Higher Nationals are a suite of internationally-recognised higher education qualifications at level 4 (HNC) and 5 ( HND) that are equivalent to the first and second years of a university

bachelor degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...

, providing progression to over 95% of UK Universities including the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

at an advanced level (admission to either Year 2 or Year 3 of a

). They were first introduced in England and Wales in 1920 alongside the

Ordinary National Diploma The BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) Level 3 diploma is a Further Education qualification and vocational education, vocational qualification taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The qualification is organised and awarded by ...

. In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Higher Nationals may either be awarded by British degree-awarding bodies under approved licence from

Pearson Pearson may refer to: Organizations Education *Lester B. Pearson College, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada *Pearson College (UK), London, owned by Pearson PLC *Lester B. Pearson High School (disambiguation) Companies *Pearson PLC, a UK-based int ...

(which allows the Universities to devise, deliver and award Higher Nationals themselves), or they may be awarded directly by Pearson, as an awarding body regulated by

Ofqual The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England. Colloquially and publicly, Ofqual is often referred to as the exam "watchdog ...

. In

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, Higher Nationals are awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority ( SQA). Higher Nationals are also delivered at both universities and further education colleges in 60 countries around the world through HN Global. The Higher Nationals suite of qualifications are split into two parts, with students within their first year of study pursuing a

Higher National Certificate A Higher National Certificate (HNC), part of the Higher Nationals suite of qualifications, is a higher education/further education qualification in the United Kingdom. Overview In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the HNC is a BTEC qualificatio ...

(HNC is a separate qualification and is not required for a

Higher National Diploma Higher National Diploma (HND), part of the Higher Nationals suite of qualifications, is an academic higher education qualification in the United Kingdom and various other countries. They were first introduced in England and Wales in 1920 alongsi ...

award, although it still encompasses the first year content). In the second year of study, students pursue the HND which is generally more extensive and academically rigorous than the HNC. Higher Nationals are graded, usually based on a weighted average (with higher weight given to marks in the final year of the course, and often zero weight to those in the first year) of the marks gained in exams and other assessments. Grade boundaries may vary by institution, but usually follow the boundaries given below: * Distinction – typically 70% and higher * Merit – typically 60-69% * Pass – typically 40-59%.

References

{{reflist Qualifications Educational qualifications in the United Kingdom Educational qualifications in England Educational qualifications in Wales Educational qualifications in Northern Ireland Educational qualifications in Scotland Undergraduate education