Many undergraduates with higher National Diploma or HND degrees wonder whether they may study abroad with their qualifications. When some of them find that they may upgrade their certificate to a university degree, they become even more excited. A Guide to HND Top-up Degrees.
Do you know anything about HND top-up degrees in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom? In the United States, you do not have to renew your HND certificate. A Guide to HND Top-up Degrees.
What is a top-up degree?
A top-up degree is for students who have completed an HND curriculum and want to further their education by enrolling in the last year of an honours degree programme. This is applicable in the United Kingdom. An HND certification is valuable, and obtaining a bachelor’s degree will help you advance your profession even more. A top-up degree is described as Level 6, or the final year of an undergraduate degree program, which permits students to go from an HND to a bachelor’s degree.
The degree bridges the gap between a Level 5 certificate and a Level 6, which is equivalent to a complete undergraduate degree. Undergraduate degrees are prevalent in the United Kingdom, however top-up degrees allow you to finish the final year of your bachelor’s degree in one year or two to three years. This depends on the country where you plan to study.
You are not permitted to seek a higher-level degree in another field of study; however, you must continue with the course you completed during your HND program.
Guide to HND Top-up Degrees
Canada
In Canada, you can use an HND top-up degree to obtain a bachelor’s degree. However, you must complete several courses within two or three years before getting your bachelor’s degree.
For example, if you get an HND in Mechanical Engineering, you can then pursue a second or third-year Bachelor’s degree in an engineering program in Canada. Students should be aware that the year they enter is determined by the number of transfer credits allowed for their HND degree.
If you wish to earn your HND quickly, you can study in the United Kingdom for a single academic year.
Masters in Canada with HND?
Canada does not accept HND graduates directly into its Master’s program. However, you have two options for achieving this.
OPTION 1
In Canada, your HND must be upgraded to a BSc degree via a top-up degree. You apply to an undergraduate program to transfer your credits toward a bachelor’s degree. The university or college waives some of the courses you took in your native country. You must follow the same or a related discipline to what you studied during your HND. Canada expects you to achieve a minimum grade in each course you choose to waive. The number of courses waived and required determines the number of years it takes to finish your Bachelor’s degree.
OPTION 2
You can pursue a post-HND degree in Canada. Since you cannot apply directly with your HND degree to a Masters programme, you can go for any of the following:
- Post-Degree Certificate/Diploma,
- Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD),
- Advanced Certificate in Canada.
Most Canadian colleges provide PGD programmes to HND graduates, although some do not. You must undertake research before applying to any Canadian university that offers a PGD program.
Students with more HND credits and post-qualification experience are more likely to use this program.
An HND is a continuation of the National Diploma (ND), which is equivalent to an Associate Degree in Canada. According to the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), an HND is equivalent to completing a three-year postsecondary diploma.
To apply for a Master’s degree in Canada, please send your transcripts to WES for review. You can make your WES payment via the Pay4Me app. WES analyzes your HND and OND transcripts and draws a conclusion.
The United Kingdom
Students with an HND certificate can go more directly to the United Kingdom. Instead of spending two to three years in a top-up program, you can earn at least one academic year of a university diploma.
This makes the United Kingdom the preferred destination for students looking to upgrade their HND degrees to Bachelor’s degrees. Following your top-up programme, you can spend an extra year pursuing a Master’s degree at one of the UK’s top universities.
Subjects suitable for one-year top-up in the United Kingdom include:
- Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Therapy
- Business, Economics, and Management
- Building Services Engineering
- Art and Design
- Information Technology
- Hospitality, Tourism, and Events Management
Before applying, you should contact the course to inquire about the entry requirements. Not all institutions in the UK offer top-up courses in all subjects.
Polytechnics no longer exist in the United Kingdom. Polytechnics have evolved into universities, both in name and content. This implies that HND graduates continue to encounter bias in UK universities.
The United States of America
The United States is a secure option for HND grads. The reason that more HND graduates travel to the United States than to the United Kingdom and Canada is simple. Here are some of the reasons why the HND degree is highly valued in the United States.
There is no distinction between polytechnic and university degrees across the country. Polytechnic names are commonly associated with universities in the United States.
When you move to America with an HND, you will probably be treated as if you had identical university degrees. The educational structure in this country ensures that HND graduates are not discriminated against.
Your qualification was granted after four years of postsecondary education. This puts HND graduates on an equal basis with others around the country.
Admission to graduate programs at any university in the United States is a multistep process. To be considered for admission to a graduate program in the country, your GRE score must be acceptable. When you combine a solid GRE score with a good HND result, you have an advantage over someone who has a first-class degree from an institution with low GRE scores. .
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The US accepts a greater number of HND graduates than the US. The country has no knowledge of the HND. Degrees awarded after two years of study are comparable to the Ordinary National Diploma (OND), or even the British and Nigerian “A” levels.
Popular Top-up Degrees
- International Finance
- International Business & Management
- Finance and Law
- Design Engineering
- Global Media Practice
- Computer Animation
- Food and Hotel Services Management
- Tourism Management.
Advantages and disadvantages of the top-up degree programms
Advantages
- It permits students to relocate to new countries overseas.
- Top-up degree programs have received international accreditation.
- Students can pick where they want to live while completing their higher degree.
Disadvantages
- A top-up degree cannot replace an honours degree.
- Many universities allow students to transfer credits.
- If a content-based course is not aligned with the top-up course, issues may develop.
Entry requirements for a top-up degree course
- You must have a foundation degree from a reputable institute.
- A BA Honours degree from a recognized university.
- An HND degree from a reputable college or university.
- If your native language is not English, you must demonstrate language skills equivalent to IELTS 6.0.
Guide to HND Top-up Degrees
