Beauty Therapy

Beauty therapy is a practical and client-centred profession concerned with the care and enhancement of the body through a range of treatments including skincare, massage, nail care, and various specialist aesthetic and wellbeing services. The field draws on an understanding of anatomy and physiology, skin biology, and the properties of cosmetic preparations, combined with the manual skills and client relationship competencies that professional practice demands. It is a discipline that sits within the broader personal care and wellness industry, which encompasses salons, spas, health clubs, and increasingly clinical aesthetic settings.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this two-year full-time programme develops the technical skills and professional knowledge you need to work as a beauty therapist across a range of settings. You will study the practical treatments that define the profession alongside the underpinning scientific and business knowledge that supports professional practice. The University of the Highlands and Islands has a distinctive distributed campus model, providing access to higher education across a wide geographic area in the north of Scotland, and the programme benefits from this community-embedded approach.

Graduates are prepared for employment in salons, spas, cruise ships, health clubs, hotels, and the growing market for mobile and independent beauty services. Many professionals in this field combine employment in an established business with self-employment, building a client base alongside or following an initial employed period. The qualification also provides a foundation for those who wish to specialise in particular areas, such as skincare, massage, or aesthetic treatments, and for those who aspire to manage or own their own business in the personal care sector.

Further training and professional development qualifications are available through industry bodies for those who wish to extend their expertise.