Administration and Information Technology HND

Course code 75NG

What is special about this course?

Businesses and other organisations rely upon people with good skills in administration and information technology.

This more advanced course can help your career by providing you with the high level of practical and problem solving skills you need to improve your job prospects.

Special features

  • You will acquire advanced IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, database and desktop publishing
  • You will also benefit from the study of generic business skills such as managing change and developing teams
  • Completion of this course may provide credit towards a number of professional qualifications including Institute of Qualified Private Secretaries, Institute of Administrative Management and Association of Secretaries
  • You can study full time or part time to suit your personal and professional circumstances*

*available modes of study will vary, depending on which UHI Campus you are applying to study with

Entry requirements

  • 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above, preferably English, Administration, Business or Accountancy OR
  • 2 A Levels at grade D or above, preferably English, Administration, Business or Accountancy
  • Direct entry to year 2 may be possible with an HNC Administration and Information Technology
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis

Year 1 - HNC

Year 1 of the HND is HNC Administration and Information Technology.

Year 2 - HND

Mandatory units are:

  • Communication: business communication
  • Developing the individual within a team
  • Digital technologies for administrators
  • Graded Unit I: administration and information technology
  • Graded Unit II: administration and information technology
  • Graded Unit III: administration and information technology
  • Information and communication technology in business
  • IT in business - databases, advanced databases
  • IT in business - spreadsheets, advanced spreadsheets
  • IT in business - word processing, presentation applications, advanced word processing
  • Office administration
  • Office management
  • Presentation skills
  • Personal development planning
  • Recording financial transactions

Optional units may include:

  • Administrative procedures
  • Behavioural skills for business
  • Business accounting
  • Business contractual relationships
  • Business culture and strategy
  • Business law: an introduction
  • Creating a culture of customer care
  • Digital marketing communications: an introduction
  • Economic issues: an introduction
  • Getting started in business
  • Hospital patient administration
  • Human resource management: an introduction
  • Human resource management: core activities
  • IT in business - word processing, spreadsheets and databases: an introduction
  • Managing people and organisations
  • Marketing: an introduction
  • Medical terminology for administration staff
  • Payroll
  • Personal enterprise skills
  • Publishing on the internet
  • Research skills
  • Statistics for business
  • Using financial accounting software
  • Visual communications: social media
  • Work experience

Option units available may vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus.

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)

Full-time and part-time students:

  • Dependent on your chosen location, you may study face-to-face, online using our virtual learning environment (VLE), or a combination of both

Distance learning:

  • You will study almost entirely via our VLE. You will be set deadlines each semester but can undertake your studies at times that suit your own schedule. Some support sessions may also be arranged at set times, as agreed with your tutor

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 2 years (HNC + HND)
  • Part-time (structured): 4 years (HNC + HND)

Where can I study my course?

  • Argyll
  • North, West and Hebrides - online only (not available to study in 2024/25)
  • Perth
  • You will be enrolled at your nearest UHI campus - available modes of study will vary, depending on which UHI Campus you are applying to study with
  • Students based near Inverness, Moray or Shetland should apply to our HNC Administration and Information Technology

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285
Part-time (per HN credit) £86 £86

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,110
Part-time (per HN credit) £474 £474

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,980 £8,775
Part-time (per HN credit) £532 £585

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

On completion of your course you will be qualified for employment at senior level in office administration, supervisory level administration, or as a personal assistant or secretary.

Is there more information available online?

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I had been working in administration for 11 years and felt it was time to upskill and refresh some brain cells, so I decided to study HNC Administration and Information Technology. Initially I was nervous as to whether I was too old or if I would have time to dedicate to my studies. 

Despite my worries, all the staff were so helpful and supportive and there was an option to study not only part time but also online both at my local centre in Portree and from home. This meant I could study, work and raise my family at the same time. We covered many interesting units and I learnt so much. It has shown me that you are never too old to learn new skills and learning can be so flexible to fit around your life. I feel fortunate to be able to have completed this course without moving away to a city.

Katrina Macleod studied Administration and information technology at UHI North, West and Hebrides.

Apply for Administration and Information Technology HND

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.