HNC ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Intro to the course:

With a continued demand for staff with advanced administration and IT skills, and an average annual salary in Scotland of over £28,000 for an office manager, and specialist administrators earning over £23,000 a year, there are good opportunities for those wanting to enter the profession. 

With a particular demand for those with administration and digital IT skills, the HNC course is perfect if you are looking to enter the business world or progress to the second year of the HND before entering year 3 of a university degree course. 

This qualification covers areas such as current administrative practices; IT skills; people skills; personal effectiveness; communication skills and presentation techniques. A range of optional units allows the inclusion of specialist knowledge and skills in human resource management, IT, accounting, business, legal practice, events management, and languages.

Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for anyone wanting to develop a career in IT or administration. It will suit school leavers, adult returners, those looking to change/progress in their career or take their first steps into the industry.

What will I study?

You'll learn about business and digital technologies in today's working environment. You will learn through work placement, groupwork, lectures, industry visits and guest speakers and units may include:

• Microsoft Office applications - word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentations
• office administration
• digital technologies
• business communication
• recording financial transactions
• personal development planning
• graded unit

With the option of specialising in:

• social media and an introduction to web design
• human resource management to achieve a PDA in HR Management

You'll learn about time management, your own personal development, business and digital technologies in today's working environment through work placement, groupwork, lectures, project work, directed study and from industry professionals on site visits and guest speakers.

Next step course options

Direct entry to second year HND Administration and Information Technology

How will I be assessed?

Ongoing assessment through a range of practical activities, candidate folios, self-evaluation, planning and review using secure SQA assessment support packs.

Why should I choose this course?

This course will prepare you for numerous opportunities in the business, administration and IT sector. You'll learn how to use word, databases, spreadsheets and communication skills for administrative management tasks in a fast-moving business environment. Units may also include human resources, marketing and enterprise. 

You will be taught by people with experience of the industry and will have opportunities to participate in industry visits and learning from industry expert guest speakers. 

Where can this course lead?

The HNC and HND Administration and Information Technology provide the skills and knowledge demanded in a modern administrative environment. They allow for progression to employment of a general administrative nature. The combination of mandatory and optional units provides the range of knowledge and skills required within small to medium sized enterprises, with more specialist skills and knowledge typically demanded by larger organisations

Learners who found employment obtained positions in a number of sectors: 

• finance 
• health care 
• hospitality 
• HR
•  IT 
• marketing 
• public sector 
• retail 
• voluntary sector and charity

Posts in these areas include: 

• administrative assistant  or administrator
• clerical assistant, personal assistant, executive assistant 
• administrative supervisor, network administrator, HR administrator, organisation administrator 
• contact centre administrator, customer service administrator 
• team co-ordinator 
• receptionist
• retail supervisor 
• finance officer 
• conference officer, office manager

What are the entry requirements?

Any of the following: 

• one Higher 
• relevant group of SQA National Qualifications at SCQF level 6 
• equivalent recognised qualification 
• relevant current work experience 
• a keen interest in the subject area and successful performance at interview

If English is not your first language, ESOL at an appropriate level or IELTS or equivalent with an entry score of 5.5 or above is preferred

What are the interview arrangements?

Your offer of a place will be based on your application. 

Fees, finance and funding:

Fees and finances for full time:

There may be help available to assist with your study related costs. Impartial, confidential help and advice on financial matters is available from the Student Funding Team - including Bursaries, Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Loans Company and student support funds.

Click here to find out more about fees, finance and funding options.

Other information:

The HNC course also includes two Professional Development Awards: PDA in Information Technology in Business, PDA in Office Administration.  Graduates of the HNC and HND Administration and Information Technology are eligible for member grade membership of the Institute of Administrative Management (MInstAM). For more information see www.instam.org