Hairdressing Diploma Level 3
September 2025 start

Our full-time study programmes are designed to maximise your career prospects and widen your options for further or higher study.

With the opportunity to showcase your excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism in our Wella-accredited salon, you will gain the experience that you need in order to cement a career in anything from fashion, to film and TV, to owning your own business.

Work experience is also an integral part of our study programmes, enabling you to gain essential exposure to the world of work.

The course is responsive to new and current trends and units cover:

• Creatively cutting hair - including restyles and precision cuts
• Colour hair using a variety of techniques & Colour Correction
• Creatively styling and dressing long hair
• Planning and promoting a hairdressing competition and implementing it.

If required for your chosen HE course, you may wish to study English & maths to Level 3.

Elements of study

Your programme consists of the following elements:
• Study of your chosen vocational subject (50% of your programme)
• English and maths (continued until the achievement of GCSE grade 4 (C) or equivalent)
• Employability skills (e.g. punctuality, attendance, communication and team work)
• Work experience (giving you a taste of working life)
• Tutorial & personal development (e.g. healthy living, volunteering and citizenship skills).

• GCSE English at grade 4 (or above) or GCSE Maths at grade 4 (or above)
• Completion of Level 2

Theory aspects of the course are taught and assessed in the classroom environment, and practical aspects are taught and assessed in our Wella salon. All practical assessments are observed by a qualified Hairdresser.

Support

The College will support you throughout your time here; you will receive personal support from both your tutor and your Learning & Development Mentor. Support is also available from our dedicated Student Services team for personal, financial and careers guidance.

During their last inspection, Ofsted commended the College for its provision of “well targeted information, advice and careers guidance, which meets individual needs and enables learners to make informed choices about the next steps in their learning and career”.

Enrichment

We want to give you a positive experience at College and a rounded view of the industry you could one day be working in. So, during your time at College, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities, including:
• Meeting guest speakers from the industry
• Visiting local businesses
• Taking part in Showcase activities and related events.

Further information

Our £75 million campus offers:
• A fitness suite and sports hall
• Apple Mac suites
• Libraries
• A theatre and dance studios
• A café selling Costa coffee
• Wella-approved hair salons

We also have a wide range of events throughout the year including showcases, enterprise activities and cultural celebrations.

Number 1 for Achievement Rates

We’re the number one General FE and Tertiary College for 16-18 achievement rates in Greater Manchester.

Ofsted Grade 2 ‘Good’

On our last inspection we were graded 2 for ‘Good’. Ofsted highlighted the fact that our learners develop good employability and personal skills and that a high proportion progress to Apprenticeships, employment or Higher Education.

In the first instance please send a message to hair@boltoncc.ac.uk

You need to speak to one of our tutors before you can enrol on to this course therefore, please use the 'apply' button on this screen to register your interest. Once we have your details we will send you a text with a link to book a telephone interview. Please be aware that when a tutor calls you our number will appear as unknown/with-held/private.

After you have completed the course you could progress on to a higher education course at college or university, or explore the possibility of doing a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4).

Following further study you could work as:
• A fully-trained Hairdresser where you could earn between £14,000 and £20,000 a year, depending on experience.
• A Salon Manager, earning between £18,000 and £30,000 a year.

Sitting a job interview, writing a personal statement, applying for university - taking part in our enrichment programme will give you a CV to wow in all of these situations! You’ll benefit from departmental and cross-college enrichment with:

• Inspiring trips and experiences
• Meetings with industry experts
• Visits to leading companies in your sector

As well as giving you essential professional and technical skills, you’ll demonstrate that you’re a successful and well-rounded person, helping you to make a lasting impression.

We want you to have fun, so we also have plenty of leisure and sporting activities for you to enjoy, improving your health and wellbeing

You'll have your own Learning Development Mentor (LDM) and Work Placement Officer, helping you create both academic and career plans.

Thanks to our partnership with the University of Bolton, you'll also benefit from everything the University has to offer, with a range of opportunities to build additional skills and experiences, giving you everything you need to become a FUTURE SUCCESS in whichever field you choose!

Exposure to employers is also an integral part of this programme – we'll seek to ensure that you have opportunities to gain real-word experience of your sector, either on short work experience or an extended Industry placement.

We’re an elite College, and part of the University of Bolton Group, offering you a gateway to all of Greater Manchester’s vast range of fantastic opportunities for specialist careers, university degree courses and higher Apprenticeships.

We’ll reward your achievements with trips to The Anderton Outdoor Activity Centre and the opportunity to apply for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Our £75 million campus offers a refurbished fitness suite and sports hall; Apple Mac suites; libraries, a lecture theatre; hair and beauty salon; and a restaurant, café and canteen.

You’ll also enjoy a wide range of events, including showcases, enterprise activities and cultural celebrations.

You may qualify for a college bursary or financial support from Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust (LTCT), access more information here: LTCT Financial Support

Click the yellow ‘Apply’ button on this page.

You’ll be asked to set up a Learner Hub account so that you can track your application and enrol online. You’ll also be asked to book your interview for your course at the same time.

If you have any difficulties setting up your Learner Hub account, please email learner.hub@boltoncc.ac.uk

Open Events are the best way to discover what life as a Bolton College student is like, giving you an insight into College life.

Open Events at our Deane Road Campus are as follows:

• Tuesday 17th October 2023, 5pm-8pm
• Thursday 12th December 2024, 5pm-8pm
• Wednesday 12th February 2025, 5pm-8pm
• Thursday 20th March 2025, 5pm-8pm
• Wednesday 30th April 2025, 5pm-8pm
• Thursday 19th June 2025, 5pm-8pm

If you’d like to attend one of these events, register here

Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate, there may be changes to this programme and provision. We will endeavour to keep prospective and current students updated where appropriate and when the information becomes available.