Who can join?
For the HNC you should have gained two SQA Highers, preferably in English and a numeracy subject or a suitable grouping of NQ units.
Mature students may have suitable work experience to allow entry to this course.
How do I attend?
The courses are available on a full time or part time (evening/twilight) basis. We aim to make attendance of our courses as flexible as possible, therefore it may also be studied on a flexible study basis which may include home study, day, twilight or evening attendance, with a restricted choice of optional subjects. Units can be undertaken as stand alone subjects or can build into a full qualification.
The course may be based in The NHC-Thurso and The NHC-Wick, or a combination of the two. It is also available at The NHC-Dornoch and on a flexible study basis at The NHC-Alness.
If you decide to study part-time, or to take one or two of the study units, it is worth noting that these individual study units do qualify for Individual Learning Account funding, therefore if you have a current ILA you can use it to pay for the units you study.
What will I study?
The HNC provides a broad based background to management and business. Students will be introduced to the concepts of marketing, communications, IT, human resource management among many others.
Core subjects for the HNC (these are mandatory) are:
- Business Accounting
- Economic Issues
- Marketing
- Managing People and Organisations
- Using Software Application Packages
- Information Technology: Applications Software 1
- Communication - Analysing and Presenting Complex Communication
Non-core units are optional, with the options subject to departmental offering. These include:
- Using Financial Accounting Software
- Office Administration
- Office Technologies
- IT in Business - DTP
- Business Law
- Introduction to Managing the Human resource
- Recording Financial Information or Recording Financial Transations
- Developing Skills for Personal Effectiveness (units at 3 different levels may be available)
- Developing the Individual within a Team (at two different levels)
- Business Contractual Relationships
- Creating a culture of Customer Care
To achieve the full award you will have to undertake the Business Group Award Graded Unit.
The HND builds on these and allows the student to study the subjects in more depth. Further information on the course content is available from the Business Management section. Information on the BA Business & Management course is given in its separate entry.
What could I do next?
There may be employment opportunities available in trainee management and administrative posts in the Business and Commercial Sectors. The HND qualification may also provide entry to BA Business and Management course.
How do I join?
Click here to download an application form from the website, print, complete and return it to the freepost address given on the form. If you need more information before completing the form, contact Admissions on 01847 889250 or email info@northhighland.ac.uk
Course Fees for Part Time Students
The units which count towards the full Higher National Certificate and Diploma qualifications are available on an individual basis, making it possible for part time students to gather sufficient units to achieve the award, albeit over a longer period.
You may not have to pay any fees for these units if you qualify for a fee waiver, for instance if you are eligible for certain benefits. See the college's Fee Waiver Policy in the resources area of the website.
It is possible to use a current Individual Learning Account (ILA200) to pay for these units as you come to study them.
Part time students may also possible qualify for the ILA500, which is a £500 grant for students studying HNC, HND, Degree and taught Postgraduate courses. You must study units totally 40 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) credits or more in a year.
Further information on ILAs can be found on their website, www.ilascotland.org.uk or by telephoning 0808 100 1090.