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A Higher National Diploma (HND) 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 HND 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...
 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....
. The attainment level is roughly equivalent to second year 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....
, a Diploma of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education

A Diploma of Higher Education is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. It is awarded after two years to three years' full-time study at a university or other higher education institution....
 but in some cases may be marginally 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....
. An HND takes two years of full-time study, or one year full-time following successful completion of a Higher National Certificate
Higher National Certificate

A Higher National Certificate is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the HNC is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel, and in Scotland, an HNC is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority....
; part-time study takes longer.

In Scotland an HND is Level 8 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....
 and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is 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....
.






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A Higher National Diploma (HND) 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 HND 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...
 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....
. The attainment level is roughly equivalent to second year 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....
, a Diploma of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education

A Diploma of Higher Education is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. It is awarded after two years to three years' full-time study at a university or other higher education institution....
 but in some cases may be marginally 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....
. An HND takes two years of full-time study, or one year full-time following successful completion of a Higher National Certificate
Higher National Certificate

A Higher National Certificate is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the HNC is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel, and in Scotland, an HNC is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority....
; part-time study takes longer.

In Scotland an HND is Level 8 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....
 and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is 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....
. 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 to GNVQ - 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 will take students who have completed their HND onto either level 2 [2nd year] or level 3 [3rd year if a 4 year degree] 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.

On graduation, students are permitted to use the postnominals 'HND' or 'HNDip' (and usually followed by the course name in brackets) after their name.

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