I have had an interest in graphic design for a few years. I took the subject in GCSE at school and also completed a week of unpaid work experience. I decided to become more involved with the subject by researching and reading a lot of tutorials, and using design software, building up some skills and knowledge until I have become able to freelance a little. 

However I understand that most graphic designers have a higher qualification, such as a HND, BA Hons. I wish to study on a course to gain a HND qualification (or equivalent), so that I can apply this to forwarding myself into the industry and pursue a full career in graphic design.

I currently live in Manchester, and I haven’t had much luck finding HND courses, either to study on campuses or distance learning because there appears to be so little on offer in either.

For example, there is the MCHEMT (Manchester College of Higher Education and Media Technology), which I had messaged and received no response from ,and I have also been made aware of bad reviews from others about.

I found a distance learning option for a HND in this subject, offered by the London College UCK, which I recently learned has been suspended until the end of 2013.

Having looked at numerous websites about this, it seems there is little on offer for HND courses in this subject, either in Manchester or Distance Learning.

What is the general opinion on HND courses? Is this a worthy qualification to pursue if I want to work in freelance graphic design? And if so, do you know where I can study for one either in Manchester or via Distance Learning? 

Alternatively, do you know who I could approach that may have more information on this?

Many thanks,

— Jon White