International Alexander Technique Training in the UK

MATTS welcomes trainee teachers and visitors from around the world.

We are a long-established, STAT-approved Alexander Technique teacher training course based near Manchester in the north of England. Over the years, our trainees and visitors have included students, teachers and graduates from Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australasia.

Students from different countries training together in a practical Alexander Technique class at MATTS.

International students are often drawn to MATTS not only because of the quality of the training, but because of the atmosphere of the school itself. MATTS is a genuine community school, with a friendly and supportive environment in which students, teachers and visitors work closely together on a daily basis. For students moving to the UK from abroad, this can make the experience of training feel much less isolated and much more sustainable.

We regularly help overseas trainees with the practical side of relocating to the UK, including advice about visas, accommodation, transport and settling into life in the Manchester area. In most cases we can help arrange temporary accommodation when students first arrive and we can also often help students find longer-term accommodation locally.

Recent international trainees have included graduates of internationally recognised universities, conservatoires and professional training institutions.

Visiting MATTS

A good way to choose a training course is to visit several schools before making a decision. We encourage international visitors to spend time with us before applying and we are completely flexible about the timing and length of visits.

You are welcome to observe classes, participate in practical work and speak informally with teachers and trainees. Days spent visiting recognised training courses can usually count towards the minimum training hours required for STAT qualification.

There is more practical information about visiting the school, travel and accommodation in the Visit Us section of the website.

Language Support

No formal English qualification is required to train at MATTS. A basic level of spoken English is usually enough to begin training and students' confidence and fluency normally develop naturally with time and daily participation in classes.

Teachers and students connected with the school speak a wide range of languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, Urdu, Arabic and Hindi, and we can often help arrange informal language support during visits and in the early stages of training.

International Recognition

MATTS is approved by the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT), the principal professional body for the Alexander Technique in the UK.

STAT qualifications are recognised internationally throughout the Alexander Technique profession, including by all major Alexander Technique societies and professional organisations worldwide. STAT and its affiliated societies represent the overwhelming majority of professionally trained Alexander Technique teachers internationally.

STAT qualification is achieved through the STAT Assessment Procedure, which allows considerable flexibility in the timing and structure of training. Students may train full-time or part-time and may divide periods of study between different recognised training courses.

Visas and Studying in the UK

International students train with us through a variety of visa arrangements depending on their circumstances and nationality.

Some students qualify for longer-term UK visas, including graduate, high-potential or talent-based visas connected with previous university study or professional work. Others combine Alexander Technique training with study at a university, conservatoire or other educational institution in the UK.

For students who do not qualify for longer-term visas, it is usually possible to train successfully using standard six-month visitor visas. Because MATTS offers flexible part-time training, international students can normally organise their attendance in a way that allows training to continue over a longer overall period, including the option to include a period of study at another recognised Alexander Technique training course outside the UK.

We are happy to discuss possible training arrangements informally before you apply.

You may find it helpful to download our International Students Information Guide (PDF).

Living and Training near Manchester

MATTS is based in Wilmslow, a pleasant Cheshire town just south of Manchester and only four miles from Manchester Airport.

The area combines easy international travel connections with a much lower cost of living than London. Manchester city centre can be reached in around 20 minutes by train and there are many accommodation options within easy reach of the school.

Manchester is one of the UK’s most diverse and internationally connected cities, with a large student population, strong arts culture and extensive music and performance communities. Many international trainees settle in quickly and find the area friendly and easy to navigate.

Further Information

→ How to become an AT teacher

An overview of professional training and qualification in the UK.

→ What training is like at MATTS

A description of the atmosphere, structure and day-to-day experience of training.

→ Training FAQs

Practical information about fees, scheduling and qualification.

→ Why train at MATTS

Further information about the teaching approach, flexibility and professional environment at the school.

If you would like to discuss training at MATTS or arrange a visit, please feel free to contact course director Peter Bloch.

We have also prepared a short International Students Information Guide (PDF) covering visas, accommodation and practical aspects of studying in the UK.

Wilmslow town centre in winter

Quarry Bank Mill, a famous National Trust property and industrial revolution museum, a short riverside walk from Wilmslow