One of the most challenging phases of life is when you have to make the major decision of choosing an educational pathway. Each student who steps out of school is full of dreams, and at the same time faces a life-altering decision. They have to be right at this choice, or else their entire life will be at jeopardy and would also have to regret that for the rest of their lives.
But there are numerous pathways available. There is the HND, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diploma and others. But, which is the best one for you? Which way will lead you in the path of success and help you achieve your dreams? All these questions are something that you should ponder upon seriously before you commit to a course of education.
To help you on your road of success, we are providing you with some information about two of the significant educational pathways so that you can get a closer look at them and will help you decide better.
Get to Know about HND Courses to Discern the Difference between HND and Master’s.
The Higher National Diploma (HND) is a higher educational qualification that is available in the United Kingdom and a few international countries. It is a vocational course, so it can be said that it is specifically developed for the world of work. Therefore it is ideal for people who want to have more of a ‘hands-on’ experience in their studies.
What Are the Entry Requirements for HND?
The entry requirements to join an HND programme are:-
- A BTEC Level 3 qualification or A GCE Advanced Level profile with a strong performance in a relevant subject or adequate performance in more than one GCE subject.
- Relevant full-time work experience for two years or more.
- Access to a Higher Education Certificate that is awarded by an approved educational institution, or an international equivalent.
What Level of Qualification Is the HND And What Is It Equivalent to?
In England, Wales and Nothern Ireland, HND is equivalent to level 5 qualifications according to the Regulated Qualifications Framework/Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales. It can be awarded by various bodies including BTEC.
And it is also considered as equivalent to the first two years of a Bachelor’s degree at a university.
Additionally, an HND qualification is also considered equal to a foundation degree.
What Are the Benefits of Choosing an HND Course?
The benefits you will get from an HND course are numerous:
- As they are work-related course, they will help you progress and also excel in your work by training you in the required skills.
- With this course, you can get a taste of higher education without having to commit to a complete degree.
- In terms of credit points, a graduate would have gained 240+ credit points with 15 modules.
- By the end of the course, HND graduates have two qualifications because this course is embedded with a Higher National Certificate, which is a stand-alone qualification by itself and is valued as level 4 with 120+ credit points.
- On completion of this course, you can further your studies with Top-up programmes to gain a full Honour’s degree And also directly join the final year of an undergraduate degree in a university.
- There are a wide range of subjects and industries that you can choose in HND. It includes Business Management, Hospitality Management, Health and Social Care.
- People who are already into a job and wish to improve their skills can also enrol in HND courses.
- Most importantly, it will help you develop self-confidence, essential skills and specialist knowledge.
Get to Know about Master’s Degree to Discern the Difference between HND and Master’s
A Master’s degree is an academic qualification/ degree that is awarded by universities or colleges. It denotes a mastery or high-order overview in a particular field of study or professional practice. It is a postgraduate qualification, and therefore you will gain an in-depth level of knowledge when compared to a Bachelor’s degree. Master’s programmes can either be teaching based or research-based.
What Are the Entry Requirements for a Master’s Degree?
Only those who have completed an undergraduate level of study in a relative subject can apply to enrol for Master’s degree.
What Level of Qualification Is a Master’s Degree?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a Master’s degree is ranked as level 7 qualification according to the Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ).
But, it is a level 11 qualification according to the Framework for Qualification of Higher Education Institutes in Scotland (FQHEIS).
What Are the Benefits of Pursuing a Master’s Degree?
- It only takes one to two years to complete if you choose to do it as a full-time course.
- A Master’s degree will help you in finding a job, as many jobs require a Master’s degree. And even if you get into a job that doesn’t need it, you will be paid more.
- Once you graduate from a Master’s degree programme, you will become eligible for funding, if you wish to do your PhD.
- Master’s degree will increase your knowledge, personal and professional skills. Therefore, by the time you complete this course, you will specialise in skills for critical evaluation, complex problem solving and rigorous independent thinking.
