From diploma to degree
Getting your HNC or HND is a great achievement and gives you a valuable qualification that will help you build for the future. Your next step might be to get a job and earn some money, either in a field you’ve worked in before or a completely new area, but either now or at a later date, the chances are you’ll want to develop your skills even further to improve your job prospects or progress your career.
A BA or BSc degree with The Open University offers a natural progression from your current diploma to a degree, and provides a flexible way for you to fit learning around your working life.
Level 1, 2 or 3?
Open University courses are offered at different levels – Levels 1, 2 or 3, and are also mapped to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). An HNC is broadly equivalent to Open University study at Level 1 and an HND encompasses both Level 1 and Level 2 study. Depending on what you’ve studied already, you may be able to transfer credit from your previous studies and begin at Level 2 or 3 – with Level 3 study being Honours Degree Level.
Transferring credit from your HNC, HND or SVQ qualification
To qualify for a BA or BSc Open Degree without Honours you need to accumulate a minimum of 300 credits. For a BA or BSc Open Degree with Honours you need at least 360 credits. You can claim credit transfer for your HNC, HND or eligible SVQs towards the requirements of your Open University degree. The number of credit transfer credits you can use will depend on the type of Open University degree you chose to work towards. For example, you can transfer a maximum of 180 credits towards a 300 credit BA or BSc Open Degree without Honours and up to 240 credits towards a 360 credit BA or BSc Open Degree with Honours.
You can use your existing qualifications to transfer credit and reduce the time it will take you to get a degree. From 2012, credit for existing qualifications is awarded in multiples of 30 credits.
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Your current qualification*
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Number of credits available for transfer
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Additional credits required for BA/BSc (Open) Degree
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Additional credits required BA/BSc (Open) Degree with Honours
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|---|---|---|---|
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SVQ Level 4
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Between 60 and 120 (dependant on qualification)
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Minimum of 120 at Level 1/2 and 60 at Level 3
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A further 60 required at Level 3
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HNC
(12 credits) |
90 at Level 1
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30 at Level 1,120 at Level 2 and 60 at Level 3
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|
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HNC
(15 credits) |
120 at Level 1
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120 at Level 2 and 60 at Level 3
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|
|
HND
(30 credits) |
180 (to include at least 60 at Level 2)
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60 at Level 2 and 60 at Level 3
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|
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HND
(30 credits) |
240 (to include at least 120 at Level 2)
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120 at Level 3
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*Please note, only HN units at SCQF Levels 7 and 8 are eligible for credit transfer
BA or BSc Open Degree
The table above outlines the options open to you for the BA or BSc Open Degree only. There are specific credit transfer schemes that apply to Honours degrees in named subjects. Find out more about how to apply for a credit transfer towards your Open University course
Honours classifications
If you are studying for an Honours degree, your honours classification (first, upper second, lower second or third class) will depend on the grades you achieve for Open University courses at Level 2 or above. Whatever your award for credit transfer, you always have to complete at least 120 credits at Level 3 with the Open University in order to qualify for an Honours degree. Since Open University supported study is probably different to the way you’ve studied at college, you could choose to take a Level 2 module first to help you get used to the study style before you start on Level 3 (however from autumn 2012 there could be a limit on the amount of study you can count towards you degree, and it may not be possible to link any additional preparatory study to the qualification).
