Comprises a Distance Learning course conducted by a university in collaboration with the McKenzie Institute International. Attendance at the university is not required, but students will be enrolled at the university and therefore will have access to the university's extensive resources, which are available specifically to support distance teaching.

The language of the Diploma Programme is English. University regulations for admissions to post graduate programmes require a reasonable standard of English. All students for whom English is a second language must provide evidence of English language competency in the form of successful IELTS or TOEFL testing. The date of the test results must be within two years of applying for the Diploma Programme.

The university paper is conducted over one university semester commencing in January in any given year. The paper entails an average of 20 hours per week of self-directed learning which is inclusive of reading, participation on the university's Distance Learning computer facility, completion of assignment tasks, electronic communication, accessing literature and reflective time. The paper is taught by staff from the McKenzie Institute International and the university. Teaching will be conducted through a series of modules delivered by remote teaching methods (distance learning). Students will require access to a computer with web access. Assessments will be conducted throughout the semester in a variety of forms ranging from assignments to web-based tasks. A Pass is required in each module to attain a Pass in the university paper and thus the Theorectical Component of the Diploma Curriculum.

The Clinical Component consists of a minimum of 360 hours of supervised clinical practice based on a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. It emphasises the central importance of "the evidence" of the patient.

Qualified McKenzie practitioners, known as Mentors, who are appointed by The McKenzie Institute International, provide supervision. The Mentor conducts continuous assessments of the clinical performance of the participants and regular formal assessments. The hours of clinical practice will include: supervised patient assessments and treatments, formal and informal tutorials and self-directed learning. The maximum ratio of participants to Mentor is limited to three.

Satisfactory proficiency in the Clinical Component is determined by the Mentor and/or by The McKenzie Institute International appointed assessors. Proficiency is determined by performance in both the formal assessments and in the continuous assessments.

Clinical training sites are currently located in the USA, Scotland, Denmark and Finland and New Zealand. The registration fee payable for the different training programmes reflects the difference between residential and non-residential venues.