The focus is different between a Higher Diploma in Education and Higher National Diplomas. A Higher Diploma in Education is equivalent to an Associate's Degree in America. It recognizes that the student has completed two years in a degree program, but has not attained a bachelor's degree. The courses taken would be the same for a regular degree program. A Higher National Diploma is used to learn a trade, such as nursing, construction or other vocational fields.
The Diploma in Higher Education involves classroom learning in the same style that would be found in degree courses. Higher National Diplomas, on the other hand, involves more hands-on learning that is specific to the vocation being studied. The object in Higher National Diplomas is to gain specific skills that can be applied directly to a trade or type of industry. The HND is meant to prepare a student for immediate entry into the workforce.
The manner in which the courses in each type of diploma get assessed also differs according to the learning style. Classes that are in the curriculum for Diplomas of Higher Education would be graded heavily on essays and formal exams. Students in HNDs, on the other hand, would be asked to create projects and complete skills tests. The course would include less emphasis on paperwork and written tests.
HNDs and Diplomas of Higher Education are also similar in many regards. Both diplomas generally take two years to complete. They both also have a score of 5 on the National Qualifications Framework used in the UK, which ranks types of accreditation on a range of 1 to 9 according to their level of professional standing. Each type of diploma can also be used towards a bachelor's degree, usually only requiring one more year of study to get the degree.