HND - Higher National Diploma

• HNDs are an alternative route for students who want to get a higher education, without studying for a Bachelors degree.
• Most degree courses require at least two A levels at grade E or above (or the equivalent); but for HND courses, it's one A level or the equivalent.
• HNDs are much more vocational than degrees and can often be more practical rather than theoretical. For example, the focus of an HND could be more on the practicalities of jewellery making, rather than a degree that might focus more on how the craft has developed over the centuries.
• HNDs usually take two years, as opposed to degrees that usually take three or four years.

• If you successfully complete your HND and want to turn it into a degree, most can lead you straight into the second year in a related degree.
• For some subjects, you only need to do a one-year top up to convert an HND into an ordinary degree, although to turn it into an Honours degree, you'll need to do further part-time study.
• A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHe) is similar to an HND, but it's an accredited professional qualification, and provides access into professions like nursing and social work.

Courses