NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

In the early stages of a university degree, a student may change course, without losing academic credit. This becomes
increasingly difficult after the first year. The holder of a DipHE could also obtain a degree after one or two years of further
study.
II.3. Final qualifications in higher education
II.3.1. Final qualifications in non-university higher education
Non-university awards can be conferred by:
the BTEC (diplomas and certificates);
the institutions that give the course.
The established levels of sub-degree awards are:
national certificate (NC),
higher national certificate (HNC),
national diploma (ND),
higher national diploma (HND).
Certificate and higher certificate
Courses of study for a certificate are part-time and last two or three years, depending on the field. They must include a
minimum of 10 units. Such certificate programmes were originally intended for people already working in the field and thus
gaining their practical experience on the job.
Diploma and higher diploma
Courses of study for the diploma are full-time and last two years, although there are also three-year varieties that include one
year of work-study. They must cover a minimum of 16 units.
The programmes for BTEC certificates are concentrated mainly in the economic-administrative and technical sectors, for
example business studies, computer studies, management studies, marketing, engineering, and hotel, catering and institutional
management. There are also many different diplomas in the fields of art and design, and the physical sciences. BTEC courses
are developed locally on the basis of national criteria laid down by BTEC. Students are assessed locally through continuous
assessment moderated by BTEC.
II.3.2. Final university qualifications
These are awarded when the student successfully completes the examinations, projects or dissertations prescribed by the
subject regulations. The examinations are administered by the institution itself.
They may be set and marked by the staff who teach the courses. An external (visiting) examiner moderates all degree
examinations. Courses are increasingly expressed in terms of units which permit the student to accumulate credits.
The student’s study load varies from a low number of contact hours per week in an arts subject, to allow time for independent,
self-directed
private study, to a very high number in medicine or engineering where there is much observation and practice.
The student is sometimes required to undertake a research paper or project, as part of his/her work for a first degree. This is
not to be confused with the more demanding dissertation (for the Master’s degree) and the thesis (for the doctorate).