For the last five years, the first destinations of HND holders have fallen into two main categories: further study, ie progression on to a degree, and employment. In 2000 63% of HND holders entered further study or training and 30% entered employment. This demonstrates that HNDs not only provide access to degrees but also enable students to develop the skills and qualities sought by employers. Students approaching the end of their HND courses need to balance, among other factors, the possible benefits in terms of personal satisfaction and career choice of completing a degree, against the drawbacks of loss of earnings and funding difficulties which may be encountered. For HND holders wishing to progress to a degree, the most straightforward route is within the same institution, into either the second year, or exceptionally the third year, of a related course. However, good HND results are required and there may be competition for places - facts which should be borne in mind by students who enter an HND course as a route to a degree. HND holders progressing into employment enter an enormously wide range of jobs. In a survey of 86 HND holders leaving three higher education institutions in June 2000, 66 (77%) obtained employment directly related to their subject of study. Examples include assistant graphic designers, software engineers, web designers, and clothing product developers. The table below shows the first destinations of HND holders in 1997 and 2000. Unemployment in 2000 was 3.7% compared with 4.7% in 1997. | | The first destinations of diplomates from Higher National Diploma courses, 1997-2000 | | | Numbers graduating
(survey respondents) | Entering employment [%] | Entering further study/ training [%] | Unemployed at time of survey [%] | Other [%] | | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | | All First Degree Subjects | 170,751 | 171,279 | 68.4 | 67.8 | 19.2 | 19.4 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 5.9 | | HND all subjects | 9,410 | 12,299 | 30.4 | 34.5 | 62.5 | 58.1 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 2.7 |
HND holders seeking employment may find that employers are not clear about their policy towards HND. Some will consider HND holders for graduate level jobs, while others will not accept HND for graduate positions but may recruit them for A-level entry jobs. A recent telephone survey of 23 employers advertising graduate vacancies on www.prospects.ac.uk revealed that two thirds would accept applications from HND holders, although this was not stated in their advertisements. Further Resources
For detailed information about employment for HND diplomates, written by AGCAS higher education careers advisers, see your HND...what next?. AGCAS publications are also available in your local higher education careers service, or from CSU, Tel: 0161 277 5271. Useful Web Sites
On this site for a wealth of careers related information by exploring types of work and options with your subjects. Edexcel |
