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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
The demand for health and beauty treatments in spas, fitness centres and the high street has greatly increased in recent years and is a robust area of employment. This course will give you experience in a range of beauty therapy techniques, as well as the skills and insights into managing beauty therapy businesses. You will also study anatomy and the physiology of ageing and research the cultural context of beauty.
To give you the confidence to advise on the appropriate modern therapies and treatments available, experience is gained from working in the college's own salon and through work based learning. You will also be introduced to business management strategies such as budgeting and marketing.
This course provides great insight and practical learning into modern day beauty therapies and business. Students that complete this course go on to a range of jobs including spa and salon management and beauty practitioning.
During the course you will:
Areas of study you may cover on this course include:
Assessment emanates naturally from the teaching and learning of the programme.
Students experience of working with clients, planning and carrying out treatments is a key learning and assessment tool within the programme and is used as formative and summative assessment. Students are asked to present and develop their ideas over a period of time recording them in a diary, log book and / or through a portfolio containing photographs that record the various treatments. Formative assessments ensure students understanding of the process and enable them to progress their ideas to fruition.
Assessment types include:
Through these assessment types students will exhibit their abilities to work with others, solve problems individually and in groups, work with number, time management and improving their own learning.
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. By engaging in aspects relevant to the industry such as business management and therapeutic practices, you will gain knowledge and insights that will enable you to take key positions within the industry or to develop your learning further.
2. Gain experience of and insights into elements of professional and business practice such as interpersonal aspects of working in a salon, ethical decision making, application of treatments, use of equipment and business management through work based learning and through working in the college spa environment.
3. Understand the nature and effects of a range of products, treatments and the way that this is linked to anatomy and physiology as well as lifestyle and dietary factors.
4. Follow health and safety guidelines and HABIA occupational standards relevant to spa and beauty businesses, in the use and application of beauty products and treatments.
5. Formulate business plans and take developmental and management decisions, acquire appropriate people and work allocation skills, gain insights and experience of financial management through work based learning and through specialist business and management modules.
6. Exercise ethical judgement and evaluation of the efficacy and limitations of treatments and therapies through an awareness of current developments in the field of beauty technologies and their effects on the body.
7. Acquire insights into the cultural origins of a range of beauty therapies and evaluate their current relevance through specialist modules and through individual research.
8. Evaluate your learning and professional progress with a view to life long learning through the maintenance of a reflective learning journal.
Teaching and learning has taken account of the level descriptors and expected outcomes for intermediate and non honours graduates as articulated in the Higher Education Qualifications Framework published by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).
Teaching and learning therefore focuses on developing a sound understanding of the principles of Beauty Therapy and on learning to apply those principles more widely and on developing Qualities necessary for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision making.
It has also taken account of the QAA Bench marking Statement for Foundation Degrees. Further, teaching and learning has been informed by close links with an employers forum that consists of Dale Evans (Salon Manager), Christina Steeley (Principal of Wendy Arnold Academy), Loraine Winslade (Simply Beautiful, HABIA), Hazel Fiddler (VTCT), Heather Mole (VTCT), Selina Aloia (Salon Manager), Beryl Lerman (Make up International), Laura Richardson (Spa Manager Champneys), Michelle Goode (Luton and Dunstable Hospital), Margaret Kennedy (Pasque Hospice), Wendy Burns (Grove House Hospice).
The proliferation of health and beauty treatments in fitness centres, spa resorts, the high street and small businesses, suggests that this is a growing area for employment. This programme recognises that there is a market for well managed beauty therapy businesses that are able to provide appropriate services and treatments based on up-to-date knowledge of therapies, products and technologies. Moreover it recognises the clients needs for complete confidence in effective, safe and appropriate therapies and treatments.
This programme will provide an up-to-date knowledge and relevant experience and insights to be able to manage beauty therapy businesses and supervise and advise on appropriate therapies and treatments.
The skills gap within the beauty therapy industry offers a wide choice of career pathways. Larger operations call for candidates with business and management skills and knowledge and there is a broadening diversity of therapies available, influenced by an increased exposure to different cultures.
This programme will ensure you are commercially astute, by developing vocational skills acquired through interaction with employers and through work based learning. Further it will provide an understanding of therapies that are available within the modern day industry. You will be introduced to business management strategies to include budgeting and marketing.
Barnfield has a range of student support services, academic advice systems and a disability advisor. Tutorial support is given at appropriate points through out the course. Course books, online databases and web access are available through the Barnfield College Library and IT suite.
You will also have access to student and study support at the University of Bedford and the Learning Resources, which includes books, journals, online databases, and specialist newspapers and magazines.
Some modules include group work. You will produce creative and realistic solutions to complex problems including time management, monitoring progress to work to deadlines, evaluating your group and individual strategies to achieve the desired outcome. You will have to participate effectively in the operation of a team and collaborate with members of the team.
Career:
On completing this course progression is expected in the following areas:
Further study:
Standard:
Standard entry requirements for UK students: A Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent. A UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
Students from the European Union: Completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
International students: Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL) is available for International students. Use the APL form to tell us about any non standard qualifications and / or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
Additional:
Vocational qualification in Beauty Therapy.
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
Learning and teaching is effected through building a close relationship between students understanding of the science underpinning beauty treatments, professional practices and work based practices. Students are encouraged to work independently at level 2, taking ownership of their perceptions and technical abilities whilst at the same time developing an understanding of the professional contexts in which they practice.
Academic learning will be underpinned by work based learning and through students working in the colleges purpose built spa environment.
At the end of the programme students should be able to work in a professional environment to provide effective client consultations. They will be able to demonstrate practical abilities in beauty and spa therapies.
Teaching and learning strategies include practical workshop sessions, lectures, seminars, personal study, a variety of work related learning opportunities, supervisions, personal journals and logs of group project work.
Students will maintain a reflective learning journal as a means of evaluating the efficacy and progress of their learning and its relevance to professional and vocational contexts.
Communication
To help with the development of this you will:
Be asked to produce work of different lengths and formats, properly referenced.
Be able to assess the quality of your own oral and visual communication and identify areas for improvement and deliver written or presentation assignments which succeed in communicating a series of points effectively.
To exercise and improve your communication skills is one of the major emphases of the programme and this is achieved in a variety of ways.
The assessments include working with clients and recording their communications in a variety of documents. Oral communication will be practiced and tested in presentations and individual critiques.
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will:
Be able to interpret and communicate simple statistical data using charts, graphs and simple functions in an IT package. You will understand the importance of presenting relatively complex numerical information in a two and three dimensional forms.
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this you will:
Be able to complete a complex search using appropriate primary and secondary sources, and draw accurate conclusions independently using the subject methodology. Some personal and professional development modules include data analysis. Searching and evaluating internet sources is taught and you will analyse the data found using appropriate techniques.
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will:
Be encouraged to evaluate the efficacy of treatment techniques both through critiquing available research and through practice.
Through group critics, and your own records or progress whilst working in teams you will monitor the groups progress and evaluate your individual effectiveness to achieve the aims. Working individually you will set your own goals, tasks to achieve research goals, drawing on previous learning experience to achieve creative solutions to common problems.
You will be asked to present and develop your ideas over a period of time recording them in a diary, log book and/or through a portfolio containing photographs that record the various treatments. Formative assessments ensure your understanding of the process and enable you to progress their ideas to fruition.
Professional standards are developed with a stronger emphasis on experiential learning and reflective practice. You will be expected to consider ethical, practical and social considerations in relation to professional practice. You will be expected to implement approaches to Personal Development Planning.
Actively engaging employers in curriculum development, delivery and assessment of learning through close links with an employers forum.
Integrating career planning throughout the programme.
Enhancing professional skills development, related where appropriate to HABIA standards (Hair and Beauty Information Association).
Supporting students in evaluating, and learning how to evidence, the skills shaped and developed within the programme.
