Basic Information

The programme aims to provide students with professional knowledge of beauty and personal care products (cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances) in the key areas of product quality and product ingredient formulation science. The programme is suitable for students who are planning to pursue a career in the beauty and personal care products industry.

The programme is designed with an emphasis on generic and language training, whole-person development and workplace experience to better prepare students for further studies and employment after graduation.

The programme is linked to the “Earn and Learn” scheme. Upon completion of the full-time first year of this programme², the student may choose to study in the “Earn and Learn” scheme.

Under the “Earn and Learn” scheme, students can enroll in the seventh semester of the “Earn and Learn” Part-Time (Day) mode. Students will be employed by the participating companies as registered apprentice for two years in the “Earn and Learn”. During the two-year training period, there will be salary, government allowance and additional subsidy. For the two years of “Earn and Learn” scheme, the employer will sponsor the apprentice to study the Higher Diploma (HD) programme at IVE for one day per week³.

For details, please refer to the “Earn and Learn” scheme website.

Mode of Study Full-time

Duration of Study 2 Years

Offering Campus(es) / Venue(s)

IVE (Chai Wan)

Study Places IVE (Chai Wan) - 60

Admission Score Average Result: 13 ¹
Score Range: 10 - 18 ¹

Professional Recognition

Students may apply for the Student Memberships of:

The Cosmetic & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong Limited;
The Hong Kong Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

Remarks

Admission score in 2024 refers to score of the best 5 HKDSE subjects, including Chinese Language and English Language of admitted students in 2024. For reference only. (Scoring scale: 5** = 7 points; 5* = 6 points; 5 = 5 points: 4 = 4 points; 3 = 3 points; 2 = 2 points; 1 = 1 point).
The tuition fee for the full-time Higher Diploma is paid by the student.
Employers will sponsor the tuition fees for these two years.

Notes

The programme information is applicable to local applicants. For non-local applicants, please visit here.
Students may be required to attend classes on other VTC campuses. VTC reserves the right to cancel any programme, revise programme title, content or change the offering institute(s) / campus(es) / class venue(s) if circumstances so warrant.
The revalidation of the programme will be conducted in 2025. The curriculum will be updated if circumstances so warrant.

Entrance Requirements

HKDSE

Chinese Language 2

English Language 2

Core/Elective Subject 2

VTC Diploma of Foundation Studies; OR
VTC Diploma of Vocational Education / VTC Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate; OR
Diploma Yi Jin / Diploma of Applied Education; OR
Relevant and substantial work experience and/or prior qualification(s) obtained in or outside Hong Kong (e.g. assessed through recognition of prior learning and credit accumulation and transfer), with demonstrated ability to undertake sub-degree education; OR
Equivalent

Remarks

Applicants can use HKDSE Applied Learning (ApL) subjects (except ApL Chinese) for admission purpose. An "Attained", "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction (II)" in an ApL subject (Category B subjects) are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2", "Level 3" and "Level 4" respectively for admission purpose.
For 2024 HKDSE and before, a "Grade D or E" and a "Grade C or above" in an HKDSE Other Language subject (Category C subjects) are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" and "Level 3" respectively; From 2025 HKDSE onwards, Language Proficiency Level A2 or above in French / German / Spanish, N3 or above in Japanese and TOPIK II: Grade 3 or above in Korean are also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement (Subject to approval by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ)). One Other Language subject can be counted for admission purpose.
An "Attained" in HKDSE Citizenship and Social Development is regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" for admission purpose.
If one of the five HKDSE subjects is Citizenship and Social Development, the general entrance requirement would become "Attained" for Citizenship and Social Development and Level 2 or above in four other HKDSE subjects including Chinese Language and English Language. Besides, Level 2 or above in Mathematics Extended Part (Module 1 or Module 2) is also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. If applicants have taken both Module 1 and Module 2, either one of the modules (with a higher level) will be counted for admission purpose.
Applicable to holders of Diploma in Vocational Education / Diploma of Vocational Education (DVE) (students admitted to DVE in AY2017/18 or before are required to complete prescribed further studies modules).
Upon completion of the Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate (DVB) programmes, students can progress to Higher Diploma programmes in VTC, subject to their BTEC and IGCSE results.
Applications with work experience and/or prior qualification(s) submitted will be assessed individually by the departments concerned.

Articulation / Employment

Articulation

Graduates may apply for admission to the following programme:

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Cosmetic Science offered by the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Science in Cosmetic Science offered by the Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Taiwan

Career Prospects

Graduates may be employed in multinational or local beauty and personal care products enterprises as product specialist, beauty / product advisor, and product sales executive.

Curriculum

Introduction to Professional Practices in Beauty and Personal Care Products
Formulation Science
Science of Fragrance and Aromatherapy
Make-up Techniques
Essential Workplace Communication: Effective Oral Interaction
Essential Workplace Communication: Digital Written Correspondence
Whole Person Development - MindShift: Achieving Personal Growth & Effectiveness
IT Essentials - Health-and-Life-Sciences

Cosmetic Science and its Applications
Preservatives and Microbiology
Facial and Body Therapy
Essentials of Sales and Marketing
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Conversation and Reports
Professional Workplace Communication: Storytelling and Job Search
Whole Person Development - Collaboration, Teamwork & Social Engagement
Enrichment Module B

Legislation and Product Development
Nail Cosmetology
Practical Sales Techniques in Beauty and Personal Care Products
Professional Workplace Communication: Proposal and Report Writing
Whole Person Development - Enhancing Competencies in the 21^st Century Workplace
Enrichment Module A

Practical Formulation Science
Applied Technology in Manufacturing and Evaluation of Personal Care Products
Advanced Beauty Techniques
Applied Techniques in Customer Service Management
Project
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Presentations, Administrative and Technical Text Writing
Professional Workplace Communication: Pitching and Persuasive Presentation

Applications of Natural Ingredients and Drugs in Cosmetic Products
Integrated Science and Techniques in Beauty and Personal Care Products
Practical Nutritional Science in Beauty and Personal Care Products
Industrial Attachment

Tuition Fees

1st Year Tuition Fees (HK$)

$33,310

2nd Year Tuition Fees (HK$)

$33,310

Remarks

The study duration of Higher Diploma programmes is normally 2 years. The tuition fee is payable in two installments each year.
In addition to tuition fees, students will be required to pay other fees, such as caution money and students’ union annual fees. Students of Higher Diploma programmes will be required to pay the study package fees for Chinese & Putonghua modules.
Some students may be required to study bridging modules or enhancement programmes to support their study; or to attend additional training, industrial attachments, public examinations for which separate fees will be charged.
Tuition fees are subject to annual review. The tuition fee levels for 2nd Year will be reviewed subject to inflationary adjustments and other relevant factors.
The information listed above is only applicable to local students.