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Frequently asked questions
About the College
About our courses
- What are the entry requirements for the Degree course?
- What about the College staff?
- How can I find out more about the College and courses?
As a student
- As an overseas student, will I be able to study at the College and are there any requirements I need to consider?
- When are course fees payable and is there funding available to help me?
- I’m interested in training to be an Acupuncturist but I still need to earn a living. Will I be able to fit studying around my work and family life?
- How will my progress be monitored and assessed?
- How will the course affect me as a person?
- What support is there for me as a student at CTA?
Life as an acupuncturist
- Will I be able to make a living from Acupuncture when I graduate?
- Are there further courses I can attend?
- Will I be able to practice at the College?
About the College
Our College and Clinic are situated in 6 acres of beautiful, peaceful parkland just 3 miles from the historic town of Warwick. There is good motorway and rail access – we’re just 10 minutes from junction 15 of the M5 and 5 minutes from Warwick Parkway railway station. Nearby are the historic towns of Stratford upon Avon,Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick with their elegant architecture, gardens, parks, galleries, shopping centres, leisure facilities and a variety of places to eat. Reasonably priced bed & breakfast and hotel accommodation is readily available in Leamington Spa and neighbouring Warwick.
Click here for a map showing the College location.
What facilities are available?
The College is spacious and very well equipped, having a professional, well-appointed clinic with nineteen treatment rooms, a patient reception area with full time receptionists, four teaching classrooms (two with treatment observation facilities), and a fully stocked library with IT facilities for students’ use.The classrooms have state-of-the-art audio visual and video facilities and provide an environment conducive to study. Each treatment room provides natural lighting with beautiful views of the grounds and is fully equipped for students’ use.During breaks there is a student rest area for relaxing and eating, along with a fully equipped kitchen.Our affiliation with the Oxford Brookes School of Health and Social Care brings another advantage; College students are also enrolled with Oxford Brookes, making available its excellent library and other facilities.
About our courses
What are the entry requirements for the Degree course?
Students of the College come from all age groups, occupations and walks of life, giving a rich diversity to the student body. The College has an equal opportunities policy operating across all areas of our activities. Rather than academic qualifications, we are much more interested in your personal experiences, beliefs and your motivation to study acupuncture. If you have existing family or work commitments, you will also need to show an understanding of the commitment the programme demands. As part of your application, you will normally be asked to attend an interview. This is a two-way process giving you and the faculty members an opportunity to explore your needs, expectations and goals.To find out more or to apply click here or contact the College on 01926 484 158.
Since its establishment in the 1960s, the College has gained international recognition as a leading centre for the study of traditional acupuncture. The College has a team of highly qualified and experienced practitioners as members of its teaching faculty, all of whom are members of the British Acupuncture Council.The faculty are all involved in a continuing staff development programme and meet regularly to review the programmes being offered. The College also invites guest lecturers from this country and abroad to give lectures and run workshops.
There is a real sense of teamwork and excitement from the staff, who are committed to providing an ever-evolving programme of study which will develop the skills required of a student practitioner. It’s this experience and passion for acupuncture that really sets our staff apart and makes them invaluable to students and the College alike. Click here to meet our staff and find out more about their backgrounds, qualifications and specialities.
How can I find out more about the College and courses?
There are lots of ways you can find out about the College but perhaps the best way is to attend a Preview Day. These free seminars are held at the College each month and explain more about the style of acupuncture we offer, allow you to see the College and its fabulous settings, and to meet with students, staff and faculty members. Information is provided on the concepts and philosophy behind traditional acupuncture and about acupuncture as a profession. There will be plenty of time for you to ask questions, either within the group or individually.
To find out more about our Preview Days or to book a place please click here or call Jeanette Harper on 01926 484 158.You can also download a prospectus here which will give you more background on the college and the Degree course.
As a student
As an overseas student, will I be able to study at the College and are there any requirements I need to consider?
If you are not a British Citizen or a citizen of a European Community member country, it will be your responsibility to organise any necessary visas or permits required by the Home Office if you are offered at place at the College. You will need to provide details of these to the College before you join us. Also, if English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the College that you have sufficient command of written and spoken English to be able to undertake the programme (at least to IELTS Band 7 standard). If you have any queries please contact Jeanette Harper on 01926 484 158.
When are course fees payable and is there funding available to help me?
Fees for each year of the programme may be paid either in full in advance of the start of each year, by means of staged payments via standing order or by the Student Loan or Career Development loan process. Payment by instalments incurs an administrative charge. For further information about programme fees please contact the College on 01926 484 158.
Our college is registered with Student Loan Direct and as a student, you can benefit from having access to student loans of up to £3,000 per year as well as means tested maintenance grants of up to £2,700 per year. For more details of the student loan process, please call the help line on 0845 6077577 and quote that you are applying for the College of Traditional Acupuncture Full Time 3 year BA (Hons) Acupuncture course.
I’m interested in training to be an Acupuncturist but I still need to earn a living.Will I be able to fit studying around my work?
Many of our students continue to work and study at the same time. We realise that our students have different needs depending on existing commitments and so we offer options to study at different times. You can study either mainly at weekends by entering the March or September intakes, or alternatively attend the college during the week by entering the October intake. If you’d like more information on these intake options please contact Jeanette Harper on 01926 484 158.
How will my progress be monitored and assessed?
Our courses are very much hands-on, with practical teaching from day one. Working in small, closely supervised groups you’ll be assessed on an ongoing basis by a variety of means. These will include portfolio work, progress meetings with personal tutors, participation in group and tutorial work, independent study, written and practical assignments, informal tests and practical skills assessments.
How will the course affect me as a person?
Most students and graduates agree that studying acupuncture can be a life-changing journey of self-discovery and universal awareness. We strongly encourage this recognition of strengths and areas for development as this self-awareness is the first step to realising our own true potential. Your teachers and fellow students will encourage and guide you through your journey, helping you to become a well-rounded, self-aware and intuitive practitioner.
What support is there for me as a student at CTA?
We understand that participation in the course often brings to the fore issues both personal and practical and we ensure support is readily available to help with any issues or difficulties you may come across. There is a pastoral care/tutor support network to help with any practical areas of difficulty and a confidential student counselling service available to help with more personal issues.
Life as an acupuncturist
Will I be able to make a living from Acupuncture when I graduate?
Financially, you can control your own destiny; your practice will be what you make it. However we understand that this is often a daunting prospect for many students and therefore as part of the course we will teach you how to market your practice, keep proper records, as well as other practical aspects of running a successful clinic. Members of the College faculty are also available to listen to problems which students and graduates may encounter in their practice and offer continuing support to them.
A well-marketed practice should be able to sustain at least 24 patients per week; you could do this running say only 3 days per week, giving you plenty of free time. This level of work would give you an income of over £45,000 per year.Not bad with no boss, no rules, no office politics and lots of free time. Just think what you could do working 5 days per week!
Are there further courses I can attend?
The College has a comprehensive and dynamic programme of Continuing Professional Development, open to all College graduates and other members of the British Acupuncture Council. We offer advanced studies and postgraduate courses where you can keep on top of new ideas and specialise in an area such sports injury, female needs, stress and many others.
For full details of these CPD seminars and workshops click here or contact Jeanette Harper on 01926 484 158.
Will I be able to practice at the College?
As a qualified acupuncturist, you will be able to take advantage of a room in our clinic at very reasonable rates. From here, you can run your practice or part of it as often as you wish, utilising our unique clinic set in beautiful gardens and of course having the use of our receptionist and clinic facilities. For more details contact the College on 01926 484 158.