Beauty Therapy Level 2/3
The Beauty Therapy Level 2/3 programme is designed to kick-start your career and provide the necessary skills and techniques for you to become a beauty therapist. With the option to specialise in year two, you are provided with a number of different opportunities and experiences, including working in our commercial campus salon.
Learning takes place through classroom activity, demonstrations and working in a realistic salon environment for practical assessment and case studies. When not working on real-life clients, you are taught through a number of practical sessions and assessments, alongside classroom sessions and guided assignments. You will also engage in activities to develop your English, maths and employability skills.
You will also have the opportunity to participate in many exciting enrichment opportunities to include the latest upcoming trends.
How Will I Learn?
The Beauty Therapy Diploma Level 2 course is aimed at those looking to work in the beauty industry. This course provides learners with a range of essential technical and practical skills and knowledge, which will equip you to seek employment or further training within the beauty industry. These skills include carrying out treatments such as; manicure, pedicure, hair removal, facial treatments, lash and brow treatments and the application of make-up.
The Beauty Therapy Diploma Level 3 course is for those wishing to follow a career in the beauty industry and build on their existing qualifications. The course focuses on further development of anatomy and physiology including massage and electrical treatments required for employment in the beauty therapy industry.
You will have the opportunity to participate in many exciting enrichment opportunities including beauty exhibitions in London and advanced massage workshops.
Course Content
Level 2 units may include:
- Working in Beauty Related Industries
- Follow Health and Safety in the Salon
- Client Care and Communication in Beauty Related Industries
- Promote Products and Services to Clients in a Salon
- Salon Reception Duties
- Provide Facial Skincare
- Remove Hair using Waxing Techniques
- Provide Manicure Treatments
- Provide Pedicure Treatments
- Apply Make-up
- Provide Eyelash and Brow Treatments
- Create an Image based on a Theme within Hair and Beauty
Level 3 Beauty Therapy with two available routes, units may include:
- Working with Colleagues within the Beauty Related Industries
- Monitor and Maintain Health and Safety Practice
- 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
- Provide Indian Head Massage
- Apply Hot Stone Therapy Massage
- Apply Micro-Dermabrasion
- Provide Self-Tanning
Entry Requirements
Level 2: 4 GCSEs (9-3) including English and Maths and an interview.
Level 3: Entry on to Level 3 is subject to satisfactory completion of the Level 2 qualification and report from the progression board.
*If you have previously studied a level 2 at another training provider and would like to enrol directly onto level 3 please contact our Admissions Department, where candidates will be assessed on individual basis prior to application.
This is a 16-18 years old full-time study programme only.
Beauty Therapy Level 2 and 3 can be studied part-time for those aged 19 and over.
Kit Costs
Level 2 Beauty Therapy
Uniform: £40*
Practical Kit: £300*
Level 3
Uniform: £40*
Practical Kit: £200*
*All prices indicated must be considered as estimated and prices may change without notice.
Career Opportunities
Employment in a salon, health spa, television, film studios, on board cruise liners and hotels throughout the world as beauty therapist, nail technician or massage therapist. Students could progress to higher education courses, such as a HND Beauty Therapy.
Successful students from this course have gone on to set up their own business, work in a commercial salon and worked as mobile therapists.
Course Progression
Successful completion of the Level 2 Diploma will allow you to progress into employment or onto the Level 3 Diploma.
Learners will have the choice of studying one of the two available Beauty Therapy Techniques routes at level 3:
Electrical Route
Massage Route
This is a 16-18 years old study programme only.
All students aged 16-18 on the first day of their course will have their course fully-funded by the government.
Costs of studying
If you are/will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August in the calendar year when you begin a programme of study, you DO NOT pay tuition fees, College registration fees or examination/board registration fees. However, there are some courses which have additional costs which could include:
- Equipment costs – such as uniforms, kits, books and so on
- Trips and enrichment activities
- DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)
- Occupational Health Screening
You will be informed of any additional costs associated with your chosen programme as early as possible to allow time for payment to be made.
Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college. Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, books and equipment and much more.
The bursary fund cannot provide help with costs unrelated to your course, such as general living expenses, nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.
Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £30,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.
| The 16-19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping: |
| Students who are aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August 2025 |
| Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday |
| Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2025 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) |
When can I apply?
******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2024 are still open. Applications can be made from this page using the button below.
Applications for student funding for learners starting in September 2025 will not open until the end of June 2025*****
For courses starting in September 2024, applications should be made by 1st November 2024. If you find yourself in financial hardship after this date it is important that you still contact Student Services. Applications received after 1st November will be considered on a pro-rata basis subject to need and the availability of funds.
You are advised to read the notes and policies at the beginning of the form and ensure that you provide all the evidence that is required when submitting your application.
Full details of the bursary funds, including making an application, can be found here:
Am I eligible for a bursary?
Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college. Bursary funds are targeted at students where there is an identified low household income.
The bursary fund cannot provide help with costs unrelated to your course, such as general living expenses, nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.
Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £25,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.
| The 16-19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping: |
| Students who are aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August 2025 |
| Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday |
| Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2025 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) |
| If you do not meet the above criteria then you are likely to be eligible for support through either the: |
| 19+ Bursary Fund |
| or |
| Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund (for students paying Level 3 tuition fees for with an advanced learner loan)* *Awards from the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund can only be made to students who have received an Advanced Learner Loan. If you do not intend to apply for an advanced learner loan or if your application has been unsuccessful you will not be eligible for an award from this particular fund. |
Funds are targeted at course related costs such as travel, childcare, books and equipment.
Regardless of income or employment status, students self-funding (including where an employer is covering course fees), are not eligible for financial assistance through any discretionary bursary funds.
When can I apply?
******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2024 are still open. Applications can be made from this page using the button below.
Applications for student funding for learners starting in September 2025 will not open until the end of June 2025*****
For courses starting in September 2024, applications should be made by 1st November 2024. If you find yourself in financial hardship after this date it is important that you still contact Student Services. Applications received after 1st November will be considered on a pro-rata basis subject to need and the availability of funds.
How to make an Application – Watch our video guide!
****Applications for courses starting in September 2025 are now open!****
The application window for full-time courses and joint apprenticeship applications starting in September 2025 opens on Tuesday 1st October at 12pm.
Please see the information below, which provides details on things to be aware of before making an application, and what happens after you apply. We have also prepared a step-by-step video guide on how to make an application below – please view this video which will guide you through the application process.
Application Dos and Don'ts
Before submitting your online application, make sure you have got an email address which you will check frequently and which is professional and appropriate for this purpose, and use this when you create your account. Submit the application as early as possible and remember to make a note of your USERNAME and PASSWORD details! You will need these later.
Application Tips
If you have chosen the study programme you would like to apply for then you are almost there. We recommend that you read our handy application tips, watch our video and then make your application.
You can only apply for one full-time programme and one apprenticeship. You can do this together within the same application form, in what is known as a joint application.
Remember, you cannot study more than one core subject. For example, you would not be able to study two full-time programmes in different subjects simultaneously. You would take Plumbing or Music, not Plumbing and Music.
Your subject will be your primary qualification and forms the bulk of your programme of study.
Application Dos
- Apply as early as possible. We start accepting applications from 1st October 2024 and have set an initial deadline of 31st January 2025 for a priority application on your chosen programme (subject to you satisfying the entry requirements), although we still accept applications after this date but may not be able to guarantee you a place on your chosen programme.
- Think carefully about your course choice before you apply. Talk to your head of year or careers adviser at school to make sure you have explored all your options and have found a course that suits you best. You may wish to attend one of our open days to find out more before applying.
- Make sure you attend any interviews or assessments we invite you to. These are a mandatory part of our process. They give you the opportunity to find out more about our courses, as well as allowing us to make sure you are on the most appropriate course for you. Some courses may invite you to attend a second interview or audition to demonstrate your skills and to ensure you are on the most appropriate level for you.
- Please let us know if your contact details or address change. We will use a variety of letters, emails and texts to communicate with you throughout the process, and the information we provide is both confidential and vital to your application. If you move home or change your phone number and don’t inform us of any changes, you could miss some vital information.
Application Don’ts
- Do not make multiple applications. If you are unsure, for example, of which construction/trade subject you would like to study, please only make an application for one of them. Likewise, if you later wish you had applied for a different course, please don’t worry – we can change your application. Whatever the reason for wanting to change, there is no need to make another application.
- Do not use a school email address when you create your account. Remember, you will need to access this account later in the summer after you have left school.
- Do not create another account if you have previously applied. If you have applied in previous years, please do not create a new account. If you are unsure, contact us to check which username and password to use.
Just call us on 01206 712777
What Happens After I Apply?
What happens after I apply?
Once your application has been submitted our admissions team will complete some data checks
Once you have submitted your application form, a member of the Admissions team will check all of your details and your predicted (or actual) grades, including checking that you meet the published entry criteria for your chosen subject. They might email you to ask for more information.
Once your application has been checked, for most programmes you will receive an email asking you to log in to your account and book your interview. The interview is to determine that you have applied for the most suitable programme of study.
Make sure you check your emails regularly or you may miss your interview slot.
If you have applied for Music or Performing Arts we will email you with a date and time for an audition.
All communications will be sent by email, so please check them regularly or you may miss your opportunity to come in for your interview.
Interviews could be in person or they could be on the phone. This will be confirmed in the email, so please check your emails regularly so that you don’t miss important information about your interview.
When do interviews start?
Interviews for those who we have received an application from will start to take place after our Autumn Open Events. The earlier in the academic year an application is made, the earlier an interview can take place.
What happens at my telephone interview?
What happens at my telephone interview?
You will be asked to book a pre-arranged timeslot and you will need to be ready to answer your phones between the times stated. The call will come from either an 01206 number or it might show as withheld or unknown.
The interview is designed to let out teaching staff find out about you and your interest in the course. To prepare you might want to think about what you enjoy doing, why you have applied for this course, what subjects you expect to do well in (if you are still at school/college) and how you will manage your revision in readiness for any exams.
How will I know if have been offered a place?
Once you have had your interview / audition we will email you to let you know if you have an offer. Offers will be subject to you meeting the published entry requirements of the chosen programme, once GCSE results have been published and provided to the College.
If you are not offered a place on your chosen programme, we will do our best to support you in finding an appropriate alternative.
Your offer
After your interview you will be sent an email to confirm whether you have been offered a place. Please remember to keep checking your email account so that you don’t miss this as it will include important information on your next steps.
Got another question?
For any further questions relating to the post-application process please see our application and enrolment FAQ.
Watch Our Video Guide
Beauty Therapy Level 2/3 (16 - 18 Year Old Learners)
16 – 18 year old learners will follow a study programme consisting of Work Experience, Enrichment activities and your Beauty Therapy qualification. In addition to your main programme, you will study English and maths. Depending on your grades on entry, you will study either Functional Skills or GCSEs English and maths (one per year).
| Level | Level 2 |
|---|---|
| Location | Colchester Braintree |
| Duration | Two Years Year 1: Level 2 Year 2: Level 3**Level 3 offered at Colchester only |
| Study Mode | Full-Time |
| Campus / Adult Skills Centre | Colchester Campus Braintree Campus |
| Start Date | September 2025 |
| Fee(s) | 16-18 years old study programme only: Free |
Other courses in this area
Disclaimer
All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2024-25 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.
Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.
The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.
The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.
