The Diploma in Beauty Therapy (Level 5) is an advanced vocational beauty-therapy qualification designed to develop professional practical skills in areas such as:

• Advanced facial therapy
• Advanced body treatments
• Electrolysis
• Anatomy and physiology
• Cosmetic/beauty science
• Professional practice
• Business development
• Client consultation and care
• Beauty-industry work readiness

Why Study Beauty Therapy at NMIT?

Strong practical focus

This is not simply a classroom-based beauty qualification. Students practise treatments in NMIT's Beauty Zone, the institute's on-campus training salon.

Advanced treatment skills

Students progress beyond introductory beauty services and learn advanced skin and body treatments, electrolysis and related professional skills.

Industry-standard practice

The programme's practical capstone requires students to demonstrate services to beauty-industry standards and show that they are work-ready.

Business knowledge

Beauty professionals increasingly need to understand customer service, retail, business operations and client relationships. The programme therefore includes a dedicated Business Development course.

Professional preparation

The Professional Practices course covers customer service, communication, retail and reception skills, consultation, client care, time management, ethics, health and safety and first aid.

Pathway from Level 4

Students who have completed NMIT's Level 4 Beauty Therapy certificate can progress into the Level 5 diploma.

Programme Structure

The current programme contains seven compulsory courses:

1. BEA501 – Advanced Skin Treatments
2. BEA502 – Advanced Body Treatments
3. BEA503 – Electrolysis
4. BEA504 – The Science of Beauty Therapy
5. BEA505 – Business Development
6. BEA506 – Professional Practices for the Beauty Therapy Industry
7. BEA507 – Practical Capstone

BEA501 – Advanced Skin Treatments

This course carries 30 credits.

Students learn to analyse clients' skin and develop and implement advanced skincare treatments.

Topics include:

• Skin analysis.
• Treatment planning.
• Nutritional advice.
• Facial electrotherapy treatments.
• Advanced skincare techniques.

BEA502 – Advanced Body Treatments

This course carries 20 credits.

Students develop skills in:

• Figure analysis.
• Treatment planning.
• Nutritional advice.
• Body electrotherapy.
• Body massage.
• Body exfoliation.
• Body wraps. 

 BEA503 – Electrolysis

This is a compulsory 25-credit course.

Electrolysis is an important advanced beauty-therapy skill and forms one of the specialist practical areas of the diploma.

BEA504 – The Science of Beauty Therapy

This is a 15-credit course.

It provides underpinning scientific knowledge relating to:

• Anatomy.
• Physiology.
• Human body systems.
• Beauty-therapy practice.

 BEA505 – Business Development

This is a 10-credit course.

Students learn about the requirements for operating a beauty-therapy business sustainably and consider the importance of client health and wellbeing when operating a beauty business.

This is particularly useful for students who eventually want to:

• Manage a salon.
• Open a beauty business.
• Become self-employed.
• Work in beauty retail/business environments.

BEA506 – Professional Practices for the Beauty Therapy Industry

This is a 14-credit course.

It focuses on professional readiness and includes:

• Personal presentation.
• Customer service.
• Communication.
• Retail skills.
• Reception skills.
• Client consultation.
• Client care.
• Time management.
• Professional ethics.
• Health and safety.
• First aid. 

BEA507 – Practical Capstone

The Practical Capstone carries 6 credits.

It is designed to demonstrate students' practical skills and work readiness.

Students must perform a range of services within a defined time frame and to industry standards.

The assessment can include:

• Facial electrotherapy.
• Body electrotherapy.
• Body massage.
• Body scrubs.
• Body wraps.
• Figure analysis.
• Electrolysis.

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no separately advertised majors or formal specialisations within the Level 5 diploma.

Instead, students develop an advanced combination of:

• Advanced skincare
• Advanced body therapy
• Electrolysis
• Beauty science
• Massage
• Electrotherapy
• Client care
• Beauty business
• Professional practice

Practical Training – Beauty Zone

One of the biggest advantages of this programme is Beauty Zone, NMIT's on-campus training salon.

Students practise in a real-life setting during their studies, allowing them to:

• Work with clients.
• Practise professional consultation.
• Develop treatment confidence.
• Improve customer-service skills.
• Apply health and safety procedures.
• Work within realistic salon conditions.
• Build work readiness. 

Treatments Covered

Across the Beauty Therapy pathway, NMIT identifies treatments such as:

• Facial treatments.
• Advanced skincare.
• Body treatments.
• Massage.
• Waxing.
• Manicures.
• Pedicures.
• Make-up.
• Tanning.
• Electrolysis.
• Electrotherapy.
• Body exfoliation.
• Body wraps.
• Combination treatments.

Career Outcomes

NMIT's Beauty Therapy study area identifies career possibilities including:

• Beauty Therapist
• Beauty Salon Manager
• Make-up Artist

The Level 5 diploma can also support careers in areas such as:

• Advanced beauty therapy.
• Skin-care services.
• Body treatments.
• Electrolysis.
• Salon operations.
• Beauty retail.
• Client consultation.
• Beauty business/self-employment.