Students at Sunderland College attend in-class teaching sessions every three weeks and spend the rest of their time studying online, with an option for individual time with the tutor when required.
BTEC Higher Nationals HN Online

HN Online is a digital solution created by Pearson that enables delivery of BTEC Higher National qualifications through optimised blended learning.
As we move into an increasingly virtual world, blended learning is fast becoming a highly-favoured delivery method for all types of education institutions. This is for good reason. Blended learning applied correctly can enhance student experience and results, maximise tutor efficiency, while optimising the use of technology.
Adopting blended delivery for BTEC Higher Nationals
Adopting a blended learning model can be a costly and time-consuming process for institutions. HN Online takes much of the strain by offering institutions a platform that is ready-to-go.
HN Online is a digital solution built around a diverse range of learning tools, including video case studies, interactive exercises and self-assessment questions. When online, students have access to all critical course content within a self-paced digital platform.
This enables you to focus on delivering high value face-to-face teaching and assessment support for the times students are in the classroom.

At North Warwickshire South Leicestershire College, blended learning allows the centre to grow their provision while delivering a qualification in a more engaging and interactive way.
Why use HN Online?
HN Online allows you to easily adopt and deliver BTEC Higher National qualifications through an optimised blended learning approach. It enables a combination of online and in-college learning, giving students more flexibility to study around other commitments and helping colleges to recruit students who might struggle to attend a fully face-to-face programme.
Benefits to centres | Benefits to tutors | Benefits to students |
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Course content
All digital content is aligned to the learning outcomes of the BTEC Higher National qualification, and rigorous learning design principles have been applied throughout. Content is segmented into manageable pieces to support their study, and interactive tasks help them grasp the information more deeply.
What is included in HN Online:
- Currently HN Online is available for BTEC Higher Nationals in Business (RQF) and BTEC Higher Nationals in Engineering (RQF);
- Each online unit covers 30 of the 60 required Guided Learning Hours (GLH);
- Each online unit covers all the learning outcomes listed in the specification;
- HN Online integrates with your college's VLE, so it can be accessed via a platform both you and your students are familiar with; Pearson will provide integration support and new user training to help you to become more comfortable with the functionality.
Core/optional | Unit title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core | 1 Business and the Business Environment |
15 |
Core |
2 Marketing Essentials |
15 |
Core | 3 Human Resource Management |
15 |
Core | 4 Management and Operations |
15 |
Core | 5 Management Accounting |
15 |
Core | 6 Managing a Successful Business Project (Pearson-set) |
15 |
Optional | 9 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management |
15 |
Optional | 10 Financial Accounting |
15 |
Core/optional | Unit title | Credits | Pathway |
Core | 11 Research Project (Pearson-set) | 30 | All |
Core | 12 Organisational Behaviour | 15 | All |
Mandatory (Specialist) | 16 Operations and Project Management | 15 | Business Management |
Mandatory (Specialist) | 17 Understanding and Leading Change | 15 | Business Management |
Optional | 18 Global Business Environment | 15 | Business Management |
Optional | 32 Business Strategy | 15 | All |
Optional | 33 Business IT Systems | 15 | All |
Optional | 36 Human Resources - Value and Contribution to Organisational Success | 15 | All |
Optional | 42 Planning for Growth | 15 | All |
HN Online will cover four units for BTEC Higher Nationals in Engineering, which are mandatory and common across the pathways:
Core/optional | Unit title | Credits | Pathway |
Core | 1 Engineering Design | 15 | All |
Core | 2 Engineering Maths | 15 | All |
Core | 3 Engineering Science | 15 | All |
Core | 4 Managing a Professional Engineering Project | 15 | All |
Adopting HN Online at your centre
HN Online comprises all critical course content supporting blended delivery of BTEC Higher National qualifications. Centres wishing to adopt HN Online will first need to obtain approval to deliver the qualification.
Education providers can purchase access to HN Online as required, and cost will vary depending on the number of units adopted by the centre, and number of students registered on the programme. Find out more by requesting the information pack for HN Online below.
To help you succeed in blended delivery of our qualifications, we will fully support you with your training needs, both with product functionality and the move to teaching using a blended model of face-to-face and online delivery. We offer regional training sessions, and where necessary, individual college training, and assist you through the process of integrating HN Online into your LMS.
Request more information about HN Online
Please enter your email in the form below and our team will be in touch with more information.