Telephone 01409 220 400 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Popular questions

Our helpful team are happy to answer any questions you may have about BSY, our courses or our qualifications. Please call 01409 220 400 or contact us.
A list of popular questions are also provided here as a reference guide.

Are BSY courses recognised and accredited?

Yes. BSY offers some nationally recognised qualifications from NCFE CACHE, a registered educational charity and Awarding Organisation. These qualifications are regulated by Ofqual in England.
BSY’s training is monitored by specialised accreditation / recognition bodies including OCN and The Guild of Beauty Therapists. Some BSY courses have also been endorsed under the Quality Licence Scheme. BSY has undergone an external quality check to ensure that we and the courses we offer under the Quality Licence Scheme, meet defined quality criteria.
BSY is also member college of the ADLC (The Association of Distance Learning Colleges) and have agreed to abide by a rigorous code of ethics to give you an assurance of quality and fair dealing.

How can I learn these subjects from home? Do I need to attend college?

BSY’s courses are specifically written to help students learn relevant skills from the comfort of their own home. For practical courses, it is recommended that techniques are practiced on friends or family, which not only gives you confidence in the skills you are applying but also the opportunity to receive honest feedback. Practical training is available with some courses so you can learn directly from an experienced tutor and so we can assess your practical competence.

My course has practical training but I am unable to attend your training venue(s), what are my options?

We strongly advise that students attend BSY's practical training at our training venue(s) where possible. In special circumstances students are able to organise a professional assessment with a qualified person in their area of study, please contact us for further information. (Please note: For any practical training workshop or assessment organised independently of BSY, BSY shall have no liability to any person for any loss or damage, whether direct or indirect, resulting from the workshop or assessment, any fees due will be agreed between you and the assessor.)

Can I practice after completing my chosen course?

If the course you have chosen to undertake is a practitioner level course, then yes. Graduates of our practitioner courses can arrange cover for professional liability insurance, which is essential to protect both you and your clients’ interests.
Our Professional Development qualifications can be studied as either a foundation qualification leading to further studies to attain a practitioner level, or as a way to gain additional skills and knowledge to expand your existing practice.

How long do the courses take?

We do not set time limits or deadlines so you can learn at your own pace. You are free to study when it suits you and your progress may therefore depend upon how much time you would like to commit to study.

What are the benefits of BSY’s distance learning courses?

Our courses fit easily around family, job and other commitments, they are designed to be studied at home, are clear and straightforward and regularly updated.
There are no time limits or deadlines so you can work at your own pace and in your own time.
We can assist you with any queries, either by phone or email and your tutor is there to provide feedback on your assignments.

Can I study a course even though I am overseas?

Yes, we have many students worldwide. If you are planning to become a Practitioner overseas, it is advisable to check the criteria demanded by the country you plan to practice in (if applicable) as it can differ from country to country.
Students enrolling from overseas are required to pay in one sum and will receive their first course lessons in digital format.

When I qualify, what associations / regulatory organisation will I need to join before I start practicing?

There is no specific government regulating body for our course areas, so membership of any association is entirely optional and voluntary. There are several self-appointed and self-regulating associations, but there is no statutory requirement to join these. You will be required however to ensure you hold full professional liability cover in order to practice.

Do you offer any help for those on low incomes?

We strive to keep our course fees as low as possible and appreciate that not everyone can pay their course fees in one sum. To support those individuals, we offer a ‘pay as you go’ option whereby you can enrol with an initial deposit, followed by monthly payments which are paid promptly each month or with each assignment submitted, whichever is the sooner. In order to offer this facility, we charge a small admin fee - this is to cover the additional administration required to process multiple payments - this one-off fee is spread over the term of your course payments. If you would like to enrol using our ‘pay as you go’ option, please visit our enrolment page.

I enrolled with BSY a while ago. Can I carry on with my course?

While we do not set deadlines for completing assignments, we do recommend to students that they complete their course within 2 years of enrolment – this is because we frequently review our courses and update the course materials when necessary.
If you have enrolled:
Within the last 3 years and still have your course materials, you are welcome to continue with your course by sending in your next assignment to us when you are ready. This will be marked by your tutor and returned to you, so you can continue with your studies as normal.
NB If your course carries a qualification from an external awarding body and not BSY’s own certification, please note that the content and/or qualification may have changed since you enrolled to take into account new regulations or requirements; therefore your request will be reviewed in line with the rules set out by the awarding body and may not be available to resume after 2 years from your enrolment date. If the qualification is available, there may be an additional charge in order to complete your studies and we will advise you accordingly.
Between 3 - 5 years ago and still have access to your course materials, you may be asked to pay an additional fee if you’d like to continue with your studies. Please complete our resume course form to submit this request.
If you no longer have your course materials, you will be asked to pay an additional fee if you’d like to continue with your studies. Please complete our resume course form to submit this request.
More than 5 years ago.
We are not usually able to accept course continuation requests unless they are under exceptional circumstances, you may wish to re-enrol or complete our resume course form in order to provide further details for your request to be reviewed.

My circumstances have changed since I enrolled and I am struggling financially, can you help?

We pride ourselves on providing courses that allow flexibility in learning and allow our students to study in their own time and at their own pace to fit in with their commitments in life.
In the event that your circumstances change after enrolment we are here to help and invite you to contact a member of our team to discuss the options available.
In many cases we are able to offer reduced/affordable payments which will allow you to continue with your studies (in line with the payments you make) until such time as your circumstances change.
For more complicated situations you may speak with the Student Liaison Officer who will work with you to find a solution.

Payment Advice

I would like to clear my balance / would like to update the card used for payments / have got behind on my payments, is there a way I can pay this directly?

For ease, we have created a dedicated secure payment link which allows you to make a card payment towards your course at any time.
If you’d like to clear your balance or update your card with us, please refer to your enrolment confirmation for details of the payments due on your course and then visit our payment page to make a payment. If updating your card, you may select for the details to be saved for future payments.
If you’re behind on your payments, please don’t worry, we’re here to help and will be happy to help get you back on track. Please refer to any communications you have received from us with details of the payments due and visit our payment page to make a payment.

Can I cancel my course and receive a refund?

Yes, in line with the terms and conditions of enrolment you have 14 days from receipt of your materials to decide if the course is suitable for you; if the course is not suited to you, please return the materials you have received in good and perfect order to the address indicated on your paperwork within 14 days, we recommend that you return the materials using a recorded/trackable service.

I have been enrolled for longer than 14 days and have decided that I no longer wish to complete my course. I would like to cancel my enrolment, how can I do this?

If you have elected to pay by BSY Instalment plan, you may terminate your participation on the course at any time by giving 2 months’ notice in writing via our cancellation request form. In line with the terms and conditions of enrolment, any outstanding payments plus any due during the notice period will be payable.