HN Flex

Modular skills solutions for long-term career aspirations

HN Flex gives you a straightforward and adaptable way to offer individual units from our Level 4 and Level 5 Higher National qualifications.

It helps you reach more learners by providing shorter, skills‑focused study options that still contribute to long‑term development.

Enquire about HN Flex

Why choose HN Flex?

HN Flex is built for people who want to keep growing while they work. Many learners use individual Higher National units to support their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or to move forward in their careers. It’s also a practical choice for anyone who wants to upskill, reskill, explore a new sector, or build confidence before starting a longer programme.

In England, two 15‑credit HN Flex units from HTQ‑approved Higher Nationals can be combined into a 30‑credit module. From 2027, this may be eligible for student loan funding through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

Although HN Flex units are not full programmes or standalone qualifications, completing a Level 4 or Level 5 unit provides recognised evidence of learning. Learners receive a Certificate of Unit Achievement (CoUA) to show the knowledge and skills they’ve gained.

Benefits of HN Flex

Students

  • Learn new knowledge, skills and behaviours in a flexible, time‑efficient way without committing to a full qualification.
  • Build your learning step by step by stacking completed units towards a full Higher National qualification later on.
  • Use your progress as a route into a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND).
  • Focus on the specialist skills you want to develop, and upskill or reskill through individual units whenever you need to.
  • Mix and match up to four units from different Higher National subjects to work towards professional body or vendor accreditation.

Educators

  • Offer Higher Nationals in flexible ways that meet the training needs of different partners, including employers and local authorities.
  • Build strong relationships with local employers by supporting the development needs of their teams.
  • Provide CPD opportunities that sit outside traditional qualifications, giving people more ways to grow.
  • Attract a diverse mix of learners back into education, including adults looking for a fresh start.
  • Give students the chance to try out higher‑education level study through short ‘taster’ units that support progression from Level 3 or into HE.
  • Support learners moving from Level 4 to Level 5 with bridging units that help them feel confident about the step up.
  • Offer flexible delivery options, such as short, focused units that can stand alone or be built into a full HN programme, including blended study.

Employers

  • Offer CPD through focused, occupationally relevant units that give people practical skills they can use straight away.
  • Help employers rapidly develop the specific knowledge, skills and behaviours their teams need to grow and adapt.
  • Provide shorter, lower‑investment courses that are easier for employers to support and more appealing to busy staff.
  • Work closely with local colleges to build strong partnerships and create a skills solution tailored to the needs of the region.

Next steps after HN Flex

Students will have studied individual Higher National units which have been adopted from the Ofqual regulated suite of qualifications. Students may be able to use their evidence of learning towards a BTEC Higher National qualification via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process or Higher National top-up. 

Guidelines for adoption of HN Flex

Delivering HN Flex

To support providers we have developed guidance on:

  • How to choose and build your programme
  • Quality assurance for HN Flex
  • Programme approval
  • How to register learners (Edexcel Online)
  • Certification
  • Progression after completing Flex units.

Download your guide

HN Flex units

  • Students may study HN Flex units, assuming they have the prerequisite entry requirements for each level, as detailed in the subject specification.
  • Only 15 credit units will be available via HN Flex, with students being able to achieve a maximum of 60 credits (4 x 15 credit units).
  • Students may study a maximum of four HN Flex units.
  • Students may select a mix of units from the range of subjects that the centre is approved to deliver.

The beauty of HN Flex is it offers bite-sized qualifications that enable you to build building blocks that work with the individual. We have a number of staff who work part time, and HN Flex can support their training by doing a part-time qualification alongside their role.” 

— Petra Williams (Director of Quality, The Bedford College Group and University Centre)

Get in touch

If you would like to find out more about how the delivery of Higher National units could benefit your centre and students, please complete our short form and a member of our team will be in touch to provide you with further information.