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A Higher National Certificate (HNC) is a higher education
Higher education

Higher education refers to a level of education that is provided by university, vocational university, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, Institute of technology and other collegiate level institutions, such as Vocational school, trade schools and career colleges, that award academic degrees or professional certifications....
 qualification in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
.

In England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
, Wales
Wales

native_name = Cymru|conventional_long_name = Wales|common_name = Wales|image_flag = Flag of Wales 2.svg|national_motto = ...
 and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland

conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
, the HNC is a BTEC
BTEC

The Business And Technology Course was a subdegree-conferring council in the United Kingdom until 1996, when its functions were transferred to Edexcel....
 qualification awarded by Edexcel
Edexcel

Edexcel is a London-based for-profit company and one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards. The others are Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, OCR , the Welsh Joint Education Committee, and the CCEA....
, and in Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
, an HNC is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
Scottish Qualifications Authority

The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a Scottish public bodies responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications, other than academic degrees, in Scotland....
. A small subset of HNC/HND qualifications issued prior to 1999, are deemed equivalent to bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
 level. The attainment level of the rest is roughly equivalent to two years of university
University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education....
 and a Certificate of Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education

A Certificate of Higher Education is a higher education professional certification in the United Kingdom. It is awarded after one year full-time study at a university or other higher education institution....
 but being the same as that of a Higher National Diploma
Higher National Diploma

A Higher National Diploma is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the HND is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel and in Scotland is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority....
 (HND) and one below that of a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
.






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A Higher National Certificate (HNC) is a higher education
Higher education

Higher education refers to a level of education that is provided by university, vocational university, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, Institute of technology and other collegiate level institutions, such as Vocational school, trade schools and career colleges, that award academic degrees or professional certifications....
 qualification in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
.

In England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
, Wales
Wales

native_name = Cymru|conventional_long_name = Wales|common_name = Wales|image_flag = Flag of Wales 2.svg|national_motto = ...
 and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland

conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
, the HNC is a BTEC
BTEC

The Business And Technology Course was a subdegree-conferring council in the United Kingdom until 1996, when its functions were transferred to Edexcel....
 qualification awarded by Edexcel
Edexcel

Edexcel is a London-based for-profit company and one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards. The others are Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, OCR , the Welsh Joint Education Committee, and the CCEA....
, and in Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
, an HNC is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
Scottish Qualifications Authority

The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a Scottish public bodies responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications, other than academic degrees, in Scotland....
. A small subset of HNC/HND qualifications issued prior to 1999, are deemed equivalent to bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
 level. The attainment level of the rest is roughly equivalent to two years of university
University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education....
 and a Certificate of Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education

A Certificate of Higher Education is a higher education professional certification in the United Kingdom. It is awarded after one year full-time study at a university or other higher education institution....
 but being the same as that of a Higher National Diploma
Higher National Diploma

A Higher National Diploma is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the HND is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel and in Scotland is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority....
 (HND) and one below that of a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
. Studied fulltime, the qualification normally takes one year or two years part time. Many HNC's cover the same areas as an HND and it is often possible to complete an HND with one year full-time study after successfully completing the HNC.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a HNC (previously a level 4 qualification) is now Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework
National Qualifications Framework

The National Qualifications Framework is a credit developed for qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.The Framework has nine levels covering all levels of learning in secondary education, further education and vocational higher education....
.

In Scotland, an HNC is Level 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is the national Credit for all levels of qualifications in Scotland. It incorporates the Scottish Qualifications Certificate, Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, Scottish Vocational Qualification and all Academic degree of Scottish Higher Education Institutions....
.

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