Entry qualifications: HNC\D courses

Another route you may wish to consider is a college based Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) course. HNC/D courses cover a wide range of subjects – some are practical (and are described as vocational) such as HNC Health Care while others are more generic e.g. HNC Social Science. An HNC is usually seen as being equivalent to 1 st year degree level, while an HND is roughly equivalent to 2nd year degree level.

If there is a particularly close match between an HNC and a degree course it is sometimes possible to start your degree studies directly in year 2 and with an HND it is sometimes possible to start your degree in year 3.

For example an HNC in Business Administration can lead to 2nd year entry on our BA Business Management degree, whilst an HND in Social Science can gain entry to the 3rd year of our Psychology and Sociology degree programme.

QMU’s undergraduate prospectus highlights on each subject page where HNC/D’s are accepted and what level students may enter the course.

If you decide to apply to a degree course in an area unrelated to your HNC/D studies, it may still be possible for you to enter the University in year 1 or 2. Please contact our admissions team for further guidance on entry to our degree programmes from HNC/D level.

QMU have a number of articulation agreements with local colleges which set out in what circumstances a student will be admitted onto a degree course at the University, and which year students would be eligible to enter.

QMU has articulation links with the following colleges in Scotland:

• Adam Smith College
• Borders College
• Carnegie College, Dunfermline
• Elmwood College
• Forth Valley College
• Jewel & Esk College
• Perth College
• Stevenson College Edinburgh
• Telford College, Edinburgh
• West Lothian
• Lauder (Carnegie)

A full list of our current articulation agreements, and information on which HNC/Ds are accepted for entry to each of our degrees is available below.

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