Welcome make-up artistry applicants!

Guided campus tour

Get a glimpse into the facilities you will be using as a make-up artistry student at West Notts College.

What our students say

Here we talk to Libby, who was with us last year and again this year, progressing from level 2 to level 3. We hear about work placement opportunities the course has led to, what the teachers are like and more.

Meet the teachers

Get to know to know a bit more about your teachers before you join us.

Leanne Lewis

Sam Brown

Gallery

A creepy Joker face was just one of the looks created for Halloween.

Level 2 and 3 MUA students took part in a trip to Morphe Make-up in Nottingham to watch a seasonal Christmas glam make-up demonstration with their new range of products.

Level 2 and 3 MUA students visited a prosthetics event at Coventry Arena seeing guest talks from MUAs in industry as well as watching make-up competitions.

During induction 2023 students got involved in a visit to Leicester College to discover about the course offers and to have a hands on taster in artistic make-up and special effects.

Abbie-Leigh Statham brought a nautical feel to her work in her mermaid creation with shells, netting and aqua blues and greens!

The Easter bunny visited our Revive Hair and Beauty Salon to inspire our make-up artistry students with some floral and springtime beauty vibes.

Level 2 Make-up Artistry students got their creative minds together to produce some stunning love-themed looks in the lead-up to Valentines' Day, using various make-up techniques and embellishments.

Halloween 2023 inspired looks from Level 3 MUA students.

During their fantasy themed session Martinez Slater created a half-devil and half-angel adorned with decorative accessories!

Creativity took a cultural twist in our Level 2 Make-up Artistry class as they took part in a Henna workshop, creating their own intricate designs on hands and arms.

The Easter bunny visited our Revive Hair and Beauty Salon to inspire our make-up artistry students with some floral and springtime beauty vibes.

Students gave a warm welcome to self-employed makeup artist Kristina Troke who brought her artistic talents into the salon creating an extremely glamorous eye make-up, with step-by-step guidance to show students how to create the look.

Realistic looking wounds created with paints.

When I first started college I joined without any of my friends which I worried about initially, but in my induction I made lots of new friends and I just felt like this course was definitely for me – Amber Jacobs.

FAQs - make-up artistry 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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).

Not answered your question? Then ask your teacher

Send your questions to your teachers using our simple online form.

Ask a question

• Applicant activities

  Before you start at West Notts, here are a few activites to get involved in.

  

  Watch - Make-up tutorials

  Take a look at some makeup tutorials created by Programme Lead, Samantha Hagar.

  Aging

  Thank you NHS

  Hollywood glamour

  

  Mythical creatures

  A teacher asked students to put together a look based on mythical creatures, using their skills learnt in class.

  Read Mia-Parise's story

  

  Student portfolios

  Take a look at some of our current students portfolios.

  Take a look

  

  Weekly tutorials

  Watch these weekly tutorials from a makeup company to get inspiration.

  Visit website

• What our teachers say

  Samantha Hagar, programme area lead for beauty and course lead for make-up artistry talks about what to expect from the Makeup Artistry - Level 2 course.

• In the news

  

  Students get industry insights on employability week

  A London barber who creates cuts and fades for celebrities was just one of the online guests giving students business advice and guidance during the hair and beauty curriculum’s annual employability week.

  Read the story