Collage showing students performing a range of beauty treatments including applying make-up, facial and manicure

Beauty Therapy

Qualification: City & Guilds Diploma
Level 3

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About this course

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There is NO direct entry to this course for school leavers.

This course will allow you to develop your knowledge and understanding of relevant anatomy and physiology in beauty therapy. You will also develop your communication and customer service skills consulting with clients, successfully promoting and retailing products and providing a range of beauty treatments including electrotherapy, body massage and stone therapy.

You will learn from teachers with a wealth of experience from the beauty sector and will get to apply those skills in our beauty salon, Kudos, where you will work with real paying customers.

Graphic: 1st Choice College in the area. Source: Vector Rankings 2022

On this course you will follow a full-time Study Programme made up of the following four compulsory elements to best prepare you for progression to employment, apprenticeships, further study or applying to university:

  • The main subject qualification
  • Work experience for a minimum of 37 hours or, on some courses, up to 50 days over an academic year. You will be expected to find placements by researching companies, contacting employers and speaking with college staff. 
  • English and maths where students have not yet achieved GCSE grade 4 or above in these subjects
  • Additional enhancing activities such as tutorials and work-related learning, including careers fairs, site visits and guest speakers, to help further develop the personal skills relevant to your progression goals

The Beauty Diploma qualification

You will cover the following units to help you build a range of different careers in the beauty industry.

  • Working with colleagues within beauty related industries
  • Monitor and maintain health & safety practice in the salon
  • Client care and communication in beauty related industries
  • Promote and sell products and services to clients
  • Provide body massage
  • Provide facial electrotherapy treatments
  • Provide body electrotherapy treatments
  • Apply microdermabrasion
  • Apply stone therapy

Trips, visits and activities

As part of the course you will also take part in industry trips and activities including networking events, visits and guest lectures. Previous events have included:

  • Visits to trade shows
  • Guest speakers
  • Salon, spas and cruise ship visits
  • Work experience
  • Industry week activities

Training at City College will give you a huge advantage as you will learn in our purpose built hair and beauty salon, Kudos. You will learn with industry standard equipment working under supervision with real, paying clients to give you a wealth of experience.

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Course assessed by:

  • 75% coursework / practical
  • 25% exam

You will be expected to provide models for your practical assessments.

Level 2 VRQ Diploma in Beauty Therapy or equivalent
AND
GCSEs grade 4 or above in English and maths. 

You will need to attend a College interview. Find out more about How to Apply

May not meet the entry requirements?

Check out our Level 2 Beauty course.

Start Date Course Times Duration Campus Fees
02/09/24 TBC 1 year Main campus
  • Work in commercial salons, destination/day spas, cruise ships, theatres, airlines or hotel chains.
  • Start your own beauty business

If you will be aged 19 before the start of the second year of this course, you will be liable to pay a fee for that year. Please contact us for more information.

Uniform

The beauty industry is a professional career with health and safety regulations set by City & Guilds; therefore, we have certain rules within the beauty salons that you must adhere to.

You will not be able to learn and work in our beauty salons without the following:

  • A clean and well-pressed salon standard dress with closed-toe black shoes (no trainers)
  • If wearing make-up, it must be natural, understated make-up with no false eyelashes or false acrylic/gel nails
  • Hair to be securely tied back
  • No jewellery except a wedding band
  • Beauty kit

Please note that uniforms are purchased through the college suppliers to ensure a high standard of presentation in our Kudos Hair and Beauty Salons.

Consumables of £30 will have to be paid at the first session of the course.

Student LauraGriffiths