BTEC Higher National

The following set of frequently asked questions give information about the BTEC Higher National qualification.

BTEC Higher National FAQs

Question:What is a BTEC Higher National?
Answer:The BTEC Higher National is one of the best-known BTEC qualifications that we offer. It’s an undergraduate qualification that is roughly equivalent to the first half of a degree. People have tended to study a BTEC Higher National after a BTEC National.
  
Question:How many do I study?
Answer:You only study for one BTEC qualification at a time. This lets you build and focus your knowledge and skills in a particular area.
  
Question:How many units are there?
Answer:There are two BTEC Higher National qualifications and each one has a different number of units. The BTEC Higher National Certificate has 10 units and the BTEC Higher National Diploma has 16 units. There are a set number of core units but most subjects give you a choice of what option units to take.
  
Question:How long does it take to do one?
Answer:The BTEC Higher National Certificate has 600 learning hours and the BTEC Higher National Diploma has 960 learning hours. Both the HNC and HND tend to be done over two years, the HNC part time and the HND ful -time. However, there are no hard and fast rules about how long it takes – it’s up to you.
  
Question:Where can I study for a BTEC Higher National?
Answer:You can study for a BTEC Higher National at your nearest approved centre. To find out which one is closest to you, please contact your local Edexcel regional office.
  
Question:Can I study part time?
Answer:Yes, you can study for a BTEC Higher National as you wish. If you want to study part time, full time or another way, there is no problem. The most important thing is that you study for the right number of hours (600 hours for the Certificate and 960 for the Diploma).
  
Question:What can I do after I finish a BTEC Higher National?
Answer:Most students will complete their degree after their BTEC Higher National. This takes between a year and eighteen months to do. Others prefer to go straight into work when they’ve finished a BTEC Higher National – it gives you the right level of skills and knowledge to make a difference whatever subject you’ve studied.
  
Question:Who normally takes a BTEC Higher National?
Answer:Anyone can take a BTEC Higher National – we would expect that students aged around 18 would be interested, as well as people at work who may want to get back into education, or who simply want to update or develop new skills that they can use at work.
  
Question:What subjects are available?
Answer:There are a large number of BTEC Higher Nationals available. For a full list please go to the Qualifications area of our website. The most popular subjects are in the Business, IT, Art and Engineering sectors.
  
Question:Will a BTEC Higher National get me a better job?
Answer:BTEC Higher Nationals are well-recognised by universities and employers. So, whether you want to do a degree or earn money straight away, there’s a BTEC Higher National for you.