Dublin is well served with international flights and most of the courses are designed so that overseas post-graduate students (or those in distant parts of Ireland) should be able to fly into Dublin on a Friday morning and fly out again on a Sunday evening.

The TCM post-graduate specialisms include:

• Acupuncture and TCM
• Medical Qigong
• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• and other TCM modalities.

Course levels and course duration
Post-graduate courses are offered at a number of different levels and are of differing durations as follows:

1. Post-graduate Professional Certificate. Modular, part-time 1 year Programme.
2. Post-graduate Professional Diploma. Modular, part time 2 year Programme.
3. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – normally 1, 2, 5 or 6 day workshops or modules.
4. Master of Medicine Degree (run jointly with GZUTCM). Full time 3 year programme.

POST-GRADUATE TRAINING IN MEDICAL QIGONG (MQG)
There are three postgraduate programmes in Medical Qigong

• Master of Medicine Degree (specialising in Medical Qigong)
• the Cert.MQG – the Postgraduate Professional Certificate in Medical Qigong
• the Dip.MQG –– the Postgraduate Professional Diploma in Medical Qigong

Master of Medicine Degree (specialising in Medical Qigong)
This is a three year, full time programme scheduled to commence in 2007. It will be run jointly between Guangzhou University of TCM and the ICTCM. The Degree “Master of Medicine” will be conferred by Guangzhou University of TCM and the Ministry of Education of China. The course will be taught in English and will be based mainly at the ICTCM, in Dublin Ireland. Students will attend the University in Guangzhou for certain blocks of time during which they will conduct scientific research into the specialism of Medical Qigong.

If you would like to receive details of the Masters degree programme click here.

The Postgraduate Certificate in MQG
Duration: The Cert.MQG is a one-year, part-time modular programme, which comprises 4 modules of 6 days.

Attendance: Most modules require attendance for 2 long weekends, from Friday lunchtime (12.30) to Sunday afternoon (4.30). The long weekends will be spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Content: The course includes theoretical study and practical training. Assessment will include practical and clinical competence in Medical Qigong.

The Postgraduate Diploma in MQG
This is a two-year part-time programme, comprising 8 modules of 6 days, including theoretical and practical training and assessment of practical and clinical competence in Medical Qigong.

The first year of the Dip.MQG will be identical to the Cert.MQG – the same 4 modules will be studied.

Note: Students who enrol for the Cert.MQG and successfully complete it may, at that stage, chose to enrol for the second year, to complete the Diploma course, providing places are still available.

The postgraduate MQG syllabuses
The training programmes for both the Certificate and Diploma courses are based on Qigong Master Professor Xia’s many years of experience of Qigong practice and his systematic development of Qián Taì Qì Gong (Science of Potential State Qigong).

For details of the Medical Qigong Certificate and Diploma course Syllabuses click here.

At the end of the Cert.MQG course students will:

• Understand the basic theoretical foundations of Medical Qigong and in particular the principles underlying the Sending Out of External Qi (Wai Qi Fa) treatment of illness.
• Recognise the historical roots of medical Qigong and the modern developments of medical Qigong sciences.
• Understand and competently apply the principles of Song (Relaxation) and Tong (Free-flow).
• Have developed a regular daily practice of health-promoting Qigong exercises to improve and refine their own Qi and regulate and harmonise the body, mind and spirit.
• Refine, cleanse and increase their own Qi, and activate their Potential Energy, to benefit themselves and their clients/patients.
• Be able to use their refined and improved Qi to augment their Acupuncture/TCM treatments (For example, by Emitting their Qi via the needles).
• Understand and apply the principles of Pai (Discharge), Xie (Expelling) and Bu (Tonification) and use a variety of methods/techniques of Pai, Xie and Bu.
• Be able to prescribe appropriate Qigong exercises for their clients/patients.
• Learn and practise three different methods of Emitting (Sending Out) Wai Qi.
• Be able to Emit Wai Qi to treat patients.
• Be fully aware of, and act in conformity with, contra-indications to using MQG in treating patients.
• Be fully aware of, and act in conformity with, the principles of Self-protection and fully utilise the techniques of Pai (Discharge).
• This course permits and augments the treatment of common illnesses.

At the end of the Dip.MQG course students will (in addition to the objectives defined above):

• Demonstrate enhanced abilities in all the objectives achieved in the first year programme (Cert.MQG)
• Understand the deeper theoretical foundations of Medical Qigong and its links to medical, philosophical and spiritual traditions of China.
• Understand the components of the “holistic” system of Medical Qigong, integrating as it does the human being with Nature.
• Learn, practice and use a wide range of enhanced methods of Song, Tong, Pai, Xie and Bu.
• Have developed a regular daily practice of enhanced health-promoting exercises and Medical Qigong exercises to further improve and refine their own Qi and regulate and harmonise the body, mind and spirit. Exercises will also be incorporated to harmonise Tian, Ren and Di (the Human Being and Nature).
• Further refine, cleanse and purify their own Qi, and activate, augment and enhance their Potential Energy, to benefit themselves and their clients/patients.
• Be familiar with the principles and requirements of “Special Medicine” (the use of Medical Qigong to treat serious medical conditions) and make progress in meeting these requirements.
• Be able to describe and demonstrate the principles and basic practise of special medical Qigong diagnosis (as distinct from standard TCM diagnostic protocols).
• Develop and improve the ability to treat patients with a variety of disorders using Special Qigong methods of treatment which incorporate resonance between the practitioner, patient and Nature.
• Be fully aware of, and act in conformity with, contra-indications to using MQG in treating patients with serious illnesses.
• Be fully aware of, and act in conformity with, the principles of Self-protection and fully utilise a wide range of techniques of Pai (Discharge).
• Learn to recognise and treat in accordance with the level of one’s own Medical Qigong ability.
• This course permits and augments (subject to the practitioner’s own level of health, well-being and Qigong practise) the treatment of serious diseases.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Medical Qigong
As the two previously described programmes are modular it is possible, though not ideal, for participants to complete as little as one module a year and gradually build up credits towards the achievement of a Cert.MQG or Dip.MQG. Certificates of attendance for CPD purposes will be provided.

All courses are taught in English and technical terms will be in Pinyin.

Additional benefits of studying and practising Qigong
In addition to the medical benefits to one’s patients/clients of undertaking training in Medical Qigong, course participants will keep a Qigong journal to monitor and evaluate their own personal progress and benefits of regular Qigong practice.

Medical Qigong stresses the importance of the health of the practitioner, so, improvements in the practitioner’s own health is a prerequisite for the treatment of serious illnesses with MQG. Refining, cleansing and purifying one’s own Qi (and at a later stage one’s own Shen and Dao De), and activating and potentising one’s own Potential Energy has wonderful health benefits not only for one’s patients but also for oneself.

The hidden treasures of Qigong are said to include not only improvement in health, vitality and recuperative power but also in happiness, longevity, beauty, refinement and spiritual development.

As Qigong Master Professor Xia notes, “Your experience will let you know if this is true”.

Credits Students of MQG with the ICTCM, who have already completed the first module of the Certificate course as an Intensive Course in either 2003, 2004 or 2006 will be given credits for this prior training and will not have to complete the module again. Those completing the second module in 2006 will receive credits for both modules and can enter the Certificate Programme half way through the 2006-7 Academic year. Fees will be adjusted accordingly.

China Successful completion of these MQG programmes does not require students to undertake MQG training in China. However, it may be possible to arrange a study period in Guangzhou, China, if people wish.

Chinese Herbal Medicine
There are three post-graduate study options in Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM):

1. Post-graduate Professional Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine – Cert.CHM (Modular, 1 year Programme)
2. Post-graduate Professional Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine - Dip.CHM (Modular, 2 year Programme)
3. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Chinese Herbal Medicine.

The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma courses in Chinese Herbal Medicine are run in the same way as the similar level programmes in MQG. (Click here to see details of the mode of attendance LINK).

At the end of the Certificate in CHM students are qualified to dispense Prepared Chinese Herbal Medical Prescriptions and have a grounding in the individual characteristics of a representative number of Chinese Herbs and Prescriptions.

At the end of the Diploma in CHM students are qualified to dispense a range of Chinese Herbal Prescriptions in Sheng Yao (Raw Herb) formulation as well as in Prepared formulation and are qualified to tailor-make the prescription to fit the client.

For details of the CHM syllabuses click here

CPD
A short, intensive Prepared Chinese Herbal Medicine course has been offered over the years to those with the appropriate theoretical knowledge and practical Clinical experience and expertise. This course, which is built upon the foundations already laid in the Lic.TCM course, is designed to meet the growing need of experienced practitioners to expand their therapeutic options and abilities.

The College has found that it is only appropriate to cover Herbal Medical treatment after the students have gained direct personal Clinical experience. The course is deliberately aimed at the post-graduate level to avoid detracting from the requisite amount of intensive study involved in the Licentiate courses. The Herbal Medicine course is taught in a Seminar format which suits the practical requirements of those in busy TCM practices.

Upon successful completion of this course a certificate in Prepared Chinese Herbal Medicines is awarded and practitioners are introduced to appropriate approved Chinese herbal supply sources that have proved reliable and consistent over the years.

NEWS: The next short intensive course begins in August this year. It is a six day course run over 3 weekends. The first weekend is being held on 5th and 6th August. The second on 2nd and 3rd September (2006). The final weekend will take place in February 2007.

Only a few places are left on this course so if you wish to get more details please contact the College immediately.

Credits
Students who have already completed the first module of the Certificate course as an Intensive Course in Prepared Herbal Medicine will be given credits for this prior training and will not have to complete the module again. Fees will be adjusted accordingly.

CPD programme
Several post-graduate study facilities are offered to ICTCM and other suitably qualified practitioners.
Chinese Massage (Tui Na) workshops and lectures have been arranged under the auspices of the College and these will be continued, subject to sufficient demand.
Day workshops and weekend Seminars are also offered by the College to both student and practitioner members to up-date and augment theoretical expertise and practical
Clinical skills in Acupuncture and other TCM modalities.

The nature and content of the CPD programme varies from year to year and practitioners are also invited to suggest topics or areas for professional development which they are particularly interested in pursuing. A wide range of topics have been covered over the years and many eminent speakers have graced us with their presence.

For a list of visiting speakers click here

Postgraduate studies and CPD in China.
Since the 1980s, while pursuing post-graduate Clinical studies and practice in China, Professor Shanahan, was pleased to arrange with the Director of the Nanjing International Acupuncture Training Centre, (Nanjing University of TCM) for graduates of the Irish College, and members of the PRTCM, to participate in specially arranged post-graduate Clinical Courses in Nanjing.

These courses enable practitioners to develop their clinical skills under the direct supervision of eminent Chinese doctors and specialists in some of the busiest and most prestigious teaching hospitals in China.

Since the late 1990s Professor Shanahan has established a formal affiliation with Guangzhou University of TCM and has been organising post-graduate courses to Guangzhou on a yearly basis since 2000. For more information on our affiliation with Guangzhou University of TCM click here.

Consequently, the ICTCM is in a position to arrange tailor-made post-graduate Study tours to Guangzhou University of TCM, in a variety of different TCM modalities. To request such a facility please email The Director.

All post-graduate courses run by the College are optional.