About Next Generation Higher National Qualifications

We are now adapting our Higher National qualifications to give learners the skills they need to thrive in the modern workplace. The adapted qualifications are called Next Generation Higher National (or NextGen: HN) qualifications.

What's different about NextGen: HN?

NextGen HNCs and HNDs are stand-alone qualifications, each made up of 120 SCQF credit points. Here are some other ways they differ from existing HNs:

Development of NextGen: HNs

Each NextGen: HN qualification is initially developed as a ‘prototype’, which is then piloted and evaluated. NextGen: HN prototypes are valid qualifications, sitting at SCQF Level 7 (HNC) and Level 8 (HND).

Use the tabs below to open each section individually. Alternatively you can show all the sections.

The development of Next Gen: HN qualifications follows a service design model, focusing on meeting the needs of learners and centres, with an emphasis on continuous improvement and collaboration.

This approach allows us to challenge and evaluate aspects such as our design principles, grading models and approach to quality assurance.

Ongoing evaluation and feedback from learners, centres, deliverers, staff and other stakeholders helps us learn lessons and refine our approaches to inform the final model for NextGen: HN qualifications.

This iterative development approach provides ongoing opportunities for reflection, review and change, but also means that some details – such as knowledge, skills and learning outcomes of draft Units; grading models and rubrics – can only be confirmed after these processes have been worked through.

We will provide all stakeholders with as much clarity as possible as the pilots develop and details are confirmed.

NextGen: HN development cycle (287 KB)

The Minimum Viable Product document explains the concept of a minimum viable product and why we are using this approach in NextGen: HN. It also looks at what a NextGen: HN minimum viable product will consist of.

HNC Accounting

  • Edinburgh College

HND Accounting

  • Edinburgh College
  • City of Glasgow College

HNC Acting and Performance

  • Glasgow Kelvin College
  • West College Scotland

HNC Agriculture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)

HND Agriculture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)

HNC Childhood Practice

  • Glasgow Clyde College
  • South Lanarkshire College

HNC Computing

  • New College Lanarkshire
  • NESCOL

HNC Engineering (Engineering Systems)

  • UHI

HNC Horticulture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
  • UHI

HND Horticulture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
  • UHI

HND Networking and Cloud Infrastructure

  • NESCOL
  • New College Lanarkshire

HNC Physical Activity and Health

  • Dundee and Angus College
  • New College Lanarkshire

HND Physical Activity and Health

  • Dundee and Angus College
  • New College Lanarkshire

HND Radio

  • City of Glasgow College

HNC Social Sciences

  • Dumfries and Galloway College
  • West College Scotland

HND Social Sciences

  • West College Scotland

HNC Social Services

  • Ayrshire College
  • Dundee and Angus College
  • VSA SVQ Centre

HND Software Development

  • NESCOL
  • New College Lanarkshire

HNC Television

  • Edinburgh College
  • New College Lanarkshire
  • NESCOL

HND Television

  • Edinburgh College
  • New College Lanarkshire
  • NESCOL

HNC Accounting

  • Edinburgh College
  • City of Glasgow College
  • UHI Inverness

HND Accounting

  • City of Glasgow College

HNC Acting and Performance

  • Glasgow Kelvin College
  • West College Scotland

HND Acting and Performance

  • Glasgow Kelvin College
  • West College Scotland

HNC Agriculture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)

HND Agriculture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)

HNC Childhood Practice

  • Glasgow Clyde College
  • South Lanarkshire College

HNC Computing

  • New College Lanarkshire
  • NESCOL
  • City of Glasgow College

HNC Engineering

  • UHI - Engineering Systems pathway
  • City of Glasgow College - Mechanical Engineering pathway

HNC Horticulture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
  • UHI

HND Horticulture

  • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
  • UHI

HND Networking and Cloud Infrastructure

  • NESCOL
  • New College Lanarkshire

HNC Physical Activity and Health

  • Dundee and Angus College
  • New College Lanarkshire
  • Glasgow Clyde College

HND Physical Activity and Health

  • Dundee and Angus College
  • New College Lanarkshire

HNC Social Sciences

  • Dumfries and Galloway College
  • West College Scotland

HND Social Sciences

  • West College Scotland

HNC Social Services

  • Ayrshire College
  • Dundee and Angus College
  • VSA SVQ Centre

HND Software Development

  • NESCOL
  • New College Lanarkshire

HNC Television

  • City of Glasgow College (Delivering Centre)
  • West College Scotland (Delivering Centre)
  • Edinburgh College (Delivering Centre)
  • New College Lanarkshire (Delivering Centre)
  • NESCOL (Delivering Centre)

HND Television

  • City of Glasgow College (Delivering Centre)
  • West College Scotland (Delivering Centre)
  • Edinburgh College (Delivering Centre)
  • New College Lanarkshire (Delivering Centre)
  • NESCOL (Delivering Centre)

Separate to the qualifications being piloted, the following NextGen: HN qualifications are currently being developed:

  • HNC/D Administration and Information Technology
  • HNC/D Beauty Therapy
  • HNC/D Built Environment Suite
  • HNC/D Complementary Therapies
  • HNC/D Creative Industries (Art)
  • HNC/D Creative Industries (Performance)
  • HNC Healthcare Practice
  • HND Assistant Healthcare Practitioner

We will confirm by the end of August 2024 when these qualifications will be available for centres to deliver as a pilot.

  • What is NextGen: HN? - this SQA Academy module gives an overview of the programme
  • SQA Academy - other learning modules on NextGen: HN are also available
  • Case studies - how we worked with centres to develop and pilot the first NextGen: HNs
  • Blogs - keep up to date by reading the NextGen: HN blog