- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 8
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HND
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 Year (August to June)
Applications open 15th January 2025
This HND Additional Support Needs - Managing and Supporting the Services course is designed to provide you with a specialist qualification if you want to work with children or adults who have additional support needs, with an emphasis on the management of support services.
The course is designed for those working within the area of additional support needs (ASN) who wish to undertake further professional development or for those who are considering entering the field, who have achieved a related HNC award. This is an intensive course of study with 18 SQA credits delivered over three days per week.
You will also undertake a one-day-per-week extended practical work placement in a related ASN setting as part of the course.
What will I learn?
During the HND Additional Support Needs - Managing and Supporting the Services, you will study a wide range of units that will prepare you for working in the field of additional support needs whilst building your knowledge to progress on to Higher Education or employment.
Units include:
- Effective leadership and management
- Managing quality
- ASN: working in an additional support needs setting
- A graded unit
- Collaborating with other agencies
- Purposes and processes of assessment
- Programme planning
- Business communication
- Promoting inclusion and equality in the workplace
- Working in partnership with people with a learning disability
- Researching post-16 opportunities
- Research skills.
Assessment is continuous.
There is no final examination.
Entry requirements (minimum)
You must have a relevant HNC qualification from the list below:
- HNC Additional Support Needs: Supporting the Individual
- HNC Childhood Practice
- HNC Social Services
- HNC Healthcare Practice
Additional Information
- All qualifications will normally have been achieved in the previous five years
- You will need a PVG check through Disclosure Scotland in order to go out on placement
- You will need to attend an information session about the course.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
You will complete a placement in a related work setting as part of this course.
This course has very strong links with a wide variety of service providers and employers. They often contribute to lectures by visiting the college to discuss their work, role and service partnerships. Through placements and visits to community services, we aim to help students understand the needs of individuals.
Jobs and further study
On the HND Additional Support Needs: Managing and Supporting the Services you will learn about managing services for people who have additional support needs.
The HND is aimed at candidates who wish to develop their knowledge and skills with a view to moving into a more senior role or a management role within their field, or who are seeking a progression route to Higher Education.
Previous graduates from the HND have progressed to a diverse range of job and further study options, including:
- Working with people in additional support needs settings within education, social care, health and third sector services
- Higher education courses in: primary teaching, social work, nursing, occupational therapy, learning disability and counselling.
Take a look at the course progression map for early years courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June/ July.