A Higher National Diploma (HND) is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. Higher education is education provided by universities and other institutions that award academic degrees, such as university colleges, and liberal arts colleges. ...

The HND is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority in Scotland. The attainment level is one above that of a Higher National Certificate (HNC) and one below that of a bachelor's degree. Studied fulltime, the qualification normally takes two years. The Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC) of the UK was a subdegree conferring council which had its functions transferred to Edexcel recently. ... Edexcel is a London-based organisation and one of England, Wales and Northern Irelands five main examination boards. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English, Welsh Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff First Minister Rhodri Morgan Area  - Total Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² Ethnicity: 97. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1... SQA Logo The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Executive responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications other than degrees in Scotland. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status1 English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... A Higher National Certificate (HNC) is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom, and is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel, in England. ... A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts three or four years. ...

It is usual for HNDs to cover roughly the same area as the first two levels of a comparable first degree. In Scotland, this is confirmed by their place in the SCQF- the Scottish Credit and Qualfications Framework.It is quite common for those who have achieved an HND to add to their qualification by progressing to other levels such as professional qualifications, or a degree. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is the national credit transfer system for all levels of qualifications in Scotland. ...