Hair, beauty & massage

Get hands-on experience at our student-run clinics, under the guidance of expert trainers, during your hair, beauty or massage course at Victoria University.

Our relationships within the fashion and entertainment industries give you incredible work experiences, including opportunities like New York Fashion Week. Our graduates have gone on to work in television, theatre and film, and some of Australia’s finest spas and salons.

Why choose VU Polytechnic?

  • Award-winning students & teachers

    We regularly win top prizes at the Hair & Beauty Industry Association (HBIA) Awards for make-up, beauty, hairdressing and barbering.

  • Real-world learning

    Practise your skills in our city beauty clinics, or massage rooms at the Bulldogs AFL stadium, gaining real experience to graduate work-ready.

  • Innovative, flexible and hands-on learning

    Our multi-award-winning blended-learning model combines eLearning with in-person training and practical applications.

VU Polytechnic is open for on-campus activity. Our priority is always the safety, health and wellbeing of our students, staff and community.

Browse hair, beauty & massage courses

Next intake date is shown on course pages.

Beauty Therapy

Hairdressing

Make-up

Massage

Get a taste of our barbering course

Fade with Confidence

Learn how to master a fade with Barbering Educator, Michael Daskalakis.

Transcript for Fade with Confidence

VU Polytechnic stories

Barber awards

Male barber gives elaborate undercut to male customer
Barbering teacher Michael Daskalakis was selected as a finalist in the 2021 Australian Modern Barber Awards for the Best Men’s Educator of the Year category,  for his excellence in men's hair education and growth in skills level of others.
– Michael teaches the Certificate III in Barbering SHB30516

Michael's story

Beauty boss

Young woman with expertly done make up poses for camera
Samantha chose to study at VU Polytechnic because of its strong industry connections and the state-of-the-art facilities, including the student-run hairdressing and beauty salon and dermal therapy salon.
– Samantha, Diploma of Screen and Media CUA51015 & Certificate III in Hairdressing SHB30416

Samantha's story

The beauty of teaching

Andrea Day in VU beauty treatment room.
VU Polytechnic teacher and experienced beauty therapist Andrea Day is passing on her extensive knowledge and experience in the beauty industry to students, while studying a Bachelor of Dermal Sciences part time at VU.
– Andrea teaches the Diploma of Beauty Therapy SHB50121

Andrea's story

Take part in extraordinary events

3 images of extraordinary gold makeup, costumes and hair at a show

Hone your hair and make up skills in festivals, events and national competitions.