What is Higher National Diploma?

A higher national diploma is a work-related qualification offered by UK. It is designed to provide practical knowledge and vocational skills to students who wish to find employment at an early age, and a build a career based on a specific skill set.

The HND certificate can be obtained in Pakistan by completing 2 years of education in an HEC approved institution. You can use this certificate to find jobs, and also study for two more years to convert it into a full-time bachelors degree.

Equivalency of HND in Pakistan?

HND is recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. It is equivalent to the first two years of a bachelors degree, equivalent to Associate Degree Program (ADP). The HND is seen as a work related or vocational training certification in Pakistan. It can also be converted to a 4 years degree program at later stages. After HND, students can also apply for an MBA in HEC recognized institutions of Pakistan. HND certificate is a good qualification to use in professional environments. 

Courses Covered By HND in Pakistan

HND covers up various courses in Pakistan. Some of the most popular HND courses include,

• Business Management
• Engineering
• Computing
• Travel and Tourism Management
• Art and Design
• Creative Media Production

You may want to read: 7 Highest Paying Careers in Pakistan

Eligibility for HND

To apply for HND in Pakistan, you need to meet at least the minimum requirements. These are,

• Completion of higher secondary education (12 years of schooling)          
• At least 17 years of age
• Appropriate English language skills
• Minimum merit requirements of different courses

Scope of HND

The higher national diploma is a very good qualification to have in Pakistan. With an HND you can expect to find out high paying jobs and career growth in your areas of interest and expertise. In this regard the HND courses of business management are more popular.

Since the diploma is designed to prepare you with skills that are in demand by corporations, organizations, and industries, its highly regarded across the country. The scope also depends upon the overall scope of your chosen courses. However, with a polished skill set, you can expect financial stability out of an HND.

Institutions that Offer HND in Pakistan

HEC Pakistan has recognized different institutions across the country for HND. These include,

• NICON Institute of Pakistan
• CONFED School of Professional Studies
• Grafton College of Management
• BRITS Education Excellence
• British Education and Training Systems (BETS)
• Pakistan Educational Foundation (PEF), Post Graduate College
• The Millenium University College (TMUC)
• Institute of Business and Finance
• IVY College of Management Sciences (ICMS)
• Beaconhouse International College
• International Centre of Excellence
• Universal College Islamabad (UCI)

These institutions offer different type of HND courses. You can apply to the ones as per your preferences. 

HND Fee Structure in Pakistan

Generally, HND courses are considered as a more affordable and quick way to enter the job market and land reputable jobs. The fee structure for HND is variable across public and private institutions in Pakistan. The public institutions have comparatively lower fee, while private institutions can charge much higher. Some of the factors that contribute to the determination of fee structures in Pakistan are,

• The type of institution you are choosing
• The courses that you chose (courses of high technical skill requirement may cost higher)
• The city you are choosing
• If you have to pay according to national or international standards

On average the overall fee structure for HND courses in public institutions is between PKR 200,000 to 400,000. In the private sector, the fee structure can variate between PKR 500, 000 to 700,000.

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Best HND Courses for Pakistan

HND courses are highly regarded amongst employers because of their focus on practical learning and skill development. While numerous HND qualifications are available for Pakistan, you should understand which ones are popular and which ones are good for you. The best HND courses include HND in Business Management and HND in Computing/ Digital Technologies.

• HND in Business Management

HND in Business Management is two years qualification that can help students pursue their careers in business management and related fields like human resource management, project management, business development and consultancy etc. In Pakistan, it is equivalent to a two years BA/BSs. You can also study for two years later and convert it into four years bachelors program.

The benefit of this course is that it can help you to prepare for professions in a wider job market. You will be able to get basic and advance skills in more than one business related career. You can also polish these skills further by gaining practical experience, taking more advanced education, courses, or trainings etc.

In Pakistan an HND business management can lead to high paying professions with a starting salary of at least PKR 50,000 or above for fresh graduates. As you grow in your careers you can expect better pays of at least PKR 100000 and above.

Moreover, networks, knowledge and experience in such areas can be a great asset if you plan to start a business of your own and wish to make it grow.

• HND in Computing/ Digital Technologies

HND in Computing is equivalent to the four semesters of a bachelors degree in Pakistan. It is a skill-based qualification that prepares you to pursue careers in computer related areas like programming, web development, networking, cloud computing, game development etc.

The program is designed to meet the requirements of IT industries. Such HND courses focus on technical and soft skill development of students so they are prepared to pursue careers of computer sciences in some of the world’s most competitive places.

The scope of HND computing is wide in Pakistan. As Pakistan, is slowly developing its technology sector, you can expect to find good opportunities with an HND in computing.

The starting salary you can earn in Pakistan with HND computing is around PKR 50,000. Your career growth and salary increase depend upon the organizations and businesses you work with as well as your areas of specialization. On average, you can expect to be earning PKR 200,000 or more if you achieve growth in this profession.

Remember, your aptitude will decide how you will succeed in one or another type of educational path. To know more about yourself and what you should study, contact us now. Click Here.

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