Bangladeshi Students: Understand HNC and HND properly

In Bangladesh, most of the students don't understand HNC and HND clearly. That's is why, I am writing this blog to clear the concept about HNC and HND.   

What is HNC and HND?

• Higher National Certificate (HNC)  and Higher National Diplomas(HND) are higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.HNC and HND are BTEC(Business and Technology Education Council) qualification awarded by Edexcel.
• HNC and HND are work-related(vocational) higher education qualifications.While bachelors degrees tend to focus on gaining knowledge, HNCs and HNDs are designed to give you the skills to put that knowledge to effective use in a particular job.
• HNC & HND are highly valued by employers both in the UK and overseas, and can also count towards membership of professional bodies and other employer organisations.
• HNC and HND are provided by over 400 universities and further education colleges in all over the world. 
• There are many institutes available in Bangladesh who are providing HNCs and HNDs also.

Advantages of HNC & HND

• These are an International and Popular Degree in all over the world. As I mentioned earlier - HNCs and HNDs are provided by over 400 universities and further education colleges in all over the world. 
• If you want, you can take a gap after HNC or HND. 
• HNCs and HNDs are designed to give you the skills for a particular field of work,they can lead straight to a career.You can also use the qualifications to progress within your current career, for example as a stepping stone to gaining professional status.
• You can also convert your HNC or HND to a bachelors degree with extra study. Once you complete your course, HNCs can allow entry into the second year of a degree, while HNDs can allow entry into the second or third year.
• If you want to go on to higher education and gain a recognised qualification to do a specific job, a BTEC HNC or HND could be for you. HNC and HND focus on 'learning by doing' and can lead into a new career, or help you progress in your current line of work.

Qualification levels

• HNC and HND are at level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework of UK.
• On the Qualifications and Credit Framework, HNC is at level 4 and HND is at level 5. In Bangladesh, we can compare HNC with first year of Honors Levels and HND with second year pf honors level. (In UK, you can complete graduation in 3 years.So you will need extra 1 year after HND to complete your graduation.)
• These frameworks show how different types of qualifications compare, in terms of the demands they place on learners.

Admission Requirement

• To study for an HNC or HND, you will need some previous qualifications. Most HND courses require one A level (or equivalent).
• Search for a Institute who are providing HNC and HND and take admission. In Bangladesh, BAC, BiMS and Pardana College are providing HNC and HND.

Duration of HNC and HND?

• HNCs can take one year to complete full time and two years part time (or in other situations such as distance learning). 
• HNDs take two years full time and can also be taken part time (which takes longer).

Subjects available
HNC and HND are available in a wide range of subject areas, including:

• Agriculture
• Computing and IT
• Construction and civil engineering
• Engineering
• Health and social care
• Business and management
• Sport and exercise sciences
• Performing arts
• Retail and distribution
• Hospitality management

Obviously all the subjects will not be available in a Institute. First choose your subject and find out the institutes which are offering your selected subject.

Assessment Criteria:

• HNC and HND are mainly assessed through assignments, projects, practical tasks, VIVA and presentation that you complete throughout the course.
• Retakes: If you are not happy with how you did in a particular project or practical task, there are opportunities to improve your performance. Speak to your teacher or tutor in the first instance.
• Appeals: If you are still not happy with the mark or grade you got, there are appeals procedures you can follow. Again, speak to your teacher or tutor for more advice.

Conversion
You can also convert your HNC or HND to a bachelors degree with extra study. Once you complete your course, HNC can allow entry into the second year of a degree, while HND can allow entry into the second or third year.

Certificate of higher education
Certificates of higher education are academic, rather than vocational qualifications. There are broadly equivalent to an HNC, and usually take a year of full-time study to complete. They are at level 4 on the FHEQ.

Diploma of higher education

• Diplomas of higher education are similar to HND. They are accredited professional qualifications and are highly respected by employers both in the UK and overseas.
• They usually take two years to complete and offer subjects such as accounting, construction, engineering, nursing, science, technology and textile design.
• You can normally convert your higher education diploma to a degree with an extra year of study. The diplomas are at level 5 on the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).