Spa
The Devonshire Spa
The former Devonshire Royal Hospital was the last of the UK's eight 'hydropathic' hospitals to close in 2000. After an award-winning £23m restoration project and refit, the building reopened as the Buxton Campus of the University of Derby. The hospital's own hydrotherapy area was built in 1914, and this has now become the training spa.
"In its life as a spa, the new facility will attract a broad client base offering an extensive spa treatment menu. This will enable our students to become highly skilled spa professionals providing an unrivalled service, giving a comprehensive selection of current treatments and preparing them for their careers in this country or abroad."
Karen Wardley, who leads the Hair, Beauty and Spa Therapies subject areas.
Hands on experience from the start
All our tutors have up to date commercial experience which enhances the academic and practical knowledge you'll gain throughout your studies. You'll be given the opportunity to get hands on experience throughout your course in our high quality on site day spa facilities and salons. We also have great links with employers, so you will have opportunities to take work placements and put your skills into practice. If you are already working in the industry, you'll be able to develop your skills in your own place of work.
Study which fits around you
You can fit your studies around other work and life commitments if you choose to study part time on campus or, if you require more flexibility you can choose to study on-line at a time and place to suit you.
Close links to industry
We've got close links with employers in the beauty, spa and hairdressing industries,for example Elemis and Wella, so you'll be kept up to date with what's going on. We are even mentioned in industry publications.
What our employers say
"The integration between industry and education is the key to employability. As an employer within the industry I am very keen to be involved in the progression of the students as well as programme development.
When looking for potential employees I do believe that these students, as proven with past experience, have a great balance of knowledge and experience to make excellent industry professionals."
Victoria Higgs
Elemis RBM North West Midlands
From college courses to university degrees
If you're not ready for a degree, you can study an NVQ or a foundation degree first, because we're a college as well as a university - so we offer all levels of beauty therapy, spa and hairdressing courses.
What our students say
I've really enjoyed having the freedom to explore the areas I'm interested in with support from my tutors. Since starting the course my views about the industry have completely changed." Gemma Bowers - BSc International Spa Management.
"Good facilities, good products in the salon and great people to work with."
"The tutors are excellent and make the course enjoyable and have an excellent way of teaching. The facilities in the salon are also excellent."
Read more about what one of our students has to say about her course.Caring for the community
There may be the opportunity to put your skills into practice by gaining work experience in the local community. Our students have been working with a local hospice offering free complementary therapies to cancer patients and carers.
