Everything you need to know about a HND and How It Will Help Your Career?

It can be quite overwhelming when choosing a Degree to study, there are many to choose from, Bachelors, Top-ups, Masters… The list goes on. There’s one in particular qualification that we’re going to write about in detail for today’s blog post and that’s the HND. HND stands for Higher National Diploma and are taught at Level’s 4 and 5. They are a great way to explore and build knowledge of your chosen field whilst gaining invaluable vocational skills.

What is a Higher National Diploma (HND)?

It’s probably best to start off with what an actual HND is. HNDs are work-related, or vocational, higher education qualifications. HND is a higher education qualification of the United Kingdom, which can be used to enrol into universities at an advanced level. A Higher National Diploma is equivalent to the second year of a three-year degree and is an RQF Level 4 and 5 Course.

A HND qualification will allow you to further progress your studies as you can go onto study a top-up degree too! A top-up degree allows you to achieve a full Bachelor’s degree with one additional year of study. Regent College London offers HNDs in Business and are sure to help further your interest in the ever-changing world of Business.

HNDs are designed to help prepare you for the world of work, which is why this qualification is very much valued by employers. HNDs are available in the UK and in other countries too, although they have different entry requirements, they remain a great qualification to achieve and are a globally recognised qualification.

Who is a HND for?

There is no age limit on studying for a HND, anyone can apply depending on entry requirements and qualifications achieved. HNDs are great for those who like to learn through doing practical types of learning. If you know what career you are aiming to enter, a HND can offer more of a direct route into that industry. There are many individuals who can look to study a HND such as:

1. School Leavers
2. Mature students returning to education (with related work experience)
3. Individuals in employment who wish to improve their career prospects and
4. Individuals who wish to start their own business

How long does it take to complete a HND?

This is completely dependent on which basis you choose to take your course. It can be completed within 2 years, if you are able to study full time or 4 years if you wish to study part time.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Naturally, you may be wondering what the advantages and disadvantages are of taking a HND, well, we have outlined a couple for each which may end up helping you make your decision.

Advantages of studying a HND:

1. As a HND offers a direct route into your career, you will be able to gain a good amount of valuable skills, knowledge and understanding needed for your career path.
2. With a HND, you will be able to top-up your degree and gain a complete Level 6 qualification. A top-up degree allows you to achieve a full Bachelor’s degree with one additional year of study. Regent College London offers HNDs in Business and are sure to help further your interest in the ever-changing world of Business.
3. A HND is a great qualification for those who aren’t suitable for a traditional 3 Year Bachelor’s Degree Programme. This allows a different route to gain a Level 6 Qualification.
4. HND’s tend to be assessed through assignments, projects and practical tasks that you complete throughout the course.

Disadvantages of Studying a HND:

1. The qualification tends to be focused on continuous coursework rather than an end of year examination
2. HNDs are described as being role-specific in comparison to full degrees where the learning is more generic

What HND Courses do Regent College London Offer?

Regent College London offer a range of HND Business Related Courses which include:

1. HND in Business (General)
2. HND in Business (Business Management)
3. HND in Business (Accounting and Finance)
4. HND in Business (Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management)
5. HND in Business (Human Resource Management)
6. HND in Business (Marketing)
7. HND in Business (Operations Management)

What’s the difference between a HND and HNC?

HNC stands for Higher National Certificate and is a Level 4 qualification and follows a Credit Framework. This means that while an HNC is equivalent to studying a year at university, and HND equates to doing two years.

How will I be assessed?

Assignments, Coursework and Controlled assessments are the methods used to assess students for the HND in Business Courses.

What are the Entry Requirements for HND?

The entry requirements for HND Business are as follows:

GCSE passes at grades ‘A to C’ including English Language, and either a minimum of one A Level at grades ‘A’ to ‘E’, or a BTEC Level 3 Certificate or Diploma, or an Access to Higher Education Certificate awarded by an approved further education institution; or

College-recognised certificated learning equivalent to the above. Where possible Regent College London uses the NARIC database to determine equivalents to GCSE and A level qualification; or

Normally, two or more years of work experience at a managerial/supervisory/admin level relevant to the programme applied for. This must be evidenced via a personal statement, work experience form and successful interview, and supported by employment reference(s) indicating the duration of employment and the role.

You may be eligible to join a HND programme if you have previous learning that satisfies the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the course you are interested in, normally with 90 credits (subject to syllabus studied previously). It is your responsibility to demonstrate this with objective evidence.

Further information on Entry Requirements can be found here.

What are the Fees HND’s?

For Regent College London, our HND in Business Fee can be found here.

How do I apply?

Each Regent College London’s courses have different entry requirements and a different admission process. We encourage you to look at our course pages and the How to apply section for detailed information. From choosing your desired course, writing your personal statement and submitting the application, you can count on their friendly Recruitment Team for help and guidance at every step of the way. Get in touch to make an initial appointment to discuss your situation.