Higher Education

What is Higher Education?

Higher Education qualifications can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the terminology. The first thing to be aware of is the academic level of the course. Level 2 and 3 are equivalent to GCSE and A-Levels respectively.

Higher Education is Level 4 and above. Level 4 is equivalent to the first year of a traditional three-year Bachelor’s degree,  Level 5 to year two and Level 6 to year 3.

Becoming an HRUC Graduate

It’s an exciting time to be a higher education student at HRUC, as alongside your course you also have the opportunity and support to become an HRUC Graduate.

• What is an HRUC Graduate?

  An HRUC Graduate is a student that is studying their higher education qualification at Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) and has also participated in a range of extra-curricular employment related  enrichment opportunities and activities. This includes additional skills, over and above your main qualification, that you have developed as part of your education journey with us.

  As well as gaining high levels of specific industry-related knowledge and skills, there is an ever increasing demand for employees to enter the job market with some proven experience of working in teams, taking initiative and finding creative solutions to complex problems. These employability skills have been widely identified by employers as essential attributes of employees in the modern workplace.

  Whilst studying at the College you will be given opportunities to develop these vital skills in a variety of ways including those directly linked to your qualification for example through group work and presentations and also through trips, visits and competitions.

  Part of this is having access to Skills Builder  - The Universal Framework, an online tool designed to help you assess, develop and record your achievements related to employability. You can find out more about it here: The Universal Framework  and you will be supported to use this to maximise your potential.

• What are the benefits of becoming an HRUC Graduate?

  This is your opportunity to further develop yourself, increase your knowledge and skills, prepare for university or the workplace and gain essential employability skills to enable you to become even more work-ready.

  The great news is that the additional skills you gain will not only make you highly employable but they will be recognised and you will be acknowledged for them!

  By reflecting on your development and recording your achievements, for example teamwork, communication and problem solving, you will be awarded an HRUC Graduate Certificate alongside your main qualification. 

• Will it cost me anything to become an HRUC Graduate?

  There is no extra financial cost to be coming an HRUC Graduate – it is all part of your course. The only investment is the time and effort you put in to develop yourself further and build your skills portfolio to focus on essential employment skills preparing you for your successful future.

• How does it work / how do I get involved?

  If you are enrolled as a higher education student at HRUC, during your induction you will be provided with all the information you need to become an HRUC Graduate. 

  You will work closely with academic and support staff to ensure that the opportunities that you get involved are tailored to your needs to ensure you are developing the right employability skills to help you succeed and to prepare you for further study or to start your career.

Qualifications

These are some examples of higher education qualifications:

• HNC – Higher National Certificate

  Level 4. Extremely popular vocational courses accredited by Pearson, usually one year of study.

• HND – Higher National Diploma

  Level 5. Commonly taken completion of the HNC, usually a further year.

• AAT Certificates  and Diplomas

  These are professional accountancy qualifications which are industry-recognised at Level 4 and 5 respectively.  AAT is the Association of Accounting Technicians, which students join in addition to gaining their qualification.

Progression routes

Our courses are widely recognised self-contained qualifications. However, they come with the option to progress to a full degree at a university. For example, after completing a Level 5 HND, you could top up that qualification at a university to a Level 6, joining for just the final year or two. This usually works out as a cost-effective way to gain a full degree. This also gives you the flexibility of keeping your options open in a changing job market.

Eligibility

Higher education courses generally require you to have Level 3 (A-Level equivalent) qualifications, although your occupational experience may be taken into account if you’ve been out of education for a while.

You also have the option of completing an Access to Higher Education Diploma. This is a Level 3 course but will prepare you for Level 4 and above, including a full degree.

Advantages

1. Flexible qualifications which are recognised by employers in their own right, but can also be topped up to gain a university degree
2. Good teacher-to-student ratios, ensuring you’re not left behind and that support and advice are on hand throughout your course
3. Competitive pricing along with finance options designed to enable people to take part, irrespective of their financial circumstances
4. The opportunity to study from a venue close to where you live so you don’t have to leave your friends and family
5. Teaching by vocationally experienced staff who will pass on their industry knowledge.

Student Finance

Students studying our Level 4 and 5 courses may be eligible to apply for a student loan to cover the cost of their tuition fees and sometimes you can also borrow money to help with living costs.  Loans are repaid once you are working and earning a certain amount. Eligibility criteria applies and please click this link to find out more about student finance. 

Watch the Funding Higher Education 2025/2026 guide for parents/guardians and students for more information:

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

You can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) to cover some of the extra costs you have because of mental health problems, long-term illness or any other disability. You can get the allowances on top of your other student finances. You will not need to repay DSAs.
Please take some time to read through the links below to help you understand what is on offer and what the application process involves. The application process can be lengthy, so applying early is important.

pdf DSA Flowchart (91 KB)  |  pdf DSA FAQs (58 KB)  | DSA Presentation | DSA Presentation - BSL Version.

For further information please see our section on Additional Learning Support.

Policies and Reports 

• Access and Participation Plan

  • Click here to view our Access and Participation Plan

• HRUC Higher Education Fee Summary

  HRUC’s fees have been approved by the Office for Students, and you can view our 2025-26 fee summary  pdf here (34 KB)

• Student Protection Plan

  Student protection plans set out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. The purpose of a plan is to ensure that students can continue and complete their studies, or can be compensated if this is not possible.
  All higher education providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS) must have a student protection plan in place.

  • Click here to read our HRUC Student Protection Plan 

• Creating a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment

  We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students. Sexual harassment of any kind is never tolerated. Our Sexual Harassment Policy outlines your rights, what behaviours are unacceptable, and how we address concerns. If you have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment at College, support is available. You can speak to a member of staff in confidence, and we will guide you through the process.

  • Read our full policy here

• Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom

  • Click here to view our Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom

Terms and Conditions for HE Students

• Click here to view the Terms and Conditions for HE Students.

Online Pearson BTEC HNC Level 4 in Leadership and Management course

HRUC is proud to be part partnering with College Online (a network of leading colleges with a mission to help people learn the skills and knowledge employers want) to offer its first course in Leadership and Management.

The online Pearson BTEC HNC Level 4 in Leadership and Management course is delivered using College Online innovative technology and engaging courseware, and tutored by HRUC.

Course units include:

• The Contemporary Business Environment
• Marketing Process and Planning
• Management of Human Resources
• Leadership and Management
• Accounting Principles
• Managing a Successful Business Project
• Operational Planning and Management
• Digital Business Practice

Please click here for the course handbook containing full course details.

The course is delivered 100% online and you will attend live online tutorials, 6:30pm-9:30pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. Between your live sessions, you will be completing guided learning materials related to your units. These will be available on the online Kortext platform. 

You will need to have access to a PC or Mac computer. Whilst it is possible to access and interact with most course content using a tablet or smartphone, these devices will not work for assessments. For the best performance, College Online content should be used on the current or previous major releases of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari, running on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. 

This is the Leadership and Management course employers value:

• Developed with leading employers, such as the BBC, Capgemini, and IBM
• Delivered in a way that suits your schedule
• Leads to Management level jobs with higher salaries.

The HNC (Level 4) Leadership and Management course helps you develop essential knowledge and core skills. The course will also prepare you for further study at Level 5, and for degree study at Level 6, or entry into the workforce with a foundational introduction to business and its various functions.

College Online is currently accepting applications, click here for more details.

Courses