Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing

What You’ll Learn

Teaching Approach

At Level 3, the teaching approach shifts. You already know how to cut and colour. This programme is about developing creative confidence and advanced technical skills. You’ll spend the first week working on our Foundation Cutting System to establish the academy’s approach, then move straight on to live models for the rest of the course. The emphasis is on creative work – the kind of cutting, colouring and styling that separates a competent stylist from one who can genuinely create.

Mandatory Units

The qualification is built around four mandatory units that every student must complete:

• Creatively style and dress hair
• Creatively cut hair using a combination of techniques
• Creatively colour and lighten hair
• Provide client consultation services

These units cover the core advanced skills, including creative cutting techniques that go beyond the basics, advanced colour application, including more complex colouring work, creative long hair styling, and the higher-level consultation skills you need when working with clients on more ambitious looks.

Optional Units

In addition to the four mandatory units, you’ll choose several optional units in discussion with your trainer to make up the required credits for the complete qualification. The options are:

• Hair colour correction services
• Cut men’s hairstyles
• Create a variety of permed effects
• Fulfil salon reception duties

This flexibility lets you tailor the qualification to your career goals. If you want to specialise in colour, colour correction is the obvious choice. If you want to be able to work on men’s hair at an advanced level, you can add that. Your trainer will help you decide which combination makes most sense for where you want to go.

Course Structure

Week one of the course is spent working on the Alan d Foundation Cutting System.  You’ll be getting familiar with the academy’s approach and techniques. From week two onwards, you’re working on live models, completing your mandatory units and your chosen optional units under assessment conditions. The pace depends partly on your own speed of learning and the combination of optional units you choose, but your trainers are there to keep you on track throughout.

Hands-On Experience

This is an advanced course, so the hands-on element is intensive from the start. After the first week on the Foundation Cutting System, you’re working on live models from our model bank for the remainder of the programme. At this level, you’re working on more complex briefs, with clients who want creative cuts, advanced colour work, or colour corrections. It’s where you develop the creative judgement and technical precision that define a senior stylist.

Assessment

This is a VTCT qualification. You’ll be assessed on live models across the mandatory and chosen optional units. The course includes VTCT online tests throughout to check your knowledge. Your trainers monitor your progress and provide ongoing feedback. Once you’ve completed the course successfully, you’ll receive the VTCT and Alan d Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing.

Is This Course Right for You?

Entry Requirements

This is an advanced course. To enrol, you must either hold a Level 2 NVQ qualification in Hairdressing or have proven experience of 5 or more years working in a salon. Spoken English is essential.

This Course is Ideal For

• Qualified Level 2 hairdressers who want to advance their skills and earn a Level 3 qualification
• Experienced salon stylists looking to develop creative cutting and advanced colour techniques
• Hairdressers who want an internationally recognised advanced qualification
• Stylists working towards becoming a senior stylist, salon manager, or creative director
• Those considering a future move into hairdressing education or assessment

What You’ll Achieve

Your Qualification

Upon completion, you’ll receive the VTCT and Alan d Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing. This is a nationally and internationally recognised, Ofqual-regulated advanced qualification. It demonstrates that you’ve developed skills beyond the Level 2 standard and can work at a higher creative and technical level. It’s the qualification that positions you as a senior stylist and opens doors to more advanced roles in the industry.

Skills You’ll Develop

By the end of this course, you’ll have advanced your cutting, colouring and styling skills significantly beyond Level 2. You’ll be able to create more ambitious looks, handle complex colour work (including colour correction if you choose that unit), and style long hair creatively for events and occasions. You’ll also have the higher-level consultation skills to manage client expectations on more complex briefs. These are the skills that separate a competent stylist from one who can truly create.

Where to Go Next

With your Level 3 NVQ Diploma, you’ll be able to apply for senior stylist roles, salon management, or creative director positions. Many stylists at this level also move into hairdressing education or become assessors, training the next generation of hairdressers. If you want to add barbering to your skillset, Alan d offers a range of barbering courses from foundation level through to the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Barbering.

Our Hairdressing Academy

Located in Hayne St, EC1, Barbican, adjacent to Farringdon Elizabeth Line, Barbican exit, our London Hairdressing School is in the heart of the City of London making it easily accessible by public transport. You will learn in a realistic working environment using salon-professional only products.

Course Investment

Tuition Fee

Full Price: £6,600  inc. VAT + VTCT Registration Fee & equipment

Payment Plan

Secure your place with a £1,000 deposit, then pay the remaining balance in 4 weekly instalments of £1,400, starting from your course start date.

• Deposit to secure your place: £1,000
• Week 1 (start date): £1,400
• Week 2 – 4: £1,400 per week

If you take out a weekly payment plan, there are no interest charges, no credit checks and no third-party finance.

What’s Included

Your course fee covers all tuition, ongoing support throughout your training, and your VTCT and Alan d certificates upon completion. You’ll work on live models throughout the programme. You’ll also use salon-only professional products, giving you hands-on experience with the brands and tools you’ll encounter in professional environments.

Additional Costs

VTCT Registration Fee and equipment are charged separately. Professional equipment kits are available (you keep these permanently). Dress code is smart casual, no uniform required.

Learn from Industry Professionals

Academy Expertise

We have over 60 years of combined industry experience, training hairdressers and barbers. The academy is a VTCT-approved centre, which means training and assessment meet nationally recognised vocational standards. Class sizes are kept small, typically between 1 and 8 students per instructor, so you’ll get individual attention and personalised feedback throughout your course.

A maximum of 10 learners start with us each month. You’ll be training alongside students on various programmes. At Level 3, the training relationship is more collaborative — your trainers work with you to develop your creative direction and help you choose the optional units that best fit your career goals.

FAQs