Diploma in Cosmetic Science

Employed in the cosmetics and toiletries industry or seeking to enter the field? The SCS Diploma Course is an industry recognised course in the essentials of cosmetic science

Course Overview
Enrolment
Support
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Course Overview

This modular course has units written and assessed by industry experts covering the following:

  • Foundations in chemistry, physiology, biochemistry and microbiology
  • Key functional roles of product development, production, packaging and marketing
  • Vital auxiliary services such as stability testing, microbial preservation, quality assurance, legislation, safety assessment, performance evaluation and market research
  • Specific product categories: Hair, skin, oral care, decorative cosmetics, aerosols and perfumes
  • Short videos, on either laboratory work or aspects of production, that cannot fully be captured by the written word accompany some units. The full list of subjects can be found in the course prospectus.

 

The first module introduces students to the basic sciences together with cosmetic raw materials and safety in the workplace.

The emphasis in Modules Two and Three is on formulating and manufacturing cosmetic and toiletry products. They include hair products (e.g. shampoos); skin products (e.g. moisturisers); cleansing agents (e.g. shower gels and body wash prodcts) and decorative cosmetics (e.g. lipsticks, eye shadows and foundations), together with their production and packaging.

The final module concentrates on finished product use and efficacy and includes legislation; product safety; the marketplace; environmental impact; marketing; consumer research; product evaluation; statistics and claim support.

All course material is the intellectual property of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists. It is for the sole use of the named student who has been accepted onto the course and paid in full. Access must not be shared or given to another person. No course material should be copied or used other than for the purpose of completion of the SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science.

Course Prospectus

Diploma Graduates – March 2026 – with SCS President Dan Whitby

Assessment

Continuous assessment is provided by four pieces of coursework comprising of two essays and two case studies. Final assessment takes the form of four formal examination papers covering all the modules of the course.

The Hibbott Memorial Prize is awarded to the student who completes the SCS Diploma within one year, with the highest overall mark. Dr H W Hibbott was President of the Society in 1960 and 1961 and the memorial prize is awarded in his honour.

There is also a prize for the best essay submitted as an assignment. The winning essay is published in Cosmetics Business magazine.

Find out how this course can help to boost your cosmetic science career

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. If you decide to complete the course over two years, then you must let us  know via email by mid June, before the examinations in September. Marks for any course work that is completed within the first year are carried over to the next academic year. There will be a fee payable of 10% of the original course fee for deferring your examinations for a year.

If you are struggling to open pages on this website, or have problems submitting your application form, please try using a different web browser. If the problem persists, please contact the SCS Head Office by email to secretariat@scs.org.uk

Upon confirmation that you are enrolled onto the course we will organise for an invoice to be sent to you via SCS’s inhouse accounting system.  Once the payment has been received you will be given access to the online course modules.

The only work that has to be submitted for marking is the four pieces of coursework which are dispatched with deadline dates provided for submission. The dates can be found on the course calendar. This coursework consists of two essays and two case studies.

To help students prepare for their examinations the SCS offers a series of webinars, presented by industry experts, two months before the examinations. Students can ask the experts any questions and on-demand recordings are made available to all students on the course.

No, unfortunately you cannot buy parts of the SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science. The SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science is a distance learning course and this allows you to be flexible with your studying times. The modules are interrelated so information in one unit can be linked to that in another, therefore we are unable to offer individual units for sale at this time.

Yes provided you meet the entry requirements. All the materials that you need can be found online and you can contact the SCS Head Office at any time via the LMS system or by email (scslearning@scs.org.uk). The course has been designed to be self-contained but additional help is always available if needed. Over the last few years we have had students from: Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Latvia, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Hungary, Croatia, Malaysia, Philippines, United States of America, Trinidad, Dominica, Switzerland. Uruguay, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Columbia, Peru, Brazil, Singapore, Belgium, Poland, Thailand, Dubai, Canada, Mexico and South Africa as well as the UK.

Full fees are to be paid in advance when you are accepted onto the course. All fees must be paid by the end of August in the year of your enrolment. There is an option for payment over three termly instalments and these are due on 1 September, 1 December and 1 April.

The course ends with four two hour written exams, which are held in the September the year after you enrol on the course. Exams are held online from your home or office setting. We will work with you to organise everything you need.

To find the current courses fees please go to our enrolment page.

The SCS have an online Principles of Cosmetic Science course. Many SCS Diploma holders have gone on to participate in this course as the next phase of their education within the Cosmetics Industry. 

Additionally the SCS run many lectures and regional events in the UK, https://www.scs.org.uk/events The SCS is affiliated to the IFSCC (International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists, see http://www.ifscc.org), who also run international conferences and congresses, SCS members receive discounted rates to attend these even

Yes, the SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science is well recognised within the UK Cosmetic Science Industry.  What does this mean?

The SCS works closely with academia and recruitment agencies:

Academia – within the SCS membership we work closely with UK tutors, lecturers and professors who teach chemistry and cosmetic science.

Recruitment agencies – the SCS Diploma is recognised by agencies who specialise in the cosmetic science and personal care industry sector.  Having the SCS Diploma as an educational achievement on your CV will enhance your prospects in the industry.

You can enroll on the SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science from February to August each year. Enrolment closes mid-August. This is to allow a sufficient amount of time to ensure all students have their access codes before commencement of the course in early October.

You can complete an online application form to enrol on the Diploma Course and an automated decision is made upon completion of the application.  It is important that you provide all supporting information within your application form. The pre-requisites for the course must be met before you will be considered for enrolment.  If you do not have the pre-requisites you will be taken to a Science Knowledge test and depending on your results you will either be enrolled onto the course or directed to the SCS Introduction to Cosmetic Science Course which may be more suitable for you.

Can’t find an answer to your question? Please contact us

Testimonials

The course gave me valuable insights into types of cosmetics I previously had not come across through my work, for example hair care and decorative cosmetics. The units and coursework were challenging yet very enjoyable to complete, particularly the ‘at home’ experiments and the Summer School.

Verity Clawson

Senior R&D Associate, Reckitt Benckiser UK

The SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science is the A to Z of cosmetic science. From feasibility to product launch; it provides all the guidance and skill sets needed for a cosmetic organisation.

Amna Khatun

Research Chemist, Ashland Speciality Chemicals

Enrolment

Enrolment has now closed for this year.

If you are interested in finding out more before applying next year, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us: office@scs.org.uk

Current members of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists UK & Ireland will receive a discount of £150 if they are accepted onto the Course.

Further Information

When applications are processed, the applicant will be advised of the next steps via the online application form process,  depending on whether or not they meet the course pre-requisites.

If successful, any potential student will be sent an invoice (amount will depend on payment type selected).  Access to Diploma Modules will be granted after payment has been received.

The course is non-transferable and does not offer any refunds.

The Course officially commences in October each year.  One week prior to commencement, you will receive an invitation to the first Student Meeting, on Zoom.

SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science Terms and Conditions.

Entry Requirement Information
Course Fee Information

Support

Studying the Units
Each unit of the SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science course is available online at https://scs.plutolmsapp.com

Access to Diploma modules will be granted after payment is received.

The units have added student computer interactivity. It is possible to study from your computer or you can print out each section as required. Visual and video learning resources are also on the site.

Specially designed videos accompany some of the units, these are to help you understand certain techniques, procedures and skills that are used within the cosmetics industry. These are particularly useful if you do not have access to laboratory facilities or a factory.

We also have two Laboratory Days normally organised in London, run by industry experts, so that those students who are not familiar with a laboratory may come and practice, under our supervision, making a moisturiser, a shampoo, a bath foam, a lipstick and other decorative cosmetics.

Student support

The course has been designed to be self-instructional, self-contained and not dependent upon a teacher for elaboration or explanation.

SCS Formulate

November Each Year

All the students on the course, together with recently successful students, will be invited to SCS Formulate to experience the exhibition and to visit the SCS stand and the Education Pavilion & Careers Stand. This provides a chance to meet the SCS team and other students.

Laboratory Days

Dates and Venue Scheduled Annually

Run by industry experts, for the students to experience a lab environment. Students attending are able to make creams, lotions, shampoos, foam baths, as well as some colour cosmetics, such as lipsticks, eye shadows and much, much more!

Revision Classes - Webinar

July Each Year

To help students prepare for their examinations the SCS offers a series of webinars, presented by industry experts to assist in preparing for the exams. Students can ask the experts any questions and on-demand recordings are made available to all students on the course.

Secret Link

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally have:

a) A degree in a scientific discipline with a substantial component of chemistry and/or biology.

OR

b) A minimum of grade C in A level (or equivalent) chemistry plus one other science subject and at least one year’s experience in the cosmetic industry or a laboratory/manufacturing environment in a related industry.

OR

c) Several years of proven experience in the cosmetic industry, working alongside others who can guide them through parts of the course where the author assumes that their readers have a foundation knowledge of the subject matter.

 

In addition, each applicant should have a minimum of GCSE Grade C (for exams taken prior to 2017) or Grade 5 (for exams taken in or after 2017), or equivalent, in Mathematics and English.

 

Overseas students who do not have English as a first language and have not taken examinations in English, should have passed the IELTS test with an overall academic mark of 6 or have an equivalent qualification.

 

Alternative Entry & The Quiz

Students who do not meet the criteria outlined above are given the opportunity to take a short quiz which will help them understand the standard that is required to take the course.

Students who meet the pass criteria are recommended to be accepted onto the course. Other students who fail the quiz will be directed to the SCS’s Introduction to Cosmetic Science Course (ICS).

Application & Enrollment Process

Applications are made via the online application form that can be found at www.cosmeticlearning.com. Applicants will be asked to provide evidence of their qualifications along with their CV.

If an application is accepted the student will be sent an invoice for the course fees. Once the invoice is paid the student is enrolled onto the course via the SCS approved learning platform. The Course Administrator will then instruct them as to how they are to begin their studies.

Students who pay by instalment will have access to the specific modules they have paid for as well as the Resource and Assessment Centres. Access to the additional modules will be given on payment of the subsequent instalments (See Section 6).

If the student finds shortly after paying all, or part of, the fees that they are no longer able to start studying, the Education Committee may consider refunding them all or part fees if they have not accessed the online course materials.

Course Fees

Course Fee for UK, Europe and Worldwide

£4,000 (+ VAT at 20% if applicable)

Current members of the Society for Cosmetic Science UK & Ireland will receive a discount of £150 if they are accepted onto the Course.

Additional Fees

The Diploma Course is a one year course which can be deferred to a second year.

Students who wish to defer their studies and complete the Diploma course over a two year period will be subject to a deferral fee of 10% of their original course fee.   VAT will be added to any additional fees where applicable.

A penalty fee of 10% of the invoice will be added to all late invoice payments.

Diplomas are presented in March at the Diploma Ceremony and posted to those who cannot attend. Please look after your Diploma certificate. The Diploma is not stored electronically and replacement certificates have to be re-produced and they will cost £100.00 (+ VAT if applicable) plus standard postage fees. 

A replacement certificate is an exact duplicate of your original certificate with ‘Replacement Certificate’ reflected on it.

 ‘Appeals’ for Coursework/Exam are charged at £75 (+VAT if applicable) per appeal and are non-refundable. 

Instalment Payment Plan

Approved instalment payments are linked to the release of online access to the modules. This allows students to have access to the course material as required to follow the course calendar. An administration fee is included in each instalment payment. Three instalment payments are required. The first instalment must be made before the course start date, in October, and payments are required as follows within the first year:

Instalment 1 – to be paid by 1st September £2,000.00 (+VAT where applicable) Modules One + Two
Instalment 2 – to be paid by 1st December £1,200.00 (+VAT where applicable) Module Three
Instalment 3 – to be paid by 1st April £1,200.00 (+VAT where applicable) Module Four

A penalty fee of 10% of the invoice will be added to all late invoice payments.

Examination fees are included in the Course Fees. There are additional fees for re-sitting examinations, for which students are responsible and there is a re-sit fee of £100 (+VAT if applicable) per paper re-sit. Students can re-sit up to a maximum of 3 papers.

The SCS operates a £ sterling bank account and your bank will have to make any necessary currency conversions.

We can accept credit card payments but we do not accept American Express credit cards.

We do not offer any refunds. The course is non-transferable.

The SCS Regulations and Handbook is available to view for all applicants and will be available in the Resource Centre for all enrolled students……..