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British degrees are respected worldwide as the gold standard for qualifications. However, it is worth remembering that there are other UK qualifications which are nearly 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.

In the UK HNCs and HNDs are offered by more than 500 Universities and Colleges of Further and Higher Education. They are 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. Indeed, in Scotland almost half of the entrants to Higher Education follow and HNC or HND programme before proceeding 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.

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. Doing 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. 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.