Talk:Higher National Certificate

HNC's are no longer 2 years part time, i'm currently on a HNC and its a year and a half part time to complete. ___ —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.12.81.68 (talk) 23:38, 13 March 2011 (UTC) Hi, I added some comments to the article, based on my own experiences of the HNC, HND awards. I often feel the award is misunderstood and as a result is under-valued. There are no two HNC's alike. I happen to hold 4 of them. Regards, David.

This article needs updating, the HND/C level is now Level 5 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland whilst in Scotland it is level 8.
 * Please sign all comments
 * Correction HNC is Level 4, HND is Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework and HNC is Level 7 and HND is Level 8 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Davidkinnen 16:02, 3 June 2006 (UTC)


 * The above Correction is wrong and the HNC is the same level as the HND. Amlder20 20:41, 19 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Not in Scotland. Ergo, the correction remains. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 178.97.120.100 (talk) 12:28, 13 March 2011 (UTC)

I passed my ONC in 1971 (with distinction) and my HNC in 1973 (with credit). I then did a third year of HNC for a Supplimentary Certificate. In 1971 an ONC was an entry qualification for a BSc Honours degree course. It was an entry qualification for at least City, Chelsea and Kings. An HNC with supplimentary certificate in 1974 was definitely equivalent to a pass degree. I am now a senior systems analyst working alongside colleagues with a variety of Bsc's, MSc's and even Doctorates! I believe the eqivalence changed in 1987 when the National Certificate courses were downgraded; and again in 1999. Looking at the current sylabus I can see that the HNC used to be far more academic, more akin to degree study. If you added up the hours of tuition for a 3 year HNC and a 3 year degree course you would find that the HNC had considerably more tuition time. The Sydney Accord confirms that prior to 1987 the HNC was equivalent to a bachelors Degree.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.149.190.211 (talk) 19:22, 19 June 2009 (UTC)

I did ONC,and HNC mechanical engineering between 1972 and 1977 and then entered the first year of a BSc Mechanical engineering (CNAA). There was no comparison between an HNC and a degree. The HNC was far below the degree. There were a few other guys with HNC - 2 failed. HNC along with a very high pass in OND were good enough to enter the first year that's it. And City and Guilds FTC along with more studies to A level mathematics could gain entrance to the first year. The HND guys entered the 2nd year and many did not make it. The BSc first year was the time for everyone on a level playing field. The HNC and the City and Guilds Full Technological Certificate were fine qualifications in their own right along with an apprenticeship but to compare the HNC with a degree especially in engineering is a joke. Stop the delusions and be proud of what you hold in a sensible context.

Technician Education Council Higher Certificate
I completed an ONC in 1976 and started HNC the same year, unfortunately recurring health problems delayed my completion until 1982 by which time it had mutated into the Technician Education Council Higher Certificate. That's what it says on my certificate. I think this only existed for 2 years from 1980-82, having been preceded and succeded by HNC. I had colleagues who had studied prior to and after me with HNC's and I was stuck with a lame qualification which no-one had heard of. I don't think it helped my career prospects at the time, although after a lifetime of study I have no complaints, My question is were many other people blighted by this weird abberation that baffled potential employers?2.29.122.123 (talk) 22:12, 3 September 2013 (UTC) Here's Johnny

The problem with the National Certificates and Diplomas is that the goal post kept moving. At first ONC/OND = A level and HNC/HND = Non Honours degree. Some universities gave HND holders a cap and gown ceremony! But that changed over the years and they became less academic and more vocational and hence downgraded. How can employers be expected to understand the equivalences when the organisations which give these awards have either dissapeared or mutated. The CEI is long gone and with it the professional designations of Technician (Onc/Ond) and Engineer )Hnc/Hnd). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.168.31.170 (talk) 13:56, 14 October 2013 (UTC)

The ONC was equivalent to A levels and a university entrance qualification in the 70's. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.168.30.48 (talk) 00:33, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

History?
The above sections gave some history of this qualification. I wonder whether people in the know can create a coherent history section? I have recently purchased from a secondhand bookshop, Mathematics for Higher National Certificate (2 volumes) by Bell and Matley, which were for the Engineering syllabus in the 1950s and 1960s. The mathematics content is certain higher than that of present day A-level maths and further maths. It was also higher than the A-level maths and further maths syllabus (including that of the S-paper) of 1984. So I should think it was at least the maths level of a first and (part) second year engineering degree course. 81.156.171.202 (talk) 02:33, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

HNC Vs HND
I did a Chemistry HNC in the 80's and we did the chemistry theory in the same class as the HND students (9am until 8pm). The other days the HND'ers did their lab work while the HNC students went to work (in labs). I always thought they were the same qualification, just PT and FT. Oh and on the table NVQ level 5 is listed as a level 7 and 6? It cant be both! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 182.48.148.181 (talk) 06:18, 9 March 2014 (UTC)

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