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Get a glimpse into the facilities you will be using as a beauty therapy student at West Notts College.
What our students say
We hear from Amelia about her experience on the course, highlighting some valuable work experience and how the course has helped her progress, Mentioning new career pathways she has discovered over her time with us.
Meet the teachers
Get to know to know a bit more about your teachers before you join us.
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FAQs - beauty therapy courses
The following information will hopefully give you a little bit more of an insight into what it will be like to be a student with us.
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Where will I study?
All of our hair, beauty and make-up artistry courses are based at our Derby Road campus, Mansfield, in specialist facilities which include salons and teaching rooms.
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What is it like?
The college is an adult, professional environment intended to prepare you to work in your chosen industry. As such, we expect students’ behaviour to reflect the world of work. Attendance and punctuality are very important. There are chemicals that we use in the salons that could be dangerous if not used properly. Therefore, we have very high expectations in terms of behaviour and attitude.
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What will I study?
The courses are a mix of practical sessions, either in a training or commercial salon, and traditional theory sessions in a classroom. The higher the level of programme, the more theory-based work you will be expected to do. It is important you understand that you will not be in a salon all the time. Your practical work will be assessed but you will also have to submit written assignments as part of your course.
Students will be expected to spend some time in our commercial salons. These are open to members of the public and also operate in the evenings. Doing a shift in the evening is a mandatory part of the course. The college will support you with arranging transport home if that is not possible to arrange personally.
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What about English and maths?
If you start at college and you haven’t yet achieved your English and maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above, then you will continue to study these for three hours each week per subject. At the end of your first year you will take a re-sit GCSE exam. It is important you attend your English and maths lessons alongside your chosen course.
Take a look at our fact sheets to find out why English and maths is important within this industry.
View English and maths fact sheets
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What will I have to wear?
You will be expected to wear the hair and beauty uniform, comprising of a tabard and black trousers, at all times. We also ask that all students wear fully-enclosed flat, black shoes. Hair will need to represent the industry students are studying in; e.g. hair and beauty expectations are a neat bun. Students are asked to wear minimal/neutral make-up and have nails short if working in beauty therapy. However, in hairdressing false nails are allowed if they are not too long.
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Will I have to do a work placement?
At levels 2 and 3 you will be expected to complete a work placement and the central work placement team will help you find one. This will be within a salon or a spa and is a great way for you to get your foot in the door, impress an employer and potentially move into a job or apprenticeship as a result. We have great links with local employers and have a lot of apprentices studying on-site with us.
All of our students will be able to also get engaged with our learning companies, which provide in-house opportunities to gain real-world experience. This year students have operated a brow bar for students and staff, plus pop-up barbers and nail treatments as part of the learning companies.
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Will there be somewhere for me to safely secure my belongings?
Yes. You will have access to lockers. It's just a £10 deposit for the year and they are operated using a £1 coin (which will be returned to you after each use).
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