What is Higher Education in the UK?
HNCs and HNDs
These are practical, work-related courses provided by higher education institutions and FE colleges. An HNC (Higher National Certificate) is a level 4 qualification, roughly equal to the first year of university undergraduate degree, which takes one year full-time to complete (or longer part-time).
An HND (Higher National Diploma) is a level 5 qualification, which takes two years to complete (or three to four years part-time). Many HNCs and HNDs are now recognised as Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), a government-approved quality mark for level 4 and 5 technical courses designed with employers. After gaining an HND, some universities offer the opportunity to complete a third and final year of study, turning the qualification into a full undergraduate degree. Subjects tend to be technology or science-based and lead towards employment in a specific profession.
Foundation degrees in the UK
Not to be confused with an art and design foundation course (level 3), a foundation degree is a combined academic and vocational qualification. They are well suited to those who are unsure about taking a full degree or for people who want to study while they work.
Because foundation degrees are generally vocational, the outcome tends to be employment in a specific area. They usually take two years full-time to complete (longer for part-time students) and are equivalent to around two-thirds of a university degree. Normally, you can continue for a further year to gain a full undergraduate degree.
University degrees in the UK
A degree is a level 6 or higher qualification which is studied at a university. By degree, most people mean an undergraduate degree, also called a Bachelor’s degree. These can be taken in a range of subjects and include qualifications such as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc).
There are also postgraduate degrees, which can be completed by those who already have an undergraduate degree and are returning to complete a further, higher level qualification. Usually, but not always, this degree and subject will be an extension of, or related to, the student’s original degree. Some universities also offer integrated master's degrees, such as MEng or MSci programmes, which combine undergraduate and postgraduate study into a single course.
Degree apprenticeships in the UK
These are a relatively new type of programme offered by employers and universities, in which students achieve a full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree as part of their apprenticeship in a workplace. It is a good way to combine working with studying part-time at a university.
Around 20 per cent of the time is spent studying at university (eg for one or two days a week or blocks of a whole week at a time) and the remaining 80 per cent is spent working. It takes anywhere between three and six years to complete, depending on the level of the course. A large number of employers now offer them, ranging from PwC to local authorities.
