Business Higher National Certificate

Course Level 4/5

Description
This course is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their prospects in a highly competitive and ever changing labour market. It is linked into the National Vocational Qualifications and such is nationally recognised both by employers and a number of professional organisations.

Course Length
The course consists of four semesters, over two years; candidates are welcome to join either September or February.

What will I study?
The Higher National Certificate in business comprises of a number of core and option modules which lead to a broad based business qualification.
There are 8 core modules taken over four semesters and 2 option modules, again taken over four semesters.
The main academic disciplines are Marketing, Finance, Law and Human Resource Management.

Core Units
1 Marketing
2 Managing Financial Resources and Decisions
3 Organisations and Behaviour
4 Business Environment
8 Research Project

Specialist Units
5 Common Law
6 Business Decision Making
7 Business Strategy
9 Management Accounting
22 Managing HR Issues


How will I learn?
Typically your teaching team or tutor will devise a series of learning activities that will assist you to develop the knowledge, understanding and range of skills necessary to achieve the assessment criteria and learning outcomes. The learning activities will be devised to be as realistic of the real world as possible, and will use whichever teaching method is most appropriate for particular learning outcomes. Tutors are always open to new ideas, and if any student believes they know better ways of achieving the set learning outcomes their suggestions will be welcomed.

How will I be assessed?
A variety of means of assessment are used including written assignments, seminars and presentations.

Where could it lead?
Holders of this qualification can expect to be in a much better position to qualify for promotion within posts in all areas of industry, commerce and public sector employment. The HNC/HND is recognised by various universities as a suitable entry requirement for degree level courses. In most cases a HNC will permit entry into the second year of a degree course and the HND into third year entry.