International Spa Management BSc (Hons)
The only online course of its kind in the country. It’s an ideal degree for busy people already working in the spa industry, or international students wanting to gain a UK spa degree without the disruption of relocating. Because it’s online, we use innovative ways to help you build practical skills and to ensure the course is interactive and engaging.
Backed by the spa industry
This International Spa Management degree was designed in consultation with industry professionals, including the Spa Business Association, the British Spa Association and HABIA (the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority). This means that its content will relate directly to today’s spa industry, and give you the skills and knowledge that employers, or your own business, needs.
Innovative ways to learn
Online study is a great way of fitting professional development around your other commitments. Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. Course modules still operate within a fixed semester or term time, but you can choose to study during the day, in the evenings or at the weekend rather than having to attend fixed lectures.
But how can a subject like spa management be taught online? We offer summer schools in our on-site commercial spa, to cover practical elements of the course or if you already work in the spa profession, you may gain all the practical experience you need there. There’s also an optional one year work placement overseas – an exciting prospect for some of our students.
To ensure the course material is brought to life, we use online discussion forums so you can debate topics with other students from all over the world and from all kinds of different spa backgrounds, as well as videos of talks by visiting professionals.
Course Length:
Up to 6 years of part time study. There’s also an optional placement year
Start Dates:
September and January
Entry Requirements:
Starting this course in January 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 200-240 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
Starting this course from September 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 280 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.
Fees:
| Module | No of Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £300 | 24 | £7,200* | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £405 | 24 | £9,720* | Sept/Jan |
* Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase. There may be some additional costs on top of your course fees for items such as your professional uniform (approximately £75) and optional trips. You will need to arrange your travel and accommodation requirements and costs for the summer school, plus living expenses.
Career Information:
You'll have built up the skills and management techniques you need to develop your career in the health and spa industry.
If you are already working in the profession, this degree gives you formal recognition that you have attained a certain levels of skills and knowledge and should boost your confidence and enhance your prospects.
If you are about to begin your career, the degree will enable you to work in various areas of the spa industry, in roles such as: therapist, supervisor, manager or trainer. Several of our successful graduates have gone on to start their own businesses.
If you want to continue studying you could move on to our on-campus MA International Spa Management (Incorporating PG Cert/Dip).
Testimonials:
Learn from spa experts
There’s nothing more inspiring and interesting than hearing from people who have achieved success in your chosen field. Part of your learning resource for this degree will include recorded presentations from high profile guest speakers who’ve visited our campus.
Recent guest speakers have included the following.
Andrew Gibson, Director of Spa for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Andrew is one of the main guest speakers on this course. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is at the forefront of the spa industry and he's a well-known, well-respected professional with 25 years experience.
Jane Crebbin-Bailey, leading educationalist, writer and speaker on spa therapy and practice
Jane teaches part of the Spa Maintenance and Treatments module in this degree and she’s a high profile figure in the spa and beauty industry. She wrote The Spa Book: The Official Guide to Spa Therapy.
Jane is a past chairman of the British Association of Beauty Therapy, has served as a director of the International Spa Association (Europe) with responsibility for standards and practice, and as a board member of the International Spa Association (ISPA) Education Foundation in America.
Jane also works as a partner for the international spa consultants, HCB Associates, is a member of HABIA and is a spa consultant and designer.
Course Leader:
Modules Summary Stage 1:
You must take the following modules:
Modules Summary Stage 2:
You must take the following CORE modules and choose TWO of the OPTIONAL modules listed below.
Modules Summary Stage 3:
You must take all of the following CORE modules and then select FOUR of the OPTIONAL modules listed below.
Student Profile:
Learn from spa experts
There’s nothing more inspiring and interesting than hearing from people who have achieved success in your chosen field. Part of your learning resource for this degree will include recorded presentations from high profile guest speakers who’ve visited our campus.
Recent guest speakers have included the following.
Andrew Gibson, Director of Spa for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Andrew is one of the main guest speakers on this course. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is at the forefront of the spa industry and he's a well-known, well-respected professional with 25 years experience.
Jane Crebbin-Bailey, leading educationalist, writer and speaker on spa therapy and practice
Jane teaches part of the Spa Maintenance and Treatments module in this degree and she’s a high profile figure in the spa and beauty industry. She wrote The Spa Book: The Official Guide to Spa Therapy.
Jane is a past chairman of the British Association of Beauty Therapy, has served as a director of the International Spa Association (Europe) with responsibility for standards and practice, and as a board member of the International Spa Association (ISPA) Education Foundation in America.
Jane also works as a partner for the international spa consultants, HCB Associates, is a member of HABIA and is a spa consultant and designer.
Career Information
You'll have built up the skills and management techniques you need to develop your career in the health and spa industry.
If you are already working in the profession, this degree gives you formal recognition that you have attained a certain levels of skills and knowledge and should boost your confidence and enhance your prospects.
If you are about to begin your career, the degree will enable you to work in various areas of the spa industry, in roles such as: therapist, supervisor, manager or trainer. Several of our successful graduates have gone on to start their own businesses.
If you want to continue studying you could move on to our on-campus MA International Spa Management (Incorporating PG Cert/Dip).
Modules
Stage 1
You must take the following modules:
Core Module
Particularly useful for those students who haven’t studied for a long time, this module allows you to develop the skills you need to succeed in academic study, research and assessment.
You will cover:
- Electronic resources
- Academic writing
- Undertaking a literature review
- Critical reading
- Academic referencing styles
- Presentation styles and skills
- Group work
- Research design and methodology
- Interpreting data
- ICT skills
- Exam techniques.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 60% coursework – a 1,000 word literature review – and 40% exam: a 90 minute exam.
Credits: 15
Core Module
You’ll learn the knowledge and skills required to practice, apply and evaluate the effectiveness of manual face and body massage within the beauty therapy industry.
You will learn about:
- Body and facial massage treatment, including indications, contra indications, consumables, suitable sterilisation, sanitation, safety and hygiene, and classical massage manipulations.
- The effects of massage, including physical and physiological effects of classical massage manipulations as well as researched massage manipulations, adaptation to suit client needs, stimulation and relaxation.
- Underlying anatomical structures, including anatomical structures affected by massage application, structures to be avoided, and adaptation of massage treatment to suit underlying anatomical structures.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. For part 1 (50%), you will carry out facial and body massages on clients so you build up a portfolio of case studies. For part 2 (50%), you will give a verbal report about the physical, physiological and psychological effects of classical and researched manipulations and identify anatomical structures to be avoided during a massage.
Credits: 15
Core Module
This module is an introduction to legislation relating to the spa industry, effective treatment packaging and co-operative working with other spa professionals.
We will cover:
- A variety of relevant legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, Musculoskeletal disorders, cash handling, and the Consumer Protection Act
- Spa hygiene: causes of infections, methods of sterilisation, sanitisation, public facilities, and ventilation
- Spa safety: electrical safety, chemical and physical hazards, heating and fire safety, salon lighting and gas safety
- Reception skills: maintaining services and operations, supervising staff, security, checking and maintaining work schedules and rotas, planning charts (C. S. B. T.) computer treatment planning, record keeping, client advice, and spa packages
- Treatment packaging: planning and timing of beauty treatments, working with nutritionists and complementary therapists
- Spa operations: the maintenance of changing rooms, the spa environment and treatment areas
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. 50% is based on a portfolio you’ll build, which documents the relevant health and safety checks and procedures that need to be conducted within a spa. The remaining 50% is based on an effective treatment package which you will develop, using all aspects of the spa environment.
Credits: 15
Core Module
You’ll develop a practical understanding of the purchasing, costing and control techniques used to help the manager of a service based industry such as a spa, make effective short term decisions.
Topics include:
- Elements of cost
- Setting selling prices
- Control of stock and cash
- Stocktaking and consumption
- Trial balance procedures
- Final accounts
- Limited companies
- Sales profitability ratios
- Liquidity ratios
- Efficiency ratios
- Financial ratios
- Budgetary control
- Types of budget
- Variance analysis
- Cost categorisation and contribution application.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. For the first part (50%) you will be expected to analyse 2 sets of financial accounts for a service based organisation and provide a 500 word explanatory essay. For part 2 (50%) you will produce a written explanation of the budget setting process and construct a cost statement (1,000 words).
Credits: 15
Core Module
Marketing and promotion are recognised as being fundamental to business success in service industries such as spa. This module will introduce you to contemporary marketing issues like buyer behaviour, social networking, and the global nature of markets in our interconnected world. It focuses especially on the promotional aspects of marketing a service like spa.
Areas covered include:
- An overview of contemporary marketing
- The extended marketing mix
- The changing nature of global markets
- Research, market segmentation and targeting
- Consumer motivation and purchase behaviour
- The nature of the service product – lifestyle process
- Expectations and perceptions of a service
- The promotional process and media landscape – return on investment
- Consumer motivation and purchase behaviour
- Important and multiple roles of promotion.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a 1,500 word report.
Credits: 15
Core Module
You’ll gain an introduction to the biological principles of anatomy and physiology. These principles form the underpinning knowledge of treatments so they will help you with analysis and treatment.
We will cover the following areas:
The appearance and symptoms of:
- skeletal and joint diseases or disorders
- muscular diseases and disorders
- circulation and lymphatic diseases and disorders
- respiratory diseases and disorders
- nervous diseases and disorders
- endocrine diseases and disorders.
Anatomy and physiology, including:
- structure, function and development of the skeleton
- joint structure and movement
- skeletal muscle tissue and the muscular system
- cardiovascular, lymphatic and respiratory systems
- regulation and co-ordination
- reproduction.
How will I be assessed?
There is a 2 hour exam on anatomy and physiology. This is an online open book exam which can be sat at home.
Credits: 15
Core Module
This module is all about you and your future career. It will help you to:
- identify your strengths and weaknesses and put together a Personal Development Plan to address any development needs
- find opportunities for volunteering or paid placements
- learn the difference between transferable and job/industry specific skills
- set short, medium and long term professional and career goals
- learn how to put into practice the skills and knowledge you continually gain on the course, when volunteering or working in industry
- become aware of the skills that the spa industry requires.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. Firstly, you will be asked to complete a detailed analysis of your existing skills and knowledge and compare these to the list of qualities graduates are expected to have. You will then prepare an Individual Action Plan to help address any weaknesses. This counts for 30%.
Secondly, you will produce an e-portfolio evidencing the skills, knowledge and graduate attributes that you have acquired over the year. Using this evidence, you’ll submit a reflective piece of work that highlights your personal progression (1,000 words). This is worth 70%.
Credits: 15
Core Module
Contemporary service industries operate within a fiercely competitive environment, in which the quality of the customer experience is a critical factor in organisational success. Since the customer experience relies much on the skills and competencies of front line and support staff, it’s important that organisations have effective systems and procedures for managing human resources. Therefore, the aim of the module is to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding of human resource management theory and its application within service industries such as spa.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. For part 1 (40%) you’ll be asked to produce an outline recruitment plan for a job of your choice (800 words). For part 2 (60%) you’ll be asked to investigate and analyse performance management and retention strategies used within the service sector (1000 words).
Credits: 15
Stage 2
You must take the following CORE modules and choose TWO of the OPTIONAL modules listed below.
Core Module
Understanding consumers’ wants and needs as well as satisfaction levels is an important, but under-skilled and under researched area. Therefore, this module will help you develop basic skills for research, which are relevant to the spa industry. It will cover:
- Researching and analysing academic work and referencing skills
- Specifying research questions and testing hypotheses
- Research styles and traditions: quantitative and qualitative; combining both methods
- Building up a feasible research design including ethical, sampling and reliability evaluation as well as philosophical approaches
- Primary research methods, such as interviewing, focus groups, observation, questionnaires, SPSS
- Analysing and presenting data
- Ethical issues in research approach and design and recognition of the University’s research ethics policy guidelines.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. You will need to compile a portfolio of between 3,000-3,500 words which includes designing and implementing a pilot research study and then critically reflecting on its feasibility and validity.
Credits: 15
Core Module
The quality of service is crucial to achieving business success in service industries like spa. Supervisors and managers need to harness the skills, competencies and commitment of staff to provide services to the standards expected.
In this module, you will be introduced to theoretical perspectives of managing people, learn to recognise the changing nature of management and analyse the role of supervisors and managers within the service industries.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: an evaluative report which investigates management practices and their impact, within a service sector organisation of your choice (2000 words).
Credits: 15
Core Module
You will learn how to take the necessary decisions in a service sector environment, to ensure effective resource management and sustainability. Effective decisions come from using effective purchasing and control systems and applying these in specific situations.
You will cover areas such as:
- Relevant costs and revenues for decisions
- Cost-volume profit analysis
- Long-term decision techniques
- Sources of finance
- Long-term capital structure and costs
- Investment ratios
- Investment in working capital.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. In part 1 (30%) you’ll be asked to provide an analysis of a service sector operational situation, apply appropriate financial decision techniques and make suitable recommendations (800 words). In part 2 (70%) you will be asked to develop and recommend a financing decision based upon the analysis of the financial strategy and performance of a service sector business (1,500 words).
Credits: 15
Core Module
This module is an introduction to the role of dietary components, digestion, the concept of a balanced or health diet, and effects of poor diet on health. You’ll learn about the importance of providing well balanced spa menus to meet specific customer needs and the spa concept of the establishment.
The following areas will be covered:
- Recommendations for a healthy diet and benefits of a health diet
- Dietary components: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals
- Energy needs: units of energy, assessing the value of different foods, daily energy requirements, factors affecting energy requirements, and the concept of energy balance
- Dietary requirements for particular groups: factors affecting food habits and choice, nutrition in special age groups, groups with particular dietary preferences, groups with dietary restrictions (body image and diet, eating disorders).
- Dietary advice: collecting dietary information from a client, analysing dietary information using published reference information, estimating dietary/energy requirements of individuals, evaluating if a diet is a health diet, determining if weight is appropriate for height (tables, calculation of Body Mass Index)
- Providing a well balanced menu to meet specific needs of customers
- Food psychology in what determines customer choice.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 50% coursework and 50% exam.
Credits: 15
Core Module
This builds upon the Professional Development 1 module. It is designed to prepare you to work towards the University of Derby Award Programme (for Employability, Leadership and Management) which enables you to further develop your employability skills and apply what you have learned in the classroom to a real working environment.
You will undertake 1 or 2 sessions of voluntary or paid work (a total of 50 hours) and attend workshops on:
- leadership and management
- self awareness
- the graduate job market and graduate careers.
This module allows you to constantly review your actions and evaluate your personal academic and professional work.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. You will produce a Personal e-Portfolio which demonstrates the experience and knowledge you’ve acquired from a variety of sources, and will include feedback from work/project colleagues and a personal action plan.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of international spa therapies and their relationship to the spa industry as a whole. You will learn about a range of general spa operations, water based treatments, heat therapies and spa therapies, and consider the physical and physiological effects of treatments.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a 3000 word report analysing the value and impact of new technologies in the spa industry.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
We’ll cover a range of training strategies, as well as the benefits and effects of training on business performance.
You will cover these topics:
- Benefits to the organisation including the historical perspective of training, investing in the workforce, funding issues, training strategies and current trends (e-learning)
- Training strategies including the appraisal process, initial assessments, skills analysis, skills audit, motivating staff, coaching and mentoring skills
- Training techniques including programme structures, Kolb Learning Cycle (experiential learning), schemes of work, presentation techniques, reinforcement theories, cognitive theories, the learning environment and barriers to learning.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. You will produce a portfolio containing four reports and one scheme of work.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You need to be Elemis trained in order to take this module, and it will be conducted as part of the summer school. You will develop professional skills that enable you to correctly administer specialised therapeutic massage techniques. You will also be able to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of these massage techniques.
We cover these areas:
- Aroma stone therapy: history, benefits, physiological and psychological effects, contra indications and precautions
- Advanced detox: fennel cleansing cellulite and colon cleansing; sculpting massage anatomy and physiology; physiological effects of poor circulation, fluid retention and a sluggish digestive system; treatment benefits and contra indications
- Nurturing massage for mother-to-be: room preparation, client preparation, trimesters, anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, benefits of pre natal massage, contra indications and precautions
- Benefits of massage: qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, observation, physiological and psychological evaluation of researched massage manipulations, pre and post massage benefits.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Stage 3
You must take all of the following CORE modules and then select FOUR of the OPTIONAL modules listed below.
Core Module
You will carry out a detailed analysis of a topic related to the service sector, in order to develop your analytical and critical skills. You will be able to choose a topic of interest to you, in agreement with your ‘supervisor’ for this module. This might seem like a daunting prospect but don’t worry – you will receive guidance and support from a dedicated member of staff.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. You will need to submit a 10,000-12,000 word assignment.
Credits: 30
Core Module
You'll learn about the range of national and international spa treatments and how they have developed over the years. You will compare and evaluate their place and use in today's spas.
Topics we will cover include:
- Historical and cultural developments of spa treatments including heat therapy, touch therapies/massage, fitness/yoga/meditation, indigenous therapies
- Historical development and current issues in complementary and alternative medicine and indigenous therapies
- The influences affecting the future treatment developments within the international spa environment
- Current issues in the modern spa: marketing, scope of practice, treatment trends.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a 4000 word essay critically analysing the cultural and historical development of three spa treatments
Credits: 15
Core Module
In the present labour market it is absolutely essential that you are able to present your skills and knowledge in the best possible way to enhance your prospects of employment. Therefore this module is all about you and builds upon the previous two professional development modules.
It will:
- provide you with the information and practice you need to enhance your career planning and job seeking skills, including CV writing and interview techniques
- give you the in depth analytical knowledge you will need to address key strategic developments in the spa industry, so that you can see what the future may look like
- help you with job interviews by knowing how to contextualise your academic learning and transferable skills.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework, made up of:
- 2,000 word essay on a contemporary issue in the spa sector
- an online presentation highlighting the impact of contemporary issues in the spa sector and the skills and knowledge required of future managers
- a reflective profile highlighting your development requirements.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
There are various risks that affect service sector organisations like spas, such as financial, environmental and social risks. You'll learn about how businesses use these risks – in the decision making process and to move forward strategically.
We will cover:
- Historical associative methods of risk assessment
- Risk management maturity model (RMMM) concepts and use
- Operational risk management
- Financial risk management models and impact analysis
- Expert methods of risk assessment
- Defining and estimating reputation risk
- The factoring of risk analysis and the use of value at risk models
- Enterprise risk management models
- Social risk, acculturation and social dynamics
- Environmental risk management models and sustainability
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a 3,000 word report that outlines a specific area of risk management within an organisation.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You’ll learn the practical and functional aspects of spa design. This includes:
- Managing a spa development, including analysing location and site, project management, staff training, marketing public responsibilities, health and safety factors and choosing competent contractors
- Design specifics including flooring, walls, lighting, heating, bathing load, reception, staff areas, operations and health and safety
- Developing a design brief including selecting an effective design team, developing a budget, marketing decisions and how they impact the design.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. 60% is based on a 20 minute online presentation in which you sell your design brief to your peers. And 40% is a 3,000 word report, in which you will critically analyse a set of plans for a spa.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
With increasing levels of globalisation, one of the main areas facing the service sector has been how to manage a culturally diverse workforce. In this module you’ll learn about cultural difference and how this affects service sectors like the spa industry. You’ll also critique relevant theories and devise a strategy for managing cultural diversity.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. 50% is based upon a 20 minute online presentation you’ll give, critically evaluating theories of culture and cultural diversity within the workplace. The remaining 50% comes from a 2,000 word report about gaining competitive advantage by managing cultural diversity within a service sector organisation.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
In this module you will look at what motivates and influences people to buy products and how businesses can use this understanding to create successful products in the marketplace.
We will cover these topics:
- The psychological and sociological processes underpinning consumer behaviour worldwide.
- The theoretical basis of constructs such as perception, motivation, beliefs and attitudes in understanding consumption.
- The role of hedonic response, mood and emotions as well as spontaneity in decision processes.
- Methodologies and instruments and their use in understanding highly subjective constructs.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a 3,000 word report that examines a recent trend in the consumption process.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will learn about the developments in, and the relationship between, business strategy and human resource strategy. You'll also look at how these relate to the needs of service sector organisations such as spas.
Areas covered include:
- The process of strategic planning, the service sector business environment, current and future perspectives and challenges
- Developments in strategic human resource management theory and practice and the application of recent ideas and developments within the service sector
- Human resource strategy and planning, job design and employee resourcing, the learning organisation, knowledge management, employment relationships and partnerships, flexibility, performance and reward
- Strategies for managing change including culture change.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. In a written report of 3,000 words, you will be asked to critically evaluate the extent to which strategic HRM can help spa organisations face the challenges of the future, and recommend strategies for managing change.
Credits: 15
Starting this course in January 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 200-240 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
Starting this course from September 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 280 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.
Apply Now
Applications for Online courses are made through the main University of Derby website.
By clicking on "Apply now" below you will be redirected to the University of Derby website to continue your application process.
Fees
| Module | No of Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £300 | 24 | £7,200* | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £405 | 24 | £9,720* | Sept/Jan |
* Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase. There may be some additional costs on top of your course fees for items such as your professional uniform (approximately £75) and optional trips. You will need to arrange your travel and accommodation requirements and costs for the summer school, plus living expenses.
Print this page