HND

A Higher National Diploma HND course is best described as a two-year full-time or three-year part-time course, which once completed can lead to entry on the final year of a degree course. HND courses are vocational in nature as they prepare you for careers in specific areas of industry.

What does a HND involve?

The HND course is composed of sixteen units, which are spread out over four semesters (terms), typically containing four units in each semester. You must successfully complete eight units in the first year in order to progress to the second year. In the event that you fail one or more units within the first year you will be permitted to continue only once you have successfully completed the failed units.

As with all courses of study the final year can be more difficult. The results attained in the first and second year modules of a HND course can be used to determine whether you have the ability required to move on to the degree course following the publication of final results.

The work undertaken is likely to be significantly based on practical assignments and quite often involves a group project, which you will be marked on collectively and as an individual.

A HND course can also be studied part time. This is the same course but spread out in a way that is more beneficial to those students that can only devote part of their time to study. Taking the HND part-time is usually best suited for those students who have social commitments, work long hours or have children.

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