HND/Cs have served employers well in the past and whilst there is still strong loyalty from the employers in some sectors, the numbers applying for these courses has been gradually declining in recent years. In developing Foundation Degrees there is a real opportunity to learn from the experience of delivering HNDs and to ensure that employers, students and institutions are clear about transitional arrangements.

The DfES, HEFCE, QAA and FDF have been working together with Edexcel to identify how this can be achieved and Edexcel expects that 20,000 HND places will be replaced by FDs by 2006. Edexcel will be announcing their plans for offering BTEC Foundation Degrees validated by regional partner universities. Colleges and universities currently offering HNDs will make decisions about whether they retain their current HND provision, develop their own FDs or move to the new BTEC Foundation Degrees.

The Aimhigher website has a section which provides lots of information on the range of higher education courses available throughout the UK including both Higher National Diplomas and Higher National Certificates.

The Decision Making process of people entering Higher National Diplomas, Dunn C, Wharton H, Coventry Business School, Coventry University