Feedback HKU Space Acupuncture Course

Hi, has anyone ever enrolled for an Acupuncture certificate at HKU Space? It says on their website that English is the medium of instruction but i'm worried as i've heard some universities actually use a mix of Cantonese and Chinese.

Appreciate any feedback, thanks!

Yes you are right you don't need to speak Chinese to do the course although of course it helps if you have some understanding of the Chinese language, purely because some terms and principles are difficult to translate into English. All the texbooks etc are in English so you don't need to worry there.


I don't speak any Chinese and have done the course and truly enjoyed it. Everyone in the class agreed though that it's hard work, you need to devote time to grasp the information, and that there is a lot of that.


What's your profession at the moment? Do you want to take this up to enhance your current medical practice?

Hi expatinhk. So glad to get a reply! I am a SAHM with a medical background. Will have to decide this week whether to take the course. Thanks for the info. And do you get to use acupuncture much in your medical practice?

HK has strict regulations when it comes to practising acupuncture or TCM. Whilst any GP, physio or a dentist can stick needles in patients regardless of the depth of their knowledge in tne subject, nobody else (TCM graduate from Australia, for example) will be allowed to practise. Of course students who complete the 5 year TCM degree in Hong Kong are entitled to practise, but courses are only offered in Chinese. The HKUSpace is the only course in HK offered in English.


Looking back, the first year (certificate level) teaches you a lot of theory, and some basic points. So you come out and you have some sort of idea what to do if someone in your family has a headache or a cold. It really doesn't go much beyond that as you spend so much time absorbing the complex principles of TCM.


Personally I think it makes sense to go through the certificate if you also plan to take up the diploma course, as that will make you more well-rounded in the theory as well as practical application.


If someone wanted to only do the first year, I would say the greatest benefit for a gwailo is that you learn so much about the traditional Chinese way of thinking. The bonus is learning few extra acu points on top of that :-)


Maybe you could speak to the school before you sign up to get a realistic feel for what the course offers, we had a number of people in our year who had different expectations of what the course would offer and it caused few problems along the way but otherwise the course was great as an initiation into the complex world of TCM.

Thanks, I will call HKU Space. I do plan to take up the diploma course as well, but that depends on whether we will be here after 10 months!

Good for you! Feel free to PM me if you do join the course :-)