However, universities have since integrated both qualifications into the first and second years of an undergraduate honours degree, and they can now be considered equivalent.
The Diploma certifies that a student has achieved the minimum standard after conclusion of a second year course of tertiary education in science or the liberal arts.
If a student is undertaking a full Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Higher Education marks two-thirds of their undergraduate degree.
Holders are permitted to use the postnominals DipHE, sometimes followed by the course name in brackets and the university from which they earned their qualification.
Sometimes, having a DipHE can exempt the holder from some of the requirements of a bachelor's degree; for example, it might reduce the length of study or number of courses necessary to complete the qualification.