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Peter Brown
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HNC and HND: The Forgotten Qualifications
Jun 26th
UK degrees are known worldwide as the gold standard for education, but don’t forget that there are other British qualifications which are almost as valuable and can serve as stepping stones on the route to a degree, the Higher National Certificate(HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND).
HNCs and HNDs have been around for more than eighty years and are highly valued by British and overseas employers. They can also help towards membership of professional bodies or allow admission to the later years of an undergraduate degree programme. HNCs and HNDs are available in a wide range of subjects from social sciences to animation, but the most popular subjects are Business Studies, Computing and Information Technology.
HNCs and HNDs are offered by more than 500 Universities and Colleges of Further and Higher Education throughout the UK. They sit at levels 5 and 6 on the National Qualifications Framework, meaning that they are equivalent to the first and second years of an undergraduate degree. In Scotland almost half of those entering Higher Education follow an HNC or HND programme before progressing to to university.
Universities are allowed by law to accredit their own HNC and HND programmes, but there are two independent organisations authorised by the UK Government to accredit HNCs and HNDs, the Business and Technical Education Council (BTEC) and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). If you are considering an HND programme, you should make sure that it is accredited by one of these bodies and that the college offering the course is approved to do so.
Students who lack the formal entrance qualifications for a degree programme can often overcome this disadvantage by taking an HNC or HND, which allows progression to a degree. HNCs and HNDs are work-related and focus on learning by doing. The entry requirements for most courses is the successful completion of five years of secondary education, but candidates who lack this level of education can often obtain admission by undertaking a short preparatory course. Candidates aged older than 21 can often be admitted without formal qualifications.
HNCs and HNDs is often studied part-time by students who are also working, and may also be available by also be available by distance learning. The distance learning option can be very attractive to overseas students, as it can be done without leaving their home country, and can help demonstrate their credibility as students if they wish to come to Britain later to complete a degree. Students who complete an HNC can normally gain direct admission to the second and third year of a degree course. An HND is usually studied for two years full time or longer if part time. Students who complete an HND can normally obtain direct entry to the third year of a degree course.
About the Author:
Peter Brown is Principal of London Graduate School of Management (LGSM), one of London’s leading Business Schools. LGSM offers HNCs and HNDs in Computer Networking, Information Technology and Business which can be studied via Distance Learning.
HNC and HND: Your Route To A Degree
Jun 26th
UK degrees are known worldwide as the gold standard for education, but don’t forget that there are other British qualifications which are almost as valuable and can serve as stepping stones on the route to a degree, the Higher National Certificate(HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND).
HNCs and HNDs have been around for many years and are highly valued by both British and overseas employers, both in the UK and overseas. They can lead to membership of professional bodies or allow admission to the final years of an undergraduate degree programme. HNCs and HNDs are available in a wide range of subjects from engineering to social sciences, but the most popular subjects are Business Studies, Computing and Information Technology.
HNCs and HNDs are offered by more than 500 Universities and Colleges of Further and Higher Education throughout the UK. They sit at levels 5 and 6 on the National Qualifications Framework, meaning that they are equivalent to the first and second years of an undergraduate degree. In Scotland almost half of those entering Higher Education follow an HNC or HND programme before progressing to to university.
Many Universities accredit their own HNC and HND programmes, but there are also two other bodies authorised by the UK Government to accredit HNCs and HNDs, the Business and Technical Education Council (BTEC) and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). If you are considering an HND programme, it is important to ensure that it is accredited by one of these bodies and that the institution offering the course is approved to do so.
Students who lack the formal entrance qualifications for a degree programme can often overcome this disadvantage by taking an HNC or HND, which allows progression to a degree. HNCs and HNDs are work-related and focus on learning by doing. The entry requirements for most courses is the successful completion of five years of secondary education, but candidates who lack this level of education can often obtain admission by undertaking a short preparatory course. Candidates aged older than 21 can often be admitted without formal qualifications.
A HNC is often studied part time by students who are also working. HNCs and HNDs may also be available by distance learning. Studying for an HNC or HND by distance learning can be attractive to overseas students, as it can be done without leaving their home country, and can help demonstrate their credibility as students if they wish to come to the uk later to complete a degree. If you complete an HNC you may be able to gain direct admission to the second and third year of a degree course. A HND is studied for two years full time or longer if part time. If you complete a HND you should be able to obtain direct entry to the third year of a degree course.
About the Author:
Peter Brown is Principal of London Graduate School of Management (LGSM), one of London’s leading Business Schools. LGSM offers HNCs and HNDs in Computer Networking, Information Technology and Business which can be studied via Distance Learning.
Homestay Accommodation in London
Aug 27th
London is still one of the world’s leading centres for international education and continues to attract hundreds of thousands of overseas students each year. All of them share a single problem: where to stay. Many universities and colleges offer halls of residence, but these can be expensive and may not always appeal, as they tie the student tightly to the place of study. Privately-rented accommodation is expensive. It may be located some distance away from the place of study and it may be necessary, in the interests of reducing costs, to share it with others.
Another alternative which is well worth considering is staying with an English host family. There are a number of companies in London who can provide quality homestay accommodation for visiting foreign students. It is important to ensure that any company you are considering meets the homestay requirements of English UK or the British Council. Some companies will also collect students from the arrival airport and deliver them to their accommodation, a useful service for your arrival in a new and unfamiliar city.
Many students find that living in a good family environment leads to a faster improvement in the language and a happier stay. Host families are normally experienced in looking after overseas students. They are usually situated in residential areas of London, near to an underground or British Rail station, making the trip to university or college an easy one. Prices can vary, depending on distance from the city centre and standard of accommodation, but they always represent a significant saving over halls of residence or private accommodation.
Host families will generally go out of their way to make sure that students feel at home and are treated as a member of the family, rather than a paying guest. Students are normally offered a clean and comfortable room with study and storage facilities. Another advantage in homestay accommodation is significant savings in living expenses. Host families generally offer bed and breakfast or bed, breakfast and evening meal. Meals are normally eaten with the family unless otherwise arranged and special diets such as or halal or vegetarian can usually be catered for. Some families also offer self-catering or full board options.
So, if you’re coming to London to study, homestay accommodation is an option worth considering and may turn out to be one of the highlights of your time in London. Of course, homestay accommodation is also attractive to visitors other than students. Many business visitors and tourists find it a useful alternative to expensive hotel accommodation. For tourists in particular, it can give them an initial contact with real Londoners and can greatly enhance the quality of their stay.
About the Author:
Peter Brown is a director of leading London homestay provider Hosts International which arranges accommodation for many universities and colleges. He is also Principal of London Graduate School of Management, a well-known UK business school.