Higher National Certificate (HNC) Business (Online)
Course overview
There is also the option to study this course full-time.
The Pearson Higher National Certificate (HNC) Business (Online) helps you develop as a professional, self-reflecting individual, able to meet the demands of employers in the business sector and adapt to a constantly changing world. The qualification offers a nationally-recognised, higher-education qualification and the chance to enhance your career prospects. This is an ideal course for those who are looking to add to their CV, develop or change their career.
The HNC in Business is a modular business programme delivered fully online by our teachers through our Virtual Learning Environment. When you study with Activate Learning, you will belong to a group of students studying the HNC and have regular one to ones, group interactions and taught sessions with a team of highly-qualified and experienced teachers with business experience.
We understand the unique needs of students studying online; we appreciate that they may be juggling work, family, and other commitments, and at Activate Learning we are experienced in supporting people in those positions. We have a dedicated team of Higher Education Study Support Tutors who are on hand if you need additional help.
After successfully completing the eight units for the HNC, you can progress to our HND in Business Management and complete another eight units. We offer excellent progression so once you have achieved your HND you can continue your studies and ‘Top Up’ to a BA (Hons) degree (subject to meeting entry requirements).
The HNC qualification offers a solid foundation in business aimed at students who would like a broad knowledge of all business concepts. This is ideal for students interested in business and with entrepreneurial, employment or academic aspirations.
Tuition Fees
Home/EU* Fee for September 2023 entry: £3,265 per year
Please note: Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
*Fee information for European Union (EU) students: If your course starts on or after the 1st August 2021, you will no longer be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England unless you meet one of the following criteria:
- you are able to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreements
- you are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland – benefits of Irish nationals under Common Travel Area guidance arrangement will continue
If you are interested in this course and would like an informal, no-obligation chat about the details of the course, how to sign up, or anything else, please get in touch and we’d be happy to help!
The HNC in Business has six core units:
- Business and the Business Environment
- Marketing Processes and Planning
- Human Resource management
- Leadership and Management
- Accounting Principles
- Managing a Successful Business Project
In addition, we deliver 2 specialist units:
- Business law
- Operations Management
You will therefore study eight units in total. Teaching on the part-time course is spread over two years.
Each year is divided into two semesters, two units will be delivered in each 16-week semester. Four units in the first year and four units in the second year.
The HNC will also develop your academic writing and research skills and give you the opportunity to develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving.
Our HNC in Business is a distance learning modular business programme delivered online by our teachers through our Virtual Learning Environment.
‘Face-to-face’ lectures will be available via our conferencing facility so you can engage with tutors in real time. You will also have access to Pearson approved online learning activities that you can also access through our Virtual Learning Environment.
These activities allow you to develop and expand your learning in your own time and are remotely supervised by your tutor. Every student will have regular one to one progress meetings and group workshops and tutorials with dedicated unit tutors.
Each week we will provide you with approximately two hours of tutor led learning for each unit, giving a total of four hours per week, this is supported by an additional eight hours of monitored online learning. In addition, we would recommend that you allocate a minimum of two hours per week for independent study.
We understand the unique needs of students studying online; we understand you may be juggling work, family, and other commitments, and at Activate Learning we are experienced in supporting you to effectively manage these demands.
We also have a dedicated team of Higher Education Study Support Tutors who are on hand if you need additional help.
If you feel that you require additional support with your studies, you will be eligible to access some discrete sessions in one of the following areas:
- assistive software training
- IT upskilling
- essay planning and structure
- proofreading and editing written work
- bibliographies and referencing
- time management and personal organisation
- presentation techniques
Additional requirements and costs
As this programme is delivered online to complete the course you will need reliable WiFi and a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone. Textbooks are available from our library, but you may wish to purchase personal copies of the core texts These will cost approximately £100
- A minimum of 64 UCAS points, or
- Relevant Access to Higher Education Diploma, or
- Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business or related subject, at a Merit
- And GCSE grade 4 or above in Maths and English. Other L2 qualifications in English and Maths may be accepted.
Other entry routes
We will consider a range of alternative qualifications or experience equivalent to the typical offer. Contact us for details of you believe your experience is relevant or you have different quaificatons to those stated.
English language
Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate that their level of English is acceptable, by achieving a score in a recognised test such as:
- British Council IELTS: normally minimum level 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in the reading and writing components
Applicants should apply online through the Activate Learning website.
As this programme is delivered online to complete the course you will need reliable WiFi and a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone. Textbooks are available from our library, but you may wish to purchase personal copies of the core texts. These will cost approximately £100.
Alternatively enrol by phone quoting OXPHNCDBUS or ask a question
Meet the tutors
We want our learners to feel welcome, safe and at ease when attending our classes, especially if this is your first time attending an adult education class or if you're coming back to education after a break.
If you're interested in one of courses, meet our tutors first! You'll see they have similar passions and interests and, most importantly, the right qualifications to help you make the most of your time and money.
