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Course Mode
Full-time
Level
2
Start Date
1st Sept 2025
Start Time
Duration
1 Year
Location
Milnthorpe Road Campus

Barbering, Hairdressing & Beauty Therapy

Thanks in some part to the growth in celebrity culture and the rise of social influencers, the UK Hair & Beauty industry is now worth an astounding £6.2 billion.

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Course Overview

This course will give you the qualifications and experience necessary to enter the field of beauty therapy and go on to work in beauty salons, spas, as a sales representative, on cruise ships, in health centres, or even start your own business.

You will work alongside enthusiastic and experienced staff and use up-to-date facilities and equipment. The department runs a variety of trips throughout the year, for example, an overseas spa trip. Students also have the opportunity to compete in WorldSkills competitions.

This course will develop your customer care, retailing and team working skills. You will learn how to handle money, multi-task and use your initiative.

This course usually takes place over three days.

During the course, you will study units including:
- Body Massage
- Indian Head Massage
- Stone Massage
- Blended Aromatherapy
- Anatomy and Physiology

Students will be asked to complete some hours of work placement in a salon.

You will learn in a variety of situations including, theory classes, practical workshops and public salons, which are well equipped to prepare you for the industry.

This range of experience is designed to help you gain confidence, independence and professional awareness.

Assessment will be via:
- Portfolio of Evidence
- Practical Demonstration/Assignment
- Written Examination

Beauty Therapy is an assessment-based programme, and although you will have the time on the course for tutor supported learning, you must be prepared to allocate some of your own time for revision and to complete assignments.

All of our learners will be given support with their English and Maths skills where relevant to their main course. Those students who have not yet achieved a Grade 4 (or C) at GCSE in these subjects will continue to work towards these important qualifications at a level suited to them. However, students will still have to achieve the stated Entry Requirements before they start the course.

Entry Requirements

Grade 4 or above in English and Maths. You must also show interest and motivation with a keenness to learn.

You will be required to purchase a salon uniform (approx. GBP50) and a kit (approx. GBP100) and text book for your personal use within classes. If the cost of these items would be a challenge and you live in a low income household/ or are in financial hardship, please ask Student Services about the financial support available.

Please speak to the course tutor if you require further guidance.

NB: Enrolment on this course is dependent on meeting the Entry Requirements stated above.

After Your Course

You will gain the qualifications and experience necessary to enter the field of Beauty Therapy either locally or further afield.

You could work within the industry in a number of areas, such as:

- Beauty salons
- Health farms
- Sales representatives
- Cruise ship
- Health centres
- Self employed

Progression opportunities to Higher Education include the Level 4 Salon Management or Management roles.

We have a good relationship with many local salons - they contact us when looking for staff and carry out recruitment days in the college.

Fees

£2000.00

The current fee information is related to the 2025/26 academic year.

The fee displayed is the course fee. Course fees are charged per course for full-time students. There is the opportunity to pay in instalments. Please get in touch with Student Services for more information.

There may be additional costs associated with this course, including kits, equipment, books, and travel expenses. Financial support may be available to support you with these. See our Student Money pages for more information.

You may qualify for financial support to cover the cost of this government-funded qualification if any of the below apply to you:
- You are aged 16 to 18 on 31st August of the relevant academic year and are not studying at another school or college
- If you do not already have a Level 2 qualification and are under 24 on 31st August of the relevant academic year
- Have a gross annual income of less than GBP25,000 (means-tested benefit or salary)
- Have a household income under GBP35,000 and are in financial hardship (bursary funding)

If your employer is paying the course fee and would like to be invoiced, please let us know.

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