HNC in Computing for England (Cyber Security)
| Study Level | Level 4 |
| Duration | 1 Academic Year |
| Start Date | September 2025 |
Higher Technical Qualifications
What are they?
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are practical qualifications that employers have helped develop, to provide you with the right training and skills to succeed at work.
They are ideal if you are;
- looking for a more employer-led study programme and are already on your chosen career path
- wish to gain a qualification and progress at work
- wishing to change the direction of your career
You can study these courses on a full-time or part-time basis around your life and work commitments here at Bradford College.
Our HTQs:
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) – A level 4 vocational qualification, equivalent to the first year of a degree. It takes one year to complete full-time, or two years part-time.
- Higher National Diploma (HND) – A level 5 vocational qualification, equivalent to the first two years of a degree which takes two years to complete full-time, or three to four years if you study part-time.
- Foundation Degree (FdA) – A flexible qualification that combines academic study with work-based learning and can be studied full-time, part-time or by distance learning. Equivalent to the first two years of a degree.
Degrees step by step
You can achieve a degree at your own pace and around your life and work commitments.
| Qualification | Level | Degree Equivalent | Full-time length of study | Part-time length of study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher National Certificate (HNC) | 4 | Equivalent to the first year of a degree | 1 year | 2 years |
| Foundation degree (Fd) | 4/5 | Equivalent to the first two years of a three year degree | 2 years | 3 years |
| Higher National Diploma (HND) | 5 | Equivalent to the first two years of a degree | 2 years | 3-4 years |
Entry requirements
If you’d like to apply for one of our Higher Technical Qualifications (see below) you will need to meet the course entry requirements.
Your application and subsequent entry requirements for these courses are assessed through a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. This allows us to assess your existing skills, prior knowledge and work experience against a given set of standards, competencies, or learning outcomes and then decide whether they can be used as credit on your course.
What do I need to know?
To start a HTQ, you’ll need to be aged 18 or over and live in England.
You can apply for a HTQ while you’re still at school. You can see the full list of HTQs on offer at Bradford College below.
A HNC is a level 4 qualification, which is equivalent to the first year of a degree. You will develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in your subject area that will give you a head start to further study.
A HND is a level 5 qualification, which is equivalent to the first two years of a degree. This qualification can provide you with the key skills and knowledge to prepare you for degree-level study or can be a route into employment.
Work placements are not usually needed on a HTQ, except in some professions.
However, many courses do offer you practical skills and experience through workshops, labs or work experience. Full details are provided on our course pages.
After completing your HTQ, you can:
- look for a job in your chosen career
- go on to further study, such as getting a degree
- volunteer to help build your skills and experience
“I went onto the HNC […] hoping to get more information about my specialist area before progressing onto a degree and it was a great decision for me”
Iqra Sadiq,
HNC Electric and Electronic Engineering Student
