HND vs Degree: Advantages Between HND Over BSc. Holders

Nothing is practically wrong with enrolling for HND or being an HND holder. I would like to distinguish between HND Holders and BSc. Degree Holders. Both of them have advantages than the other. But I have a more marketable preference for HND Holders.

A Higher National Diploma (HND) is an academic higher education qualification of the United Kingdom. Qualification of the same title is also offered in Argentina, India, Malta, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and some other countries with British ties. This qualification can be used to gain entry into universities at an advanced level; it is considered equivalent to a foundation degree or the first two years of a bachelor’s degree.

The House of Reps of the Federal Government of Nigeria has passed a bill to abolish HND/BSc. Dichotomy to close the gap between BSc. Degree and Higher National Diploma. This is the reason recently, in certain agencies, HND holders are upgraded to equal salaries like their degree counterparts.

So what’s your position with your HND?

Advantages Of BSc. Over HND Holders

Let us first look at a series of limitations with Higher National Diploma which Degree holders are not experiencing:

1. Consideration for BSc holders for teaching (education) without further qualifications are common. Whereas, Higher National Diploma Holders are expected to add, PDG – Postgraduate Diploma in Education to their qualification before they can be at the same level.
2. BSc holders are commonly accepted for MSc. admission without further qualifications. While some schools will not admit a Higher National Diploma holder without professional qualifications (such as ICAN etc) or Post Graduate Diploma
3. It is more practiced that BSc holders are assigned with administrative duties at the office rather than practical field duties which their HND counterparts are exposed to.
4. Except in recent cases and to a few government agencies HND holders were formerly employed with Grade Level 7; GL07 compared to Grade Level 08 for BSc holders. Yet, they are still denied the chance of advancing beyond Grade level 14.

Does it then mean it’s a woe to be a holder of HND? No!

Let’s take for the Higher National Diploma holders.

RECOMMENDED: List of Schools that Accepts HND for Masters in Nigeria. 

Advantages of HND Over BSc. Holders

But from a different point of view, things may surprise you if you think Higher National Diploma holders have limited advantages in Nigeria.

Here are the 7 solid reasons why the Higher National Diploma holder has a better advantage over his BSc. Degree counterpart.

Let’s consider some factors carefully listed below:

1. Affordable school fees: Most tuition fee charged by Polytechnics in Nigeria is less than N40,000. As such, education is more affordable polytechnic to all Nigerians, Unlike the University that many of them charge more than N90,000, Such as; LASU, ANSU, EKSU, AAU, and many other universities.
2. Study Abroad Preference: In the USA graduates with Higher National Diploma are preferred than their BSc. counterpart because of the US. places preference for your practical skills than just theoretical knowledge. See How To Apply For Masters With HND To Study Abroad.
3. Quick certificate: Within 2 years, the National diploma ND certificate can lead you to working in enviable positions. To start earning a salary with your certificate doesn’t have to cost you 5 years, and this has been very helpful, especially for those who depend on self sponsorship.
4. Change of study and environment: Yes, this is another benefit of polytechnic education. You can decide to change your course of study after your national diploma if there any reason to do so. More so, you can run a national diploma programme in Lagos and continue your HND in another polytechnic in any part of Nigeria. You can also go further to study at the university in any preferred state.
5. Easy admission: Easy as it sounds, polytechnic admission is less competitive. While some individuals may have been working after university admission for over 5 to 6 years without any breakthrough. Polytechnics have made admission easier, with one or two trials, you will conquer the problem of admission.
6. Job Opportunity: Presently now, some jobs are design only for National Diploma holders and HND holder and as such, there will be lesser competition for those with polytechnic Degree. In some industry like the Banking sector, there will be a specification that only ND certificates are needed for a particular position which excludes BSc. and HND degree holder. You should also remember that to be HND result holder, you must have an ND certificate.
7. Equal Certificate: Things are equal in the polytechnic as all Polytechnic results have the same value either private, northern, eastern, or western polytechnic. However, the Degree certificate is not equal and a federal university certificate is more valuable and wanted than some other degree certificate.
8. Admission by Merits: Admission at some universities is by ‘Who knows who’, money, connection, intelligence, and many other factors. You may have to pay a sum of the money before you can be considered for admission to some university.

With these my points I hope I have been able to strongly convince you that HND Holders have better advantages over BSc. Holders.