Business Higher National Certificate

Entry requirements

• Be over the age of 18
• GCSE English & Maths grade C or 4/5 and 64 UCAS tariff points
• Relevant Level 3 qualification, e.g. BTEC, UAL, A-Level, Access to HE Diploma etc.
• Mature students may have commensurate work/business/industry related experience that may be considered

Credit Transfer

Transfer of credit from another qualification is considered on an individual basis and will require an interview.

Who is it suitable for?

Anyone interested in a career in business, administration or the public sector – across a broad range of business-related disciplines.

About the course

The Pearson BTEC HNC in Business course will provide you with a well-rounded and challenging programme of study. The engaging programme will cover essential business and management knowledge, practical skills that are relevant for successful progression to the HND in Business, into the world of work or a related degree.

A Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) is a vocational Higher Education course. A full-time HNC takes one year to complete or two part-time.  An HNC is one level below an HND (it's generally equivalent to the first year at university). This will be carried out through pre-blended learning using HN Online.

If you are interested in a career in Business and/or are seeking to progress further in your career or starting your own business then the nationally recognised HNC course is ideal for you.

Why study?

Our staff have acquired a wide range of industry experience and knowledge in Business that they will share with you throughout the programme. Both HNC and HND are designed to prepare students for a career within the business sector through a combination of theoretical and practical learning. 

The team will deliver Higher Nationals through a blend of online and classroom learning. The programme is designed for pre-blended learning to fit around your personal or professional commitments. The programme will enable you to focus on high value online and face-to-face teaching and assignment support. 

BTEC is the world’s most successful and best-loved vocational qualification brand and is renowned for engaging students in practical, interpersonal and thinking skills for more than thirty years. 

BTEC Higher National qualifications are widely recognised by industry and higher education as the principal vocational qualification at Levels 4 and 5. 

The qualification provides students with a clear line-of-sight to employment and progression to a degree.

Where will this course take me?

After the HNC – you could ask to transfer to the second year of a degree. Again, contact the University's admission team direct after searching the course on the UCAS website. Or you could continue at Harlow College and complete your HND. 

Unlike many degrees, these courses are vocationally focussed and therefore can lead straight on to a career. Therefore, you could get a job in Business, Business Management, Marketing, Law, Accounting, Business Administration, Sales, Event Management, Politics, and many more.

Core modules

* We reserve the right to change the specialist and/or the optional units

How much does it cost?

£5990 per year with an inflationary rise if you proceed to the HND.
You may access a student loan for the fees and maintenance.

You may access a student loan for the fees and maintenance. 

The Student Finance England website has full details and you can use their calculator to see what help you may be entitled to.

Included in the fee:

• £10 free printing per year
• All tuition and assessment

Not included in the fee:

• Printing over £10
• Cost of trips
• Cost of residential visits
• Basic stationery

Timetable

The timetable should be available a month prior to commencement.

Teaching & Learning

Teaching and learning will be carried out through the combination of online and in-class teaching. Students will be required to complete individual, paired and group work.

Assessment & Feedback

All assessment is Internal except for Managing a Successful Business Project (unit 6) and the Research project (unit 11) which will both be set by Pearson. There are no external examinations for this qualification.

Each qualification is assessed with either a Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Assessment methods will vary for each module but will be a range of:

• Written assessment
• Mind Mapping
• Presentations
• Discussions
• Practical assessments
• Action research

Teaching and learning:

• Coursework/written 70%
• Practical 10%
• Work-based learning 20%

The type of planned learning:

• Planned hours face-to-face 70%
• Independent study 30%

Assessment %:

• Final assessment end-loaded 35%
• In year assessment/continuous 65%

Type of assessment %:

• Portfolio 60%
• Practical piece 20%
• Work-based 20%