Prospective students should download and fill in the application form and send it to the registrar. Applicants will normally be interviewed by two staff members who will also be able to answer questions, and who will be assessing the applicant according to the criteria listed in our selection policy shown below.

  Download the application form

The College selection policy

The purpose of our selection policy is to ensure that:

• the applicant has a desire to use acupuncture for the benefit of those in need and in accordance with the accepted codes, and
• the applicant has the abilities needed to develop the necessary competence to become an acupuncturist.

What we look for is evidence that the applicant:

• has a desire to apply themselves to assessing and attending to the health needs of others
• will be willing to work within the profession's guidelines, conforming to ethical and hygiene codes
• will be willing to use the skills they acquire without prejudice in relation to race, age, sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, political beliefs or social class
• has the ability to learn the necessary theory and practical skills
• already has a degree of curiosity about the causes and conditions of good health and deviations from it
• currently values his or her own health and strives to maintain it
• has the ability to develop the necessary practical skills, some of which involve sensitivity to others' feelings and the ability to develop a good rapport with patients
• has the time and resources to undertake the study.

Entry qualifications

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of Kingston University and the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine. We have a preferred minimum age of 21, and preference will be given to mature candidates who have the necessary requirements shown below and/or appropriate alternative qualifications:

• five GCSE passes at grade C or above, which should include English and mathematics and preferably biology or combined science, plus two A Level passes (excluding general studies)
• or an appropriate BTEC National Diploma including merit and distinction passes or Advanced GNVQ at Level 3
• or two passes in Scottish Highers at grade C or above
• or six passes at higher level in the Irish Learning Certificate at grade C or above.

Overseas students are considered on an individual basis, usually where they have completed a university degree or validated access course in the UK or overseas. If you are offered a place on this course and English is not your first language, and your secondary education has not been undertaken in English, we will ask to see an IELTS level 6 certificate before you start the course, and an IELTS level 7 certificate during the third year, before you start the clinical programme.

Mature students without the above qualifications are encouraged to apply and will be considered on the basis of their work and life experience.

Some applicants may have previous conventional medical sciences training and wish to apply for exemption from parts of the anatomy, physiology or pathology training. Details of our criteria and application procedure are available on request.