What exactly is an ONC

[nick_richards86]

Is an ONC a foundation to get you onto a HNC? Or provided that you have done the course specific pre HNC qualiforcations can you go straight into it? For example I would like to further my learning within civil engineering. I would like to do an A-Level in maths/physics and progress onto a HNC. Would that be the right sort of path to do this?

[DocHH]

Nick
I found these links which might help explain the levels,

http://en.wikipedia.o..._National_Certificate

http://en.wikipedia.o..._National_Certificate

In my day, a long time ago, when there were also Technical Colleges, rather than all Further Education establshments being Universities, the ONC/HNC/OND/HND route through the educational system was considered by Employers to produce more practically biased employees, and the degree route to produce more theoretically biased employees. In my humble opinion, by making all Further Education establishments Universities has lead to a dumbing down of the value of a degree, and thereby disappointing lots of new graduates, whose job expectations had been falsely heightened. It has also lead to a situation where "self-funding" is now an issue, rather than State funding for the most able.
Rant over, hope this helps. I would suspect that by going the A-level/ONC/HNC route you will place yourself in the job market as being practical. I believe that many HNC courses also include work experience time, very valuable. My own first degree did that. You might even find that the Employer with whom you do work experience will take you on after you finish your course.
Sorry if I have waffled on, but I wanted to be as comprehensive as possible. I apologise for any typos! Good luck in your career.

[fivish]

Many years ago (1969) you could become an apprentice and do ONC on block release while being paid. You could then go to university (on a grant) as an ONC was equivalent to A levels. Or you could do HNC on block release (while being paid) and top up with a 3rd year of supplimentaries (day release/night classes, still being paid) to make it equivalent to a batchelors degree.
The ONC meant taking five subjects for two years. Its a very intensive course, certainly having as much if not more content than A levels. The HNC is also very intensive, perhaps more so than a degree if you add up the hours of tuition.