BTEC Higher Nationals

What are BTEC Higher Nationals?

BTEC Higher Nationals are career-focused vocational undergraduate qualifications that are recognised as equivalent to the first and second years of an undergraduate degree, allowing you to progress to your final year of university, or straight into employment.

There are over 40 subject areas to choose from and these qualifications are co-designed with industry to provide real-world experience as well as academic knowledge. This ensures you’ll leave with the required expertise as identified by business and industry, and with the flexibility to go straight into employment or continue to a degree.

Study locally

BTEC Higher Nationals are taught in FE Colleges, Private Colleges and Training Providers across the UK, and cost less than traditional university fees. This allows you to save costs by staying locally and spending less on your student loan.

With a BTEC qualification, you will learn and develop key skills such as:

Problem solving and decision making
Working in a team
Organisation and working to deadlines
Sector-specific skills and knowledge

BTEC HNs are available at colleges around the UK. To find where the BTEC course you want to study is offered visit Find Courses.

This qualification had a natural progression from the BTEC Level 3 and interested me because the syllabus seemed to incorporate some more strategic topics that would help me in my career.
Preeya Lakhani, Former BTEC Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering learner

HNC vs HND: What’s the difference?

Higher National Certificate (HNC)

Assessment for HNCs will be through a varied programme of assignments.

Usually takes one year to complete if studying full-time, and two years if studying part-time.
Equivalent to the 1st year of a university degree.
Usually a more introductory programme with a ‘core’ of learning essential to the subject.
Opportunities to develop project management skills.

Higher National Diploma (HND)

Assessment for HNDs will be through a varied programme of assignments.

Usually takes two years to complete if studying full-time, and four years if studying part-time.
Equivalent to the 1st and 2nd year of a university degree.
A more specialised programme of learning, with pathways linked to occupational outcomes.
An increased focus.