North East Scotland College – Barbering

North East Scotland College runs a one-year barbering course at its Aberdeen City Campus on the Gallowgate, starting each August. It is the main public route into the trade in the north east of Scotland.

Content covers men’s hair styling, cutting, colouring and lightening, alongside client consultation, shampooing and conditioning, styling, facial hair work and reception duties, a broad grounding rather than a technique-only course. The college publishes this as a VRQ Level 2 Certificate in Barbering, described as broadly comparable to SCQF Level 5. One clarification worth making: VRQ denotes a qualification type, a Vocationally Related Qualification, rather than an awarding body, and the actual awarding body is not named on the course page, so ask the college whether it is VTCT or City and Guilds if that matters to you. Fees are not published; students on full-time non-advanced courses may be eligible for funding. Places at the Aberdeen campus are currently full.