- Higher National Diploma
A Higher National Diploma (HND) is a
higher education qualification in theUnited Kingdom .In
England ,Wales andNorthern Ireland the HND is aBTEC qualification awarded byEdexcel and inScotland is a "Higher National" awarded by theScottish Qualifications Authority . [ [http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/hn/ Edexcel : Qualifications : BTEC Higher Nationals ] ] [ [http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/sqa_nu_display_section.jsp?pContentID=411&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show& SQA - HN Homepage ] ] The attainment level is roughly equivalent to second year ofuniversity , aDiploma of Higher Education but in some cases may be marginally below that of abachelor's degree . An HND takes two years of full-time study, or one year full-time following successful completion of aHigher National Certificate ; part-time study takes longer. [ [http://www.aimhigher.ac.uk/courses/choosing_courses/levels_of_course.cfm choosing your qualification : Aimhigher ] ]In Scotland an HND is Level 8 on the
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is Level 5 on theNational Qualifications Framework . [ [http://www.scqf.org.uk/table.htm The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework ] ] [http://www.qca.org.uk/493_15772.html] It is quite common for those who have achieved a HND to add to their qualification by progressing to other levels such as professional qualifications, or a degree. It's graded similar toGNVQ - modules are graded, rather than the HND award itself - Pass, Merit and Distinction with Distinction the highest grade and Pass the lowest grade.Many universities [ [http://www.sihe.ac.uk/sihe/computing/hndcp.htm Swansea Metropolitan University - HND Computing ] ] will take students who have completed their HND onto either level 2 [2nd year] or level 3 [3rd year] of a degree course. [This is often called a 'top-up.] Usually which of these years depends on the modules taken in the HND. It also means that after three years [or four if, say, a business placement year is taken] a student could have both the HND and an honours degree if studying in a UK university excluding Scotland. Scottish Honour Degrees are normally 4 year courses, and so an extra year of study is required.
References
External links
* [http://www.direct.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained/QualificationsExplainedArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10039026&chk=J6AW3S Directgov: Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas]
* [http://prosp-dev.leedsmet.ac.uk/main/detail.htm?&p=62&course_id=7775&attendance=1 prosp-dev.leedsmet.ac.uk]
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