners is our No.1 priority and your clinical training is right at the heart of our acupuncture courses. As the growing evidence brings acupuncture more and more into the public domain, increasing numbers of biomedical healthcare professionals are choosing to study Chinese medicine acupuncture at the NCA, either by adding acupuncture to their discipline (popular with physiotherapists), or looking for a change in career working in a more holistic way (popular with nurses). Find out more about why biomedical healthcare professionals study acupuncture As well as teaching at the College and working in their busy practices, our acupuncture course staff devote time to learning more about education to ensure the highest of teaching standards, and they also find time to conduct research or develop areas of expertise. In our acupuncture college our lecturers are experienced practitioners, as well as being very able educators, and their practitioner experience is at the heart of their teaching.Becoming an acupuncturist
London students training with NCA
Birmingham students training with NCA
Greater Manchester and the North West students training with NCA
Nottingham students training with NCA
Travelling to York
What kinds of people study acupuncture?
Courses that fit in with your life
How we teach and assess you
The curriculum
Teaching clinic
Biomedical healthcare professionals
Our dedicated teaching staff and their biographies
Our acupuncture course graduates work in a wide variety of practice and are happy to share their experiences with you! Find our what our graduates have to say about their practices A degree in acupuncture from the NCA opens many doors and opportunities and our find new ways of making acupuncture accessible in all parts of the globe. You can be assured of a very high standard of acupuncture education and clinical training. Our BSc in Acupuncture is fully accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB), validated by the Health Sciences University and assessed by the governments Quality Assurance Agency. Find out more about our acupuncture course accreditation and validation Each year the evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture is growing with new and exciting research studies conducted in the UK all over the world. More recently acupuncture has been recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for chronic pain. On our acupuncture course you will learn about research and how answer critics with scientific proof of the effectiveness of acupuncture. Find out more about acupuncture and the growing evidence base As a College, we take pride in our friendly and personal approach and we will provide you with high levels of support in your journey to becoming an acupuncturist - and beyond. The transition from College student to professional practice is a crucial time and it is important to have on-going support and encouragement. That’s where the NCA’s The Practitioner Hub comes in, providing forums, ongoing CPS and practitioner supervision to help you grow and develop your acupuncture career. Find out how we support once you both as a student, and once you have qualified Ensuring that you can succeed as a practitioner is our number one priority. As well as giving you an excellent acupuncture training, we also give you the opportunity to start seeing your own patients during your course, by taking additional training in massage. Our acupuncture students have access to a wealth of online resources, as well as our College library holding a wide range of key texts, journals and dissertations, with support and assistance available from our librarian. Graduation is one of our favourite days of the year! We can't wait to celebrate the start of your journey as a fully qualified practitioner with you and your loved ones. Find out more about our graduates and their plans for the future We encourage you to join us at one of the online or in-person introductory events that we run throughout the year. Or pick up the phone – we are here to help! The NCA is overseen by a Board of Directors who provide knowledge and experience to help steer the College. Our staff work hard to look after our students and make sure everyone is supported on our BSc in Acupuncture and all our other courses.Our graduates talk about their practices
Volunteering opportunities abroad
Accreditation and validation
What is the evidence for acupuncture
Supporting our students and graduates
Build as a practitioner during your training
College facilities
To graduation and beyond
Come and meet us
How the college is run
Take a look at some of our acupuncture course classes
A typical day in teaching clinic
NSS results:
Disclaimer
Please note that while the Northern College of Acupuncture makes every effort to run courses as advertised, courses are subject to change or cancellation if enrolment targets are not met.
