Study Hair and Beauty
If you are creative, passionate and enjoy making people feel good, a career in the hair and beauty industry could be perfect for you. From creative colouring and massage therapy to building essential skills in client consultation and retail, our courses help turn your passion into a profession.
Whether you are taking your first steps or developing your existing skills, we offer flexible study options to suit you, including full-time, part-time and Modern Apprenticeship routes.
Ready to take the next step?
Scroll down to explore our courses, check entry requirements and find the study option that fits your goals. If you have questions or want advice, our team is here to help.
Find a course
- Introduction to Hair & Beauty SCQF 4/5 (Thurso)
- NQ Hair and Beauty SCQF 4 (Stornoway)
- NC Hairdressing SCQF 5 (Stornoway)
- NQ Hairdressing SCQF 5 (Stornoway)
- SVQ Hairdressing SCQF 5 (Thurso)
- SVQ Hairdressing SCQF 6 (Thurso)
- SVQ Beauty Therapy SCQF 5 (Thurso)
- SVQ Beauty Therapy SCQF 6 (Thurso)
- NC Beauty Care and Make-up SCQF 5 (Fort William)
- NC Beauty Care SCQF 6 (Fort William)
- Modern Apprenticeship: Hairdressing SCQF 5
- Modern Apprenticeship: Hairdressing SCQF 6
Step out of the classroom and into the salon
Our courses are designed to reflect the real world, giving you the skills and confidence employers are looking for:
- Gain real client experience in our campus training salons
- Learn from industry professionals with years of experience
- Develop the technical, creative and people skills needed to build a career that suits your lifestyle.
- We work with local salons and employers to keep our courses up to date, with opportunities to hear from guest speakers and industry professionals.
Book an appointment
Experience professional treatments at our student-led commercial salons.
Our campuses in Thurso, Stornoway, and Fort William house high-quality commercial salons that are open to the public. By booking a treatment with us, you aren't just getting a great service at a fraction of the cost - you are providing our students with the vital real-world experience they need to become the next generation of industry experts.
- Hair and Beauty at Morven | Thurso
- UHI Salon Hebrides | Stornoway
- Elysian Salon | Fort William
Emily's story: From school to salon
Emily Lowe started her hairdressing journey with UHI North, West and Hebrides while still at school, studying as part of her senior phase. She progressed from our Introduction to Hair & Beauty course to completing her SVQ Hairdressing SCQF Level 5, and has now returned to study Level 6.
In this video, Emily shares how learning in our professional salon, House of Morven at our Thurso campus, along with gaining real-world experience in a local salon, helped her build the confidence and skills for a career in hairdressing.
Still at school? Find out more about our Senior Phase Hair and Beauty courses, available as part of your school timetable.
Elly's story: From student to salon owner
Elly Sutherland returned to campus to deliver a makeup demonstration for our students, sharing her journey since leaving college.
Starting with a school link course and progressing through Level 1 and 2 Beauty Therapy, Elly taught herself makeup and began working as a mobile makeup artist. In 2017 she became self-employed and now runs her own business, Elly’s Beauty Studios, specialising in bridal and soft glam makeup. Reflecting on her journey, Elly said:
"College gave me the foundation to start in the industry – it’s where it all began. The hard work was worth it, and now I’m focusing on what I love - soft glam and bridal makeup. Coming back to college feels like a full-circle moment."
She was joined by former student Corina Swanson, now part of her team, who has quickly built her own client base and is gaining experience on bridal bookings.
Industry Insights: Katrina Sutherland
Beauty students in Thurso were recently inspired by Katrina Sutherland from The Country Spa, who visited the department to share her experience of building a successful beauty business.
Katrina spoke about her journey in the industry, offering honest insight into the challenges and opportunities that have shaped her career. Students gained first-hand knowledge of what it takes to grow and sustain a business, connecting classroom learning to real-world industry practice. Reflecting on her visit, Katrina said:
"What a lovely way to spend a morning; talking with our beauty therapists of the future! It was encouraging to see how engaged and enthusiastic they all were. I'm certain they will enjoy rewarding and fulfilling careers in the beauty industry."
