Prime Highlight
- Coleg Cambria is expanding its HN Flex model to offer flexible, unit-based Higher National courses for modern learners.
- The courses allow students to balance work, family, and education while gaining recognised qualifications.
Key Facts
- New HN Flex Level 4 courses in Cyber Security, Programming, and Digital Transformation will launch in 2026.
- The HN Flex model was developed with Pearson and builds on the success of the HNC Flex in Business.
Background
Coleg Cambria has announced a major expansion of its flexible learning model with the launch of a new range of Higher National courses designed to suit modern learners with busy schedules.
Following the introduction of the HNC Flex in Business at its Northop campus earlier this year, Cambria University Centre is now rolling out a wider series of Higher National unit-based programmes under its HN Flex model. The initiative provides small, flexible learning units that learners can complete at their own pace.
Developed in partnership with awarding body Pearson, HN Flex lets students study selected units when it suits them and receive regular academic support. The qualifications carry the same recognition and employer value as traditional Higher Nationals, but offer greater freedom.
Emma Hurst, Dean of Access and Higher Education at Cambria University Centre, said the model reflects how people live today. She said learners should not have to choose between work, family, and education, and that HN Flex gives them a practical way to progress in their careers.
From 2026, the college will introduce new HN Flex Level 4 qualifications in Cyber Security, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Professional Practice in the Digital Economy, and Programming. Courses in Construction and Hospitality Management will also be available in the new year.
The courses build on the success of the HN Flex in Business, which allowed learners to collect units over time and combine them into a full qualification. The expansion into digital and technology fields will support people who want to retrain, upskill, or begin higher education.
Learners can access teaching and support from Cambria staff at its campuses in Wrexham, Deeside, and Northop. The college has also confirmed that eligible students may receive financial help through regional Employer Skills funding schemes.
