Introducing Licensed Higher Nationals - How do Licensed Higher Nationals work? - Licence and benefits overview

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

Licensed Higher Nationals outlines how UK Higher Education Institutions can offer BTEC Higher Nationals under licence, keeping control of teaching, assessment, awarding, and certification while Pearson’s content stays protected. It explains the IP Licence and Trademark Licence, including programme design rules, alignment requirements, and scope at Levels 4 (HNC) and 5 (HND). The document details institutional benefits such as expanded offerings, reduced costs, stronger employer links, progression pathways, and reported sector impact plus partner success stories.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

How do Licensed Higher Nationals work?

IP Licence

Trademark (TM) Licence

Licence Scope and Types

How Licensed Higher Nationals benefit your institution

Impact

Success stories

Your step-by-step guide to getting started

Introducing Licensed Higher Nationals © [Mediteraneo-stock.adobe.com](Mediteraneo-stock.adobe.com) How do Licensed Higher Nationals work? BTEC Higher Nationals are vocational higher education qualifications. They’re equal to the first two years of a university degree and help students to move directly into jobs or further study. If your UK-based Higher Education Institution (HEI) has Degree Awarding Powers (DAP) , you can offer Higher Nationals under licence. This means you stay in control of teaching, assessment, awarding and certification, while reaping all the benefits of offering a Higher National qualification. Intellectual Property (IP) Licence With this licence, your HEI can use the full range of Higher Nationals, including Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), as your own validated awards. You’ll be responsible for quality assurance, awarding, and certification, while Pearson’s content remains protected. Trademark (TM) Licence With this licence, your HEI designs, approves, delivers, and awards the programme as its own, using the “Higher Nationals” trademark. The course content must align with BTEC Higher Nationals only when the programme title matches or closely resembles a BTEC qualification . Mapping the core content ensures recognition by employers and professional bodies, as well as smoother progression onto a degree. You’ll have the freedom to design what works best foryour students, while maintaining the trusted reputation of the Higher Nationals brand. Licence Scope: ■ You can use the name “Higher Nationals”(not “BTEC” or “Pearson”) . ■ Covers Higher Nationals, including HTQs, at Level 4 (HNC) and Level 5 (HND) . Licence Types How Licensed Higher Nationals can benefit your institution Licensed Higher Nationals give you the flexibility to deliver trusted, globally recognised vocational qualifications in away that works best foryour institution. They’re designed to support student success, meet employer needs, and strengthen your offer. Licensed Higher Nationals also allow HEIs to… Expand programme offerings and attract more students Promote wider participation, improve employment outcomes, and support levelling-up initiatives Reduce development costs and gain efficiencies Integrate Higher Nationals within existing degree programmes Facilitate smooth progression to Level 6 degrees Maintain control over delivery, assessment, quality, awarding, and certification Enhance partnerships with local colleges Boost your civic role by addressing local skills gaps Provide qualifications that are recognised and valued by industry Offer qualifications as part of apprenticeships, meeting both occupational and professional standards Increase access to higher education Boost job prospects for graduates Ease financial pressure on students Impact | | Over 170,000 students have studied a Higher National delivered through a licensed agreement | | --- | --- | | More than 30 HEIs now offer them 23% growth in Licensed Higher Nationals over the past five years
83% increase in HNDs under the Trademark Licence since 2019, making it the most popular choice among our partners | | © Getty Images/FG Trade © Getty images/Pek ic Success stories Here’s how Licensed Higher Nationals have made a difference to our partners, their students, and the local community. “Licensed Higher Nationals enabled us to collaborate with local employer CPWto create a tailored HNC in Building Services Engineering for apprentices . The flexible HN framework let us adapt modules to industry needs, and the partnership has supported CPW’s workforce growth. We’ve now expanded this offer to more regional employers, and it’s gained popularity due to strong industry recognition and employer confidence in HN’s quality and relevance .” – Rosa Wells, Further Education Principal at University College Birmingham “Our partnership with Pearson is a further example of our innovative approac

FAQs

What does it mean for an HEI to offer Higher Nationals under licence?

If an HEI has Degree Awarding Powers, it can offer Higher Nationals under licence, retaining control over teaching, assessment, awarding, and certification while Pearson’s content remains protected.

What is the difference between the IP Licence and the Trademark Licence?

Under the IP Licence, the HEI uses Higher Nationals as validated awards while focusing on quality assurance, awarding, and certification. Under the Trademark Licence, the HEI designs, approves, delivers, and awards the programme using the “Higher Nationals” trademark, with content alignment depending on the programme title.

What are key benefits of Licensed Higher Nationals for institutions?

They provide flexibility to deliver trusted vocational qualifications, expand programme offerings, reduce development costs, integrate within degree programmes, support progression to Level 6, and strengthen employer and local college partnerships.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine