HNC/HND Business at SCQF levels 7 and 8

The HNC and HND in Business are designed to provide a broad understanding of business organisations and the environment in which they operate. Candidates who achieve these qualifications may go on to study further academic and professional qualifications or embark on an administrative, managerial or commercial career.
The HND has a strong managerial focus which helps successful candidates to progress to management roles. In addition, the wide range of options enables candidates to progress to specialist roles such as human resource management, marketing, and financial services.
These qualifications are widely available in colleges.
Centre/Candidate Surveys – 2017/18
We like to get annual feedback from teaching staff involved in delivering and assessing:
HNC Business (G9ML 15)
HND Business (G9MM 16)
and from students who have undertaken the qualifications.
We would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the relevant survey, which will help us to evaluate the qualifications.
The surveys will close on 29 June 2018.
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Why deliver this qualification
The HNC and HND in Business qualifications are based on employer needs established through a robust consultation and validation process. The qualifications therefore provide skills required by industry and business.
Achievement is certificated and nationally recognised.
The qualifications can be tailored to the needs and circumstances of candidates. They can be delivered on a part-time or open-learning basis, and teaching and assessment can be aligned to the candidate’s job role if appropriate.
Who does this qualification suit
HNC and HND Business qualifications are designed for candidates who wish to pursue a career in business — but don’t wish to commit themselves to a specialist area at the outset.
They are suitable for a wide range of candidates including:
- school leavers
- adult returners to education
- those in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects those who are, or wish to be, self-employed and require a broad grounding in business
Access
Access is at the discretion of the centre. Examples of appropriate entry qualifications are:
- NC Business at SCQF level 5
- Business Management Higher (SCQF level 6)
- relevant National Qualifications or National Qualification Group Awards at SCQF level 5 or 6 any two National Qualifications at Higher level together with three Standard Grade passes at 3 or above
- an SVQ Level 2 or 3 in a relevant area
Candidate Information
HNC and HND Business will prepare candidates for entry to a wide range of job roles within business organisations.
Progression
The HNC and HND Business enable candidates to acquire skills and knowledge in key business functions such as management, marketing, and finance.
These qualifications also help enhance relevant knowledge and skills in economics, communication, problem solving and information and communication technology.
Successful candidates also have the option to go on to further study at an equivalent or higher level.
Approval
Centres with devolved authority are eligible to seek approval through their own internal approval process.
Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact the Business Development Team for guidance in completing the combined CA1/SA1 form.
Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements as outlined in the guide to approval.
Specific approval requirements
Centres require ICT facilities for the delivery and assessment of the following Units:
IT in Business: Spreadsheets (F84V 34)
IT Applications Software 1 (D75X 35)
Information and Communication Technology in Business (F84W 35)
Centres should keep up-to-date with developments in legislation and business practices relevant to the knowledge and skills within the Group Awards.
How to assess
Assessment is on an ongoing Unit-by-Unit basis. Each individual Unit specification provides detailed information on the Evidence Requirements and guidance on approaches to assessment.
Candidates will also be assessed via a Graded Unit towards the end of the programme. The purpose of Graded Units is to grade the candidate’s ability to integrate the knowledge and skills gained in the mandatory Units.
The Graded Units are:
- Business: Graded Unit 1 (F8LD 34) Examination based on a seen case study at SCQF level 7
- Business: Graded Unit 2: (F8LE 35) Project Investigation at SCQF level 8
Where can you take this course?
Qualification content and delivery tools
Current
Group Award Specification
Title: | HNC and HND Business |
Code: | G9ML 15 and G9MM 16 |
Date: | Version 23 (October 2017) |
Download: | HNC and HND Business Arrangement Document |
Assessment Exemplars/Assessment Support Packs
Qualification Verification Summary Reports
Qualification Verification Summary Reports were formerly known as Internal Assessment Reports.
2017
- HN Business Management and Business Graded Unit 2017 Qualification Verification Summary Report (174 KB)
2016
- HN Business Graded Unit Internal Assessment Report 2016 (85 KB)
- HN Economics Internal Assessment Report 2016 (155 KB)
2015
Guidance on Updating Units with Tax Content
SOLAR formative assessment
OpenAssess (www.sqasolar.org.uk/openassess ) is a facility which enables the delivery of formative assessments to support learning within SQA Qualifications. It is part of the SOLAR suite of applications that SQA use to deliver assessment across a range of qualifications. We have released a limited number of formative assessments to support Business, Accounting and Administration and IT Higher National awards. These cover topics such as Meeting skills, employee motivation techniques and Payroll.
The full list of all assessments available through SOLAR, both formative and summative is available on the SOLAR website at www.sqasolar.org.uk
SOLAR Formative Assessment | ||||
Additional Information |
Assessment Title |
Unit Title |
Unit No |
Topics covered |
Topic-based formative questions. 11 questions |
Marketing: An Introduction |
Marketing: An Introduction |
F7BX 34 |
ALL |
Topic-based formative questions. 13 questions |
Behavioural skills for Business |
Behavioural skills for Business |
F7BX 34 |
ALL |
Qualifications Support Team (QST) - Action Grids
Events
Guidance on updating Units with Tax Content
Error Tolerance Guidance for HN Accounting Units
- Error Tolerance Guidance for HN Accounting Units (95 KB)
July 2017
Lapsing
These Group Awards have been replaced by G9ML 15 and G9MM 16 with G7D9 15 finished 31/07/2013 and G7DA 16 finishing 31/07/2014.
Centres should note that when a Group Award is entered into its lapsing period, the following will apply:
- the Group Award will be deleted from the relevant catalogue
- the Group Award Arrangement document will remain until the qualification reaches its finish date at which point it will be removed form SQA website and archived
- no new centres may be approved to offer the Group Award
- centres should only enter candidates whom they expect to complete the Group Award during the defined lapsing period of 3 years for HNC and 4 years for HND.
Group Award Specification
Title: | HNC and HND Business |
Code: | G7D9 15 and G7DA 16 |
Date: | Version 13 (November 2013) |
Download: | HNC and HND Business Arrangement Document (801 KB) |
Subject-specific information
Related links
Contact Information
- Candidate Enquiries
- 0345 279 1000
- Centre Enquiries
- 0303 333 0330
Qualifications
- National Qualifications
- Awards
- Baccalaureates
- HNCs and HNDs
- Core Skills
- SQA Advanced Qualifications
- International Vocational Awards (IVAs)
- NCs and NPAs (NQGA)
- Professional Development Awards (PDA)
- Qualifications for England and Wales
- Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ)
- MySector
- Sector specific
- Skills for Work
- Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
- Qualification Development Toolkit
- Journeys