Hospitality Operations HNC

Course code 522N

What is special about this course?

Hospitality is a growth industry both nationally and internationally, covering hotels, restaurants, pubs, leisure and travel. It needs good, trained staff and this course introduces you to the supervisory skills required for a successful and fulfilling career.

Our hospitality programmes aim to give you exciting and interesting practical experience in our own kitchens and through our partnerships with external organisations.

Special features

  • You will get hands-on, practical experience
  • You can study full time or part time to suit your personal and professional circumstances
  • Perth students will also enjoy working in partnership with organisations such as The Gleneagles Hotel

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

  • 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above OR
  • 1 A level at grade D or above OR
  • SCQF Level 5 Food and Hospitality Studies; SCQF Level 6 Supervision and Leadership; SCQF Level 6 Professional Cookery; other relevant SCQF Level 6 OR
  • Foundation Apprenticeship Business Skills
  • You may be required to attend an interview
  • Previous experience in the hospitality industry may be taken into consideration in the application process

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory units are:

  • Food and beverage service
  • Food hygiene intermediate
  • Hospitality financial and control systems
  • Hospitality graded unit 1
  • Hospitality industry
  • Hospitality supervision

Optional units may include:

  • Accommodation servicing
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Conferences: an introduction
  • Creating a culture of customer care
  • Event legislation: safety and licensing 
  • Events industry an introduction
  • Food production processes
  • Information technology applications software
  • Licensed premises operations
  • Management of human resource management for the hospitality industry 1 
  • Organising an event

Option units available may vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus.

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • You will study by way of face-to-face lectures and tutorials

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 1 year
  • Part-time: 2 years

Where can I study my course?

  • Perth

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2024-25 2025-26
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285
Part-time (per HN credit) £86 £86

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2024-25 2025-26
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,440
Part-time (per HN credit) £474 £496

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2024-25 2025-26
Full-time per year £8,775 £8,925
Part-time (per HN credit) £585 £595

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

On completion of your course, you might like to consider a career as a trainee manager in:

  • hotels
  • restaurants
  • industrial catering
  • pubs
  • residential homes

Can I progress into further study?

You may be able to progress to year 2 of our BA (Hons) Hospitality Management.

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Hospitality Operations HNC

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.