HND stands for Higher National Diploma. HND's are vocational qualifications that use practical approaches to learning- including project and assignment work, and research into real business practice.
HND's are specially designed to meet the needs of employers both locally and nationally. They are developed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in partnership with colleges, universities and industry.
Because employers and universities recognize Higher National Qualifications as good evidence of your ability, having an HND helps you progress into an UK University or get a job. If you are serious about getting a job and want a career with prospects, getting an HND is one of the best ways to achieve your ambition.
HND's are made up of 30 Unit credits. A Unit credit is approximately 40 hours of learning and teaching. These are spread out over two years.
Each course has been equally divided into two parts- Contact classes and candidate led study to consolidate and reinforce learning.