your HND...what next?

Special Interest Series 2005

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SECTOR BRIEFINGSFind these in Explore job sectors onwww.prospects.ac.uk/links/SectorBs

Accountancy and Business Services

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Broadcast, Film and Interactive Media

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Local, Regional and National Government

Manufacturing

Oil, Gas and Petroleum

Publishing

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Social Care

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Tourism

Transport and Logistics

Voluntary

SPECIAL INTEREST SERIESAvailable in your HE Careers Service and onwww.prospects.ac.uk

Beyond Nine to Five - Flexible Working

Careers and Further Study for InternationalStudents

Going for Interviews

Job Seeking Strategies

Making Applications

Mature Students - The Way Forward

New Directions - Changing or Leaving Your Course

Postgraduate Study & Research

Self-employment

Using Languages

Working Abroad

Your Degree... What Next?

Your Foundation Degree... What Next?

Your HND... What Next?

Your Masters... What Next?

Your PhD... What Next?

OCCUPATIONAL PROFILESDetails for over 400 types of jobs

Available onwww.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations

OPTIONSIdeas of what you can do with your subject of study

Available onwww.prospects.ac.uk/links/Options

AGCAS INFORMATION

Available in your HE Careers Service and onwww.prospects.ac.uk

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1 Introduction 3

2 Choices with an HND 3

3 Further study 4Degree 4

Case study 5

Foundation degree 6

Postgraduate study 6

Different types of postgraduate study 7

4 Looking for work 7Deciding to look for work 7

Selling yourself 8

Sourcing vacancies 9

Striking the balance 9

5 Your HND and areas of work 9Employers’ attitudes to HNDs 9

Employment with your HND 9

Case study 11

6 Financing your studies 12 England and Wales 12

Scotland 12

Northern Ireland 13

Other sources of funding 13

7 Weighing it all up 14

8 Information sources 15Bibliography 15

Addresses 15

Writers: Colin Dewar and Lindsay McDonald (Bell College)Editor: Zoë Speakman (AGCAS)

www.prospects.ac.uk/links/YourHND

Contents Your HND

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Published autumn 2005Reprinted autumn 2006To be revised autumn 2007

The writers of the Special Interest Series are members ofthe Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services(AGCAS). These Special Interest Series are edited by theInformation and Content Development Department (ICDD)of Graduate Prospects and distributed by GraduateProspects. Full editorial control is exercised by AGCAS.

Although every effort is made to ensure that theinformation contained in this booklet is accurate and is asup-to-date as possible, readers should check with theappropriate organisation for the latest information. AGCAScan accept no responsibility for ensuring that the accuracyis absolute. To notify us of any changes, contactagcassint@prospects.ac.uk

©Copyright of or licensed to AGCASNo part of this publication may be copied or reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or byany means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or

otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.

Prospects House, Booth Street East, Manchester M13 9EP Tel: 0161 277 5200 www.prospects.ac.uk

Millennium House 30 Junction Road Sheffield S11 8XBwww.agcas.org.uk

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1 Introduction

2 Choices with an HND

A higher national diploma (HND) is a nationallyrecognised qualification, allowing you to progressinto employment and/or further study.

This booklet is a useful guide if you are studying orconsidering studying for an HND at a university orcollege. It gives a broad overview of the mainoptions open to HND holders and serves as anintroduction to the career issues you need toconsider. In addition, we’ll explore: further studyoptions; some possible career areas; and tips onhow best to ‘market’ yourself to employers and

institutions. It will also point you in the direction ofadditional information. You should check with yourcareers service for further details and to find outabout specific subjects available at HND level.

You may have heard about, or be studying, adiploma of higher education (DipHE). In many waysthis is similar to an HND. DipHEs are of a similarlength and are also at the intermediate level of thehigher education qualifications framework. If youhave studied or are studying a DipHE, much of theinformation in this booklet will be relevant to you.

The two main pathways open to HND holders areto go directly into employment or continue studyingfor either a degree or a professional qualification.The latest statistics from the Higher EducationStatistics Agency (HESA), 2003, show that anapproximately equal number of people studyingundergraduate qualifications other than a degreeenter employment compared with those startingfurther study. Of the group entering further study, itis worth noting that 36% indicated they were alsoin employment of some kind. This demonstrates ashift from previous years when the numberentering further study was higher. Explanations forthis vary, but it highlights the importance of makingeffective choices with your qualification.

Although many careers require a degree,postgraduate or professional award, others willfocus very much on your personal skills andexperiences. Your HND combined with practicalexperience can be enough to enter employment.Employability, ie the range of academic, practicaland personal skills you can offer to potential

employers or institutions, is a key word whateveryou decide. This is down to how effectively youmarket yourself.

One other option is to take a year off and work,but not in your chosen field. This is a way ofmaking some money and building your practicalvocational skills. It can also help you explore thejob market and can be particularly useful if youhave limited work experience. For work placementideas and opportunities, see Prospects Work

Experience and the National Council for WorkExperience website.

One important point is that whatever you thinkyour chosen route is likely to be, early planning iscrucial. It gives you more opportunities, advantagesin the application and selection process and leavesyou more time and freedom to concentrate on youracademic work. This is better than makingpressured decisions at the end of your coursewhen many degree courses might already be full.

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When considering applying for study beyond yourHND, you need to ask yourself some keyquestions:• What are my career goals and is further study a

requirement?• Can I apply for advanced entry to year two or

three, if the degree is relevant to my HND?• Is there a relevant route at my current institution

or do I have to apply elsewhere?• Should I apply for work as well and see what

offers I receive?

Recent statistics show that approximately 50% ofstudents gaining undergraduate qualifications otherthan a degree, including HNDs, enter furthereducation - mostly at degree level.

The range of further study options open to HNDholders includes: degree programmes at ordinaryor honours level; postgraduate qualifications; andprofessional qualifications. The latter refers towork-related courses, where an industry-specificqualification is a requirement. Examples includeteaching and accounting. In many cases, theprofessional qualifications are in fact postgraduatecourses.

In many situations, where you have achievedmerits through your HND and performed to a highacademic standard, you are able to apply for directentry to years two or three of a degree. So, why doso many students choose a full degree course?Reasons might include:• a degree is a requirement for your chosen

career;• the HND provided an insight to higher education

and you have decided to continue;• you did not have the entry requirements for the

degree and used the HND as a stepping stone;• your career goals remain unclear and you would

prefer to gain a higher level of education; • you may have decided to embark on a different

route or subject;• perhaps the current job market is not particularly

good for your preferred career.

You may know about other awards, includingfoundation degrees and diplomas of highereducation (DipHE). These are similar to HNDs asthey fall into the intermediate level of the highereducation qualification framework and take twoyears to complete full time. At some institutions,HNDs have been replaced by these qualifications.More information on foundation degrees iscontained in this booklet and much of it will be of

relevance to DipHE holders or students. The goodnews is that study at intermediate level isincreasing, so further study routes to degree leveland beyond are opening up. Therefore, furtherstudy as a progression route for HND studentsremains a popular and realistic option.

DEGREE

When looking at further study and degree courses,you must research thoroughly. Find out what youcan study, where you can study it, how closely thecontent of the degree relates to your HND andwhat the assessment methods are like. Considerwhether courses offer a work placement –especially if your HND has not given you thatoption. As a rule, degree courses have moretheoretical content, longer written assignments anda greater emphasis on final examinations, butthere will be exceptions to this pattern. Degree andHND courses place a strong emphasis on coretransferable skills such as communication skills, sothis is an area where you can continue to build onthe foundations you laid down in your HND.

One confusing issue for HND students who want tostudy at degree level is that there are severalstandard routes to achieving this. The options thatare normally on offer are:

Studying a degree from year oneStudying a degree from the first year. Whether it isa three or four-year course, you must take thecomplete degree programme regardless of the factthat you have an HND. The most common reasonfor choosing this option is that the degree subjectyou have decided to study is not closely enoughrelated to what you’ve covered on your HND sothere is no possibility of transferring into later yearsof the course. A potential difficulty with this routeis that funding may not be available for all years ofthe course. Check with your finance adviser atcollege or university, or your local funding body forfurther details.

Transferring to a degree after year oneTransferring to a degree at the end of your firstyear. If you become aware, very soon after startingyour HND, that you will definitely want to do adegree then you could try transferring at the end ofyour first year. This is most likely to mean that youwill have to start the degree from year one but itcould save you an extra year of study, which maybe important when considering your financialsituation. You should check with academic staff, as

3 Further study

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leaving after year one could still mean you haveenough credit to obtain an HNC or certificate ofhigher education (CertHE).

Advanced entry to degree coursesDirect entry into the penultimate or final year of adegree course. This is most likely to apply whereyour HND subject is very close in content to thedegree so you are likely to have already coveredmuch of the course. You also need very good HNDresults to make this type of transfer. This isespecially so for direct entry to the final year. Thisis the most common preference of HND studentsand competition is often tough for popular courses.You will compete not only with other HND, DipHEand foundation degree students but also thosealready enrolled on the degree! This should not putyou off but you should be careful not to pin all yourhopes on one option. Consider applying to a fewcourses to have as wide a chance for progressionas possible. You should also seek guidance withthe application form, in order to sell yourself in themost positive way possible.

Conversion or top-up coursesTaking a conversion course to ‘top up’ your HND todegree level. Conversion courses are commonlyoffered by the institution at which you studied yourHND and offer a direct route to continue to degreelevel. Other institutions may offer conversionprogrammes relevant to your chosen subject so itis worth looking around since you may also findsimilar courses that offer different options orspecialisms of particular interest. This is by nomeans a new route to a degree. In some areas,such as nursing, conversion routes to a degreehave existed for many years.

CASE STUDY

Colin, HNC/HND/BSc student in sportscoachingColin is a mature student, currently studyingtowards a BSc in Sports Coaching. Having enteredthe degree with advanced status from an HND(and before that an HNC), he provides useful hintsfor current HND students considering further study.

‘I started out studying an HNC in Sports Coachingwith no real plan of where I would end up. When Idecided to go on to HND level and progressedthrough that course, the degree obviously becamean option. I saw it as a natural progression reallyand a way to challenge my own potential. To behonest, having managed that far on the HND, Isaw the degree (and still do) as a completion ofmy educational journey.

‘I entered the BSc in Sports Coaching at yearthree, having studied an HND in the same area butat a different institution. Actually, I have studied allmy courses - the HNC, HND and degree atdifferent institutions. I see this as another way ofchallenging my own development. Each place hashad its own merits but I have always lookedforward to the challenge of a new educationalenvironment. I think if someone has to changeinstitution, it is important to establish contact earlywith the staff at the new place. For me, this meantnot only speaking to academic staff from thecourse but also members of student services sothat I was confident of the support and generalatmosphere of the institution at which I would bebased.

‘In relation to the actual degree course comparedto the HND, I feel that the main differencessurround delivery methods. Whilst my HND wasmostly classroom and lecture-based, the degree isa mixture of lectures and smaller tutorial groups. Ialso feel there is more of an expectation on me asa student to go and research materials. I must saythat I feel doing the degree has enhanced myunderstanding of the subject, just as the HNDenhanced my knowledge compared to the HNC –like I said, it has been a journey!

‘The educational challenge of the degree isdemanding and I feel there is a lot of work as Inear the end of the course but, hopefully, it will allbe worth it when I look for employment. Withregard to being prepared for the degree, I wouldsay the HND did prepare me well – I was at least90% prepared. There are always differences,especially if changing institution, but the HNDcertainly gave me a solid grounding in my field ofstudy. To tell the truth, the degree is ending toosoon as I have really enjoyed my time in study, andwhen I started out I never for a minute imagined Iwould come this far.

‘If I am giving advice to current HND students, Ihave to say firstly that it is a means of study Ialways recommend, it has certainly suited me.Coming through the HNC to HND to degree routehas meant that I never felt I had a mountain toclimb. I was never in a first year situation fearinghow I would ever manage another three or fouryears – all my study has been in manageablechunks. In general, my advice to someone readingthis and wondering, “Should I go on to degreelevel or beyond?” has to be - go for it!’

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FOUNDATION DEGREE

Foundation degrees were launched in Englandduring 2001 as a new vocational qualification forhigher education. Their aim is to fill the increasingnumber of jobs at higher technician andprofessional levels.

Since their introduction, there has been anincrease in the number of degree programmesaccepting foundation degree holders into the finalyear. Some degree programmes are only offered asa final year option because foundation degreesmust offer students progression routes to honourslevel. This could benefit HND holders who may beable to apply for these ‘top-up’ courses.Institutions are likely to look for students who haveachieved a consistently high academic standard.Relevant work experience is also likely to beviewed favourably. This is because foundationdegrees have a significant vocational input.Although such courses are directly compatible withlinked foundation degrees, there is a likelihoodthat other HND students will also be able to applyto them.

There are no plans to introduce foundation degreesin Scotland, where the HND and DipHE are offeredwidely. Both continue to be viewed favourably byemployers.

Applying for coursesYou should apply for degree programmes throughthe Universities and Colleges Admissions System(UCAS). Try to do so as early as possible. Closingdates are usually in January of the year in whichthe course is due to start but application forms areavailable from the autumn before the course isdue to begin. This is effectively a year in advance,so planning ahead is vital!

The UCAS system is a central clearing system thatprocesses all applications for undergraduatecourses. You will need to get a tutor to act as anacademic referee on your application form and youneed to ensure that you fill in the form as carefullyas possible. Do some careful research beforemaking the choice of where and what you wish tostudy, especially if it is a new subject for you. Youcan request a form, gain useful hints and tipsabout filling it in and apply online at UCAS.com.

If you are applying for entry into the second orthird year of a degree course, then you should stillapply through UCAS but, before you do this, youshould contact the institutions to which you wouldlike to apply. This is to find out what their policy istowards direct entry into years other than year one.

If applying for advanced entry, it is especiallyimportant not to leave things to the last minutesince you may have to visit the department orsubmit written work as part of the applicationprocess.

You don’t need to go through the UCAS system ifyou are applying to transfer to a degree course atthe institution where you are already studying yourHND. Also, if you are applying to study part time orby another mode, such as distance learning,applications may not have to go through UCAS,especially for part-time courses. Instead, they godirect to the institution. You should check with theinstitution concerned to clarify this.

Whatever route you have chosen to continue yourstudies, it is important to take time and troubleover your application forms, your initial researchand any contact, formal or informal, which youhave with the course providers. Here are somepoints you should emphasise when writing toinstitutions to find out about their policies, or whencompleting any application form through UCAS ordirectly to the institution:• Give your first year grades, as well as modules

currently being studied, remembering toemphasise subjects in which you haveperformed well and those you enjoyed.

• Draw attention to areas covered on your HNDthat are similar to those covered on the degree.

• Emphasise personal skills and strengths that youbelieve your HND has developed.

• Back up these skills using examples from study,employment and personal experiences.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the degreestructure and what’s expected of you.

• Be positive about your motivation to study andexplain how it relates to your career goals.

POSTGRADUATE STUDY

The issues to consider about postgraduate studyare exactly the same whether you have an HND ora degree. It’s highly unlikely that you could enter apostgraduate course without a good degree.However, some courses exist where entry can begained without a degree, if the applicant hassignificant practical or vocational experience in thefield. Many postgraduate courses require anhonours degree, with many stating a 2:1 as arequirement. This should be a consideration forHND students thinking of making degree courseapplications. However, ordinary degree holdersshould not be put off, especially in fields where astrong practical ability is needed, includingteaching and social work courses.

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Why choose postgraduate study?The reasons that graduates consider postgraduatestudy are similar to the reasons that a Diplomatehas when applying for a degree:• because a particular postgraduate qualification

is a requirement for their chosen career;• to demonstrate a high level of academic

achievement and gain advantage in the jobmarket;

• to take a real enjoyment for study as far aspossible;

• to wait for an unpromising job market to pick upin the coming year.

Another consideration for HND students is the totallength of time spent in education: how it will befinanced; and what employers’ reactions might beto spending an extended period in education. Youshould consult your careers adviser and have alook at Prospects.ac.uk, Prospects Postgrad andthe AGCAS Special Interest booklet Postgraduate

Study and Research to help you think throughthese issues a little further.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF POSTGRADUATE

STUDY

Taught coursesExamples of taught courses include Masters,postgraduate diplomas and postgraduatecertificate courses. For some jobs, a postgraduatequalification is the most common entry route. Law,architecture and medical professions are typicalexamples. Some postgraduate courses offer theopportunity for a change of direction or at least achange of emphasis. For example, someone may

have a degree in business studies with computingbut may find they wish to specialise in eitherhuman resource management or applicationsprogramming - both topics they have touched onat degree or HND level but a more specialisedcourse will give them an advantage in the jobmarket.

Research-based coursesThese are normally PhDs, although some Mastersare occasionally research-based. These coursessuit students who have developed a realenthusiasm for a specific aspect of their subjectand wish to take it further. Such courses are highlyacademic so, regardless of the status of your HND,you will almost certainly need to have a goodhonours degree to stand a chance of getting aplace - and funding.

Applying for coursesThere isn’t a central clearing system for postgraduateapplications. In the majority of cases, you make yourapplications directly to the institution. This meansthat there is no limit on the number of applicationsyou can make. Many postgraduate courses haveno formal closing date but, nevertheless, fill upvery quickly.

There are exceptions to this: applications forteacher training in England, Scotland and Walesare made through a central system called thegraduate teacher training registry (GTTR); andapplications for postgraduate courses in socialwork are made through the UCAS system. Bothhave closing dates well in advance of course startdates. This indicates the importance of planningahead and checking application procedures.

4 Looking for workDECIDING TO LOOK FOR WORK

If you are going to look for employment, it’simportant that you know what job opportunities areavailable, what the job market is like and if yourHND fits into your long-term career plans. It is alsoadvisable at this stage to start gatheringinformation about yourself: your skills;qualifications; personal attributes; work experience- and start putting a CV together. This will be auseful exercise as it will help you to focus on whatyou have to offer. It will also be the basis forapplication forms, tailored job-specific CVs andinterview preparation.

Below are some topics to consider when decidingif employment is the right option:• What are my long-term career plans? If there

aren’t specific graduate-level entry requirementsin my chosen sector, is another year or two ofstudy unnecessary?

• How realistic is it to get into my chosen careerwithout a degree or higher degree?

• Am I likely to meet any blocks to my careerdevelopment and progression if I don’t have adegree?

• Is my chosen sector an area where there areprofessional qualifications that I can takeregardless of whether I have a degree?

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• Do I have relevant or previous work experiencethat can be an added bonus to my qualification?

• What are my financial circumstances? Is anotheryear’s study financially viable?

Remember - further study may not be necessary.For example, to become a qualified accountant,you need to do professional exams, eg theAssociation of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA) qualifications. These can be taken with anHND, DipHE or a degree.

Start by talking to staff at your careers service andusing the information resources available there.Speaking to course tutors will also help youdiscover your employment options. Your careersservice and course tutors will have informationabout what previous students from your particularcourse have gone on to do. Making good use ofpersonal contacts, networks or past employers is agood way to find out about vacancies. Anothergood starting point is professional organisationsrelated to your field of study. These organisationsoffer advice on career paths and professionalexams that can help you with your career.

There are a variety of jobs that offer the samechallenges, responsibilities and career paths asgraduate trainee programmes but are notnecessarily advertised as such. You need to decidewhat interests you and what drives you - money orjob satisfaction? Do you thrive in high-pressuresituations or do you prefer a job that allows you tohelp and advise people? There are many differentcareer paths and jobs out there but only you candecide what you want to do. To help you in yourdecision, have a look at the range of AGCASOccupational Profiles available in your careersservice. The computer program Prospects Planner(www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pplanner) should alsohelp you determine what jobs would suit you,based on your skills and personality.

SELLING YOURSELF

Competition for any job is tough so it’s worthremembering that you need to get used to sellingyourself in a positive light when applying forvacancies. Your HND qualification is just a smallpart of what you have to offer: you also have otherskills and attributes that will be of interest to anemployer. Every application requires some luck, buta positive approach and careful research intoemployers and vacancies can pay dividends.

There’s not enough room to go into detail aboutproducing a good CV or application form here. Seeinstead the AGCAS Special Interest booklet Making

Applications and chapter 8 ‘Information sources’ atthe back of this booklet.

You have a lot to offer an employer. Therefore, it’simportant that your CV and/or application formmakes a good first impression. There are a fewthings that you can do now to start gathering therelevant information together:• Your course - what have you learned, what skills

have you improved on? Start to draw up a list oftopics and modules that you’ve covered. Thismay include reports, essays, research,presentations and group work.

• What other skills and knowledge do you havethat may be relevant to the job for which youare applying? Include work experience (previouswork or term-time work), placements,volunteering, hobbies, interests andachievements.

Apart from the specific course-related information,you will also have a list of ‘soft’ skills. Includeexamples of all or some of the skills below: • Communication skills - oral and written.• Numerical skills - basic or more advanced,

statistics or mathematical equations.• Analytical skills.• IT skills - general skills or specialist computing

packages.• Team working skills - through working on

projects, solving a problem with fellow coursemembers or supervisory/team leadership roles.

• Problem-solving skills.• Time-management skills - proof that you can

meet academic or work deadlines.• Design and creativity skills.

Whatever skills and qualities you mention in yourapplication form, on your CV or at an interview,ensure that you can back these claims up with realexamples of where and how you have used these.It is one of the most common failings of jobapplicants to list what they think the employerwants to see or hear, without demonstrating theirclaims with concrete examples. Once you havelisted all your skills and knowledge, you’ll be ableto match vacancies to your attributes.

For more information and advice read the AGCASSpecial Interest booklets Making Applications andGoing for Interviews.

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SOURCING VACANCIES

Here are some of the most common vacancysources. For more options, see chapter 8‘Information sources’ at the end of this booklet. • Local newspapers.• National newspapers.• The Internet - this is becoming a more common

way to find vacancies. There are specialist sitesthat advertise vast numbers of vacancies, whichcan save time as it is all in one place. Also, it’seasy to check specific companies to see if theyare recruiting, eg local authorities.

• The trade and business press in relevantemployment fields - these journals are useful asthey give an insight into who is recruiting,expanding, developing and what’s new in theindustry. These are good for interviewpreparation as well, since they keep you up todate.

• Careers service vacancy boards - a good sourcefor both local and national vacancies.

• Recruitment agencies and job centres.• Personal contacts and previous employers.

STRIKING THE BALANCE

When deciding what vacancies are suitable, youneed to look for adverts that:• state a preference for the HND subject you have

studied;• value the personal qualities and skills that you

have;

• emphasise the work experience you have;• sound interesting!

Tackle your job search methodically. Remember tocheck newspapers and websites regularly in caseyou miss something. You could also sign up for ajob alert service, such as that offered byProspects.ac.uk, to receive details of job vacanciesby e-mail or text.

It may take time to get your dream job and it canbe disheartening when you’re not hearing backfrom employers but this is normal. It can happento anyone who has ever applied for jobs - it’s notjust you! Keep plugging away and don’t forget tokeep in touch with the careers service.

Put energy into speculative approaches and usethe support available at your careers service tohelp you make the best possible job of your CV,application forms, covering letters and interviewtechniques. Try to build up networks of contactsthrough work experience, friends, formercolleagues, industrial placement tutors and studentmembership of relevant professional associations.Check out the AGCAS Special Interest booklet Job Seeking Strategies for helpful job hunting tips.

If the job market is very difficult, you still have theoption of considering further study, as long as youstart planning early.

5 Your HND and areas of workEMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDES TO HNDs

Employers know and understand the benefits ofthe HND qualification and the contributionDiplomates can make to the working environment.

Companies that offer graduate managementtrainee programmes tend to look for a degree.However, this does not mean that local smallercompanies have the same requirements. There aremany jobs that offer good training prospects andcareer paths that don’t require a degree. You needto understand that your qualification offers a widescope of opportunities and that you can make apositive contribution to the working environment.

EMPLOYMENT WITH YOUR HND

This booklet cannot list every career option buthere are a few pointers to some of the largestareas of employment in the UK and how your HNDmight be viewed.

Advertising and marketingMany jobs in this sector do accept applicationsfrom Diplomates, though the larger employers tendto prefer graduates. Some of the examinations setby the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) andthe Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)enrol HND holders. Those with good workexperience may progress to the PostgraduateDiploma in Direct Marketing.

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BusinessThis sector covers many different careers.Diplomates are advised to think carefully aboutwhat area they would like to work in. Jobs arefound in administration, clerical roles, marketingand human resource management but this list isnot exhaustive. Due to the sheer scale of thissector there are opportunities to progress tomanagement levels or to move into strategicplanning or consultancy roles. Hands-on workexperience is sometimes more relevant in thebusiness sector than qualifications alone.

Finance and accountancyMany careers in banking, finance and accountancyare open to HND holders. Accountants arerequired to study for professional qualifications.HND holders may be exempt from certain examsdepending on the specific area of accounting theywould like to train in. Degree holders are exemptfrom more professional-level exams than an HNDholder but, once qualified as an accountant, thereis little difference between a degree and an HNDcandidate.

Information technologyThis is a significant field of employment forDiplomates, with many companies recruiting onthe basis of experience and skills as much asqualification. People with HNDs are able to takeprofessional examinations through the BritishComputer Society (BCS). Alternatively, there areother forms of training available through in-housetraining or specialist courses such as CISCONetworks.

LawYou need to have a degree to become a solicitor orbarrister, unless you are prepared to become alegal executive first. This training is open tofoundation degree holders. Even with a goodhonours degree, entry to postgraduate training isvery competitive. Becoming a paralegal in Scotlandmay be possible with relevant experience but it islikely that a degree in the legal field, such as legalstudies, would be required.

Manufacturing and productionSo long as you avoid the largest companies in thissector, entry with an HND is often possible. Manyof the professional bodies for the industry offerspecific training to HND holders.

MedicineThe majority of medical careers do require relevantdegrees but entry to some of these may be

improved by holding an HND in a relevant subject.Careers in complementary medicine are not soreliant on academic qualifications so HND holdersare not at any disadvantage.

RetailSome retail management programmes requiregraduates only. However, there are a few that willtake on HND students with a suitable qualificationfrom a retail or business background. It is worthnoting that in the retail sector, knowledge of theretail environment, through coursework orsupervisory work experience can count towardstrainee/junior management positions.

Social careThis sector covers a wide area and includes socialwork, community education, advice, housing,charities, private care and government agencies.Becoming a social worker requires a degree butthere are lots of similar roles that are suitable forHND holders. These include advice and counselling,working in community projects, youth work andcare management. As with many other sectors,relevant experience is a must.

Teacher trainingTeacher training is quite a complex area. Pleasesee the AGCAS publication Applying for a PGCE,

which explains all the options. It’s best to checkwith a careers adviser or the institutions aboutentry requirements and different routes. Thepattern of teacher training has changed in recentyears and there are now several routes into thisprofession. The routes open to HND students are:• to transfer to a degree course after year one of

your HND and then do your teacher trainingthrough a Postgraduate Certificate in Education(PGCE);

• a two-year shortened first degree course, BEd ora BA or BSc with qualified teacher status (QTS).These are more likely to be available in shortagesubjects, eg maths, modern languages, designtechnology, science and business studies.Applications are made through UCAS.com;

• the registered teacher programme (RTP)available to applicants aged 24 or over whohave studied for two years in higher education.This route is also available to people withoverseas teaching qualifications. To train in thisway you need to be employed by a school. Seethe Teacher Training Agency (TTA) website formore details;

• in Scotland, a teaching programme, eitherthrough a degree in primary education or aProfessional Graduate Diploma in Education

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(PGDE) in secondary education (and specialisedsubject) or primary teaching. To get onto thePGDE in secondary teaching you will need adegree in your chosen teaching subject.

For information on a range of job sectors andindividual occupations, see the AGCAS SectorBriefings and AGCAS Occupational Profiles,available in your careers service. For ideas of whatyou can do with your particular subject of study,have a look at the AGCAS Options Series.

CASE STUDY

Jennifer, assistant human resources officerJennifer studied an HND in Business Administrationat college. The course offered a wide range ofsubjects ranging from IT skills and businessoperations to communications skills. Jennifer hadthis to say about her HND and how it helped in hercareer:

‘During my second year, I was given choices tostudy certain subjects further. As I have alwaysbeen interested in human resource management(HRM) since school, I decided to study it. In doingso, I was able to explore HR in more depth andincrease my knowledge of the HRM function. As Iwas keen to pursue a career in HR, I was advisedto get an HND in a business-related area and thenuse this to apply for HR assistant and administrativeroles.

‘Once I completed my HND, I started to apply forvarious jobs in HR and administration. I got a jobworking at Bell College as a human resourcesassistant in September 2001. This job providedme with great experience in all aspects of HRM. Iwas involved in the HR administration service onpeople management in the college and offeredadvice and support to staff in non-complexmatters. I found that my HND helped to prepareme for this job and I was able to use and improve

my IT, time management, communication andpresentation skills.

‘In December 2003, I was promoted to assistanthuman resources officer at Bell College. This joboffered more responsibility and challenges and Iam now involved in liaising and implementing theHR policy within the college. I work closely withsenior/line managers to ensure that effectiveemployee relations are maintained. I amthoroughly enjoying my job: there are always newchallenges. The main change for me is that I amnow in a more advisory role whereas, before, theHR assistant role was administrative-based. Therole of assistant HR officer allows scope fordeveloping the role due to continual changes inlegislation, HR practice and technology. I hope thatgaining more experience will enable me to providemore complex advice at all levels.

‘In order to progress within the field of HR, it isimportant to have membership of the CharteredInstitute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Iam working towards graduate membership of theCIPD and hope that, through further workexperience, I will be upgraded to charteredmembership (Chartered MCIPD). The criterion is tobe able to demonstrate three years’ relevantexperience at a senior level, two of which must bein a specific personnel and development role.Apart from CIPD membership, I decided to updatemy qualifications to degree level and graduated inMay 2004 with a BA majoring in human resourcemanagement.

‘Your HND will stand you in good stead when itcomes to applying for jobs. My HND gave me agreat start and it has helped me pursue my dreamcareer. Don’t be afraid to take chances.Sometimes work experience is more relevant thana qualification, and nowadays there are alternativeways of obtaining qualifications that can help youwith your career.’

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Student funding varies depending on where youlive. Specific information should be sought fromyour local education authority (LEA) in England andWales; the Student Awards Agency for Scotland(SAAS) for Scottish students; and your localEducation and Library Board (ELB) for studentsfrom Northern Ireland.

Funding in the UK is currently going through aperiod of change. You should also look at theDepartment for Education and Skills (DfES) bookletA Guide to Financial Support for Higher Education

Students, which relates to undergraduate study.Funding arrangements for postgraduate study candiffer, as there is no central system. Again,information is available from your LEA, SAAS orELB, as well as the institution itself. Information isalso available in the Prospects Postgraduate

Funding Guide.

Remember that funding for further study may beaffected by previous funding. So, for example, ifyou have been funded for an HND and intend toapply to a degree course, you may only be fundedfor the final years of the course. If you apply tostudy a degree in an area unrelated to your HNDand begin the degree from year one, it is unlikelyyou would receive funding for your initial years.Individual enquires should be made to the relevantfunding body depending on where you live but itmay also be worth contacting your finance orwelfare adviser or student union representative,who should be able to provide further guidance.

ENGLAND AND WALES

You’ll have two main types of expenses whilst atuniversity or college: tuition fees and your livingexpenses. Student loans for maintenance areavailable to help out with your living costs and youmay also be eligible for a grant.

Courses starting in 2005 may require acontribution towards tuition fees, depending onpersonal income and that of your household.2004/5 fees were £1,150 per year and in 2005/6this is likely to be around £1,200. Students fromlower income households will continue to receivehelp towards their fees. In 2004/5 those with ahousehold income of up to £21,475 had all theirfees paid for them by the government.

Other funding is available, such as the highereducation grant and maintenance loans, as well asawards to certain groups of students, includingstudents with dependants.

Application forms are available from your LEA orcan be downloaded from the DfES website wheredetails of your LEA can also be found.

England (2006/7)From September 2006, universities in England willbe allowed to vary the fees they charge newstudents. Universities will be able to chargebetween zero and £3,000 per year. These fees willonly affect students who start their course inSeptember 2006 or later. From 2006 onwards,you will no longer have to pay fees before startingor whilst studying. Student loans will be availableup to the level of your tuition fees. You’ll startrepaying the loan once you have finished studyingand are earning more than £15,000 a year.

Students from lower income households will beeligible for a non-repayable maintenance grant.Universities and colleges charging more than£2,700 a year for a course will have to provideadditional non-repayable financial support, such asbursaries, to students receiving the fullmaintenance grant. Full details are available fromthe DfES website.

Wales (2006/7)Devolved power to the National Assembly for Walesmeans that variable (top-up) fees will not beintroduced in Wales in 2006. Fees will remain at afixed fee, currently £1,150, with annual upgradingin line with inflation.

Variable fees at a later date have neither beenruled in or out. An independent study of variabletuition fees (Rees Report) was published in May2005, with any potential changes likely to takeeffect from 2007. Full details are available on theLearning Wales website.

SCOTLAND

Scottish students should apply to the StudentAwards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for funding.Scottish domiciled and EU students studying at aninstitution in Scotland are entitled to free tuition.

6 Financing your studies

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SAAS will pay the tuition fees in full, currently upto £1,150 in 2004/5 depending on individualcircumstances. There are no plans to introducevariable fees in Scotland.

Some students may have to pay a graduateendowment after completing their degree. This ispayable from the April after completion and iscurrently set at approximately £2,000. There areseveral exemptions to the tax. For HND students,you won't have to pay if you are:• a current HND student;• someone who has transferred to a degree

course directly from an HNC or HND startedbefore 2001-2002;

• taking less than two years to complete yourdegree course immediately after completing anHND;

• a mature student.

More details are available at the Student AwardsAgency for Scotland (SAAS) website.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Students in Northern Ireland have to make theirapplications for support through their localeducation and library board. As in England andWales, courses that start in 2005 may require acontribution towards tuition fees, depending onpersonal income and that of your household. Full-time students may get all or part of their fees paid.Support with living costs is also available. For moreinformation, please read A Guide to Financial

Support for Higher Education Students.

A consultation is currently underway in order todetermine the funding situation for students from2006 onwards. You should contact your local ELBfor details, a list of which can be found at theStudent Support website.

UK summaryPlease see the Cross Border Support table, whichoutlines the financial support available for studentsdomiciled in the UK who are studying in anotherUK country, and can be downloaded from theWelsh Assembly website.

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING

Student loansStudent loans exist throughout the UK and areadministered by the Student Loans Company.Information is available on their website. They are

fixed at low rates of interest and you do not haveto make repayments until you graduate and yourearning reaches a certain level. Applications aremade initially through your local funding body.

Career development loansCareer development loans are provided throughfour high street banks. To be eligible for these,they must be used for a course that contributes toyour career and professional development. Inpractice, it’s not difficult to meet these criteria.More information is available on the CareerDevelopment Loans website.

Part-time employment The reality is that many students have to work parttime in order to finance their studies. This is astrue for HND students as any other. Wherepossible, you should try to use part-time work notonly as an income source but as a way of gainingexperience.

Increasingly, employers will look not only for aqualification but also practical experience. Bycombining your HND with relevant work experience,you will be giving yourself an advantage for futureapplications both for employment and for studyand, of course, the money will always help in themeantime!

You should contact the careers service at yourinstitution for part-time opportunities, and considerproducing a good CV. Help with this is available onProspects.ac.uk and in the AGCAS Special Interestbooklet Making Applications.

One really important thing to consider about part-time work is that it is to support you through yourstudy. Be careful that your job doesn’t ultimatelyhinder your studies by turning from a few hours aweek into more full-time hours. Don’t allow part-time work to adversely affect your coursework orattendance. Many students find the balance ofwork and study difficult to manage but you shouldremind yourself of your motivation to study in thefirst place and your future career goals.

Institution fundsYou should contact the finance/welfare advisers atyour institution, who might also be part of yourstudent union, to gain information on what otherfunds may be available. This could include smallamounts of money to help with particular costs,including childcare or in situations of extremehardship. These funds and their allocation will varyfrom institution to institution.

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When taking any decision about your future, youcan fall into the trap of believing that only onechoice can be right. This is a concern frequentlyraised by HND students uncertain whether to optfor work or study. The reality is that for mostpeople there isn’t likely to be a right or wrongdecision. Both further study or employment can beviable and it may well be market factors thatdictate the path you take.

As a result of increased student numbers and thedecline in formal graduate jobs, the employmentmarket for anyone leaving higher education ishighly competitive. These changes have pros andcons for HND students. On the plus side, graduatesare being recruited less by large companiesoffering structured training schemes and more bysmaller companies. Therefore, the idea that adegree is essential for some jobs has become alittle more blurred. The downside is that some ofthe smaller companies that were once the territoryof the Diplomates are also being pursued bygraduates.

It is best to try not to be disheartened if theemployment market is very tough and you end updeciding that the wisest option is to continue yourstudies. In popular fields of employment, everyonefaces stiff competition, regardless of thequalifications they possess. Furthering youreducation may well increase your employability butit’s also important to feel motivated to get the bestout of any course you choose.

What matters is that you:• work out your priorities;• make a realistic but positive assessment of your

strengths and abilities;• investigate potential job markets carefully;• put plenty of effort into your written applications

and interviews.

Try to assess what your future goals are and whereyou’re likely to be in a few years. Most decisionscan be altered or at least modified with theaddition of a further qualification, eg taking a part-time course while working, but you can cut out alot of extra work by well-researched decision-making.

You may already know that you’re good atbalancing work and study and quite enjoycombining the two - in which case, taking part-time courses in the future should be fine for you.

Conversely, you may find that you are a personwho gets on much better if you are concentratingsingle-mindedly on something. Are you best whenconcentrating on one project or quite good atswitching between various assignments?

When you look at job adverts or course outlines,notice what similar skills and personal qualities arebeing sought by a wide range of organisations.Remind yourself that there are likely to be manydifferent situations in which you could worksuccessfully.

What are your financial circumstances? Sincestudying is now very expensive, is it more realisticfor you to go into a job sooner rather than laterbecause of debt? Much of this is likely to dependon whether you managed to save money beforeyou started a course and what commitments andfinancial responsibilities you have outside yourstudies.

Time spent examining several options, even if youare bound to reject some of these, is usually timewell spent. It gives you greater insight into the jobmarket, professional and academic training andyour own ambitions and aspirations.

7 Weighing it all up

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8 Information sourcesBIBLIOGRAPHY

AGCAS and Graduate Prospects products areavailable from higher education careersservices and on www.prospects.ac.uk

AGCASAGCAS Special Interest booklets:Beyond Nine to Five - Flexible Working; Going forInterviews; Job Seeking Strategies; MakingApplications; Mature Students - The Way Forward;Postgraduate Study and Research; Your Degree...What Next?; Your Foundation Degree... What Next?

AGCAS other publications:Applying for a PGCE

AGCAS Occupational ProfilesAGCAS Sector BriefingsAGCAS Options Series

AGCAS Videos/DVDs:The Assessment Centre; Can I Have a Few Minutesof Your Time?; Looking Good on Paper; Why Am IHere?; Why Ask Me That?

Graduate ProspectsProspects DirectoryProspects FinalistProspects GraduateProspects PostgradProspects Postgraduate DirectoryProspects Postgraduate Funding GuideProspects Work ExperienceProspects.ac.ukWhat do graduates do? Work-experience.org

Other publicationsChoosing Your Degree Course and University,Trotman Publishing, BiennialCRAC Degree Course Guides, CRAC/HobsonsPublications, AnnualFinancial Support for Higher Education Students: aGuide, Department for Employment and Learning,AnnualThe Grants Register, Palgrave Macmillan, AnnualA Guide to Financial Support for Higher EducationStudents, Department for Education and Skills(DfES), AnnualGuide to Student Funding, Educational GrantsAdvisory Service (EGAS)

Guide to Student Support, Student Awards AgencyScotland (SAAS), AnnualThe Hobsons Directory, CRAC/HobsonsPublications, AnnualUniversity and College Entrance: The Official Guide,UCAS, Annual

WebsitesBritish Computer Society, www.bcs.org.ukCareer Development Loans,www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdlCISCO Networks Systems, www.cisco.comCross Border Support,www.learning.wales.gov.uk/pdfs/students/cross-border-support-0607-e.pdfHigher Education Statistics Agency (HESA),www.hesa.ac.ukLearning Wales, www.learning.wales.gov.ukNational Assembly for Wales, www.wales.gov.ukThe National Council for Work Experience,www.work-experience.orgStudent Support, www.student-support.org.ukTeaching in Scotland, www.teachinginscotland.comUCAS.com, www.ucas.com

ADDRESSES

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA), 64 Finnieston Square, Glasgow G3 8DTTel: 0141 582 2000 www.accaglobal.comChartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Cookham,Maidenhead, Berks SL6 9QH Tel: 01628 427 500www.cim.co.uk

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development(CIPD), CIPD House, Camp Road, London SW194UX Tel: 020 8971 9000 www.cipd.co.uk

Department for Education and Skills (DfES),Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, LondonSW1P 3BT Tel: 0870 000 2288 www.dfes.gov.uk

Department for Employment and Learning NorthernIreland (DELNI), 39/49 Adelaide Street, BelfastBT2 8FD Tel: 028 9025 7777 www.delni.gov.uk

Department of Education for Northern Ireland(DENI), Rathgael House, 43 Balloo Road, Bangor,Co. Down BT19 7PR Tel: 028 9127 9279www.deni.gov.uk

Edexcel, Head Office, One90 High Holborn, LondonWC1V 7BH Tel: 0870 240 9800www.edexcel.org.uk

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Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS), 501-505 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AU Tel: 020 7254 6251 www.egas-online.org

General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC), 96 Clermiston Road, Edinburgh EH12 6UT Tel: 0131 314 6000 www.gtcs.org.uk

GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry), New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Glos GL52 3LZ Tel: 0870 112 2205 www.gttr.ac.uk

Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), 44 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QS Tel: 020 7235 7020 www.ipa.co.uk

Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA), IronmillsRoad, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 1HE Tel: 0845 279 1000 www.sqa.org.uk

Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS),Gyleview House, 3 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh EH12 9HH Tel: 0845 111 1711www.student-support-saas.gov.uk

Student Loans Company (SLC), 100 Bothwell Street, Glasgow G2 7JDTel: 0800 405 010 www.slc.co.uk

Teacher Training Agency (TTA), Portland House,Stag Place, London SW1E 5TT Tel: 0845 6000 991 www.teach.gov.uk

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service(UCAS), PO Box 28, Cheltenham, GloucestershireGL52 3LZ Tel: 0870 112 2211 www.ucas.com

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ChecklistWhat should you do next?

Check the websites, contacts and publicationslisted at the back of this booklet.

Look at the other AGCAS publications listed at thefront of this booklet.

Speak to a careers adviser in your HE careersservice for more help and information.

Browse the prospects.ac.uk website for graduatecareers information.

www.prospects.ac.uk Job vacanciesCareers guidanceWork experience

Find it all on the UK's officialgraduate careers website

Jobs on the net!

visit www.prospects.ac.uk the UK’s official graduate careers website

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Options

Sector Briefings

Occupational Profiles

Special Interest Series

Country ProfilesDetails for working and studying in over 50 countries around the world,including the job market, visa requirements and vacancy sources.www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Countries

Information on job hunting, applications and interviews, postgraduatestudy, changing your course, using your languages and what to doafter your course.www.prospects.ac.uk

Focusing on over 400 different types of jobs, with details of entryrequirements, salary ranges, typical employers and vacancy sources.www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations

Overviews of the key job sectors, providing an insight into the culture,tips for entry and progression, and examples of typical jobs andleading employers.www.prospects.ac.uk/links/SectorBs

Ideas of what you can do with your subject of study, with details of skillsgained, jobs related to your degree, further study and other options.www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Options

Guide to AGCAS information on prospects.ac.uk

SI/09-R/06

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