- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 8
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HND
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 2 years (August to June)
Glasgow Clyde College is well-known for producing knowledgeable, ethical and successful graduates who raise the bar in the beauty industry – and you could be one of them. This high level course runs over two years and is an industry-recognised qualification that will help you develop the skills to deliver sought-after beauty treatments, from cosmetic peels and electrotherapy to facials and advanced massage techniques. You might also have the chance to do work experience within esteemed spas and salons or the Princess of Wales Hospice, as you learn these advanced techniques.
What will I learn?
During the HND Beauty Therapy course you'll learn:
Year 1 will introduce you to salon equipment, allow you to develop and enhance popular beauty skills, and carry out all standard treatments within beauty therapy including facial and body techniques utilising manual and electro-therapy techniques. You will also study anatomy and physiology to underpin knowledge and understanding of the beauty treatment benefits and aims.
Year 2 will focus on developing competence in the use of advanced facial and body techniques, such as cosmetic peels, spa therapies and contemporary massage treatments. You will also study lifestyle advice for clients, promotional selling skills, product knowledge and business studies.
During training you will initially work on fellow classmates and then progress to working on real clients. You will also be required to model for treatments yourself.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- NC/NQ Level 6 Beauty Care; OR
- SVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy; OR
- You must be aged 16 years or over before course start date
- For those with no prior beauty qualifications - two Highers at C grade or above, one of which must be English, will be considered for direct entry.
- If English is not your first language, you should have Higher ESOL or equivalent.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
Opportunities are available for external industrial training from prestigious brands such as Gerrards International and Ishga face and body skincare.
Work experience opportunities are available within esteemed spas such as The Carrick at Cameron House, the Emirates Spa, Glasgow and Beauty with a Conscience located in the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice at Bellahouston Park.
View our industry links by following @glasgowclydehairbeautyspa on Instagram and Facebook
Jobs and further study
Employment within the beauty industry, spas, cruise ships, teaching or training.
Take a look at the course progression map for hair, beauty and complementary therapies courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- invited to book an information session and interview. You will be invited to attend an information session and interview on campus. The information sessions will cover course content and include a tour, if necessary. Only those applicants who are successful at interview stage will be offered a place. You should provide proof of qualifications held or pending (for example if still studying Level 6 Beauty Care). These should be emailed to admissions@glasgowclyde.ac.uk
- advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- we aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date.