What is a Diploma Supplement?
The Diploma Supplement (DE) is a document attached to higher education diplomas to enhance international transparency and provide academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.). It does not carry any value judgement, equivalence or recognition. It is designed to provide information on the nature, level, scope and status of the studies successfully completed by the person whose name appears on the original diploma to which the Diploma Supplement is attached. It is adaptable to local requirements.
The Diploma Supplement is issued by national institutions according to a template drawn up jointly by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and a UNESCO working group.
The Diploma Supplement consists of eight parts:
1. Identification of the person entitled to the Diploma Supplement
2. Acquired competence that constitutes the reason for entitlement to the Diploma Supplement
3. Level of acquired competence leading to the award of the Diploma Supplement
4. Content and consequences of the acquired competence leading to the award of the Diploma Supplement
5. Function of the acquired competence leading to the award of the Diploma Supplement
6. Additional information
7. Official attestation of the Diploma Supplement
8. Information on the national higher education system
What is not a Diploma Supplement?
1. It is not a curriculum vitae (CV).
2. It is not a substitute for a transcript (transcript) or a diploma.
3. It is not a document that automatically guarantees academic or professional recognition.
What are the benefits of the Diploma Supplement for students?
1. A more readable and comparable diploma abroad
2. A full description of the student's academic progress and the competences acquired during the study period
3. Impartial identification of the student's achievements and competences
4. Better access to job and education opportunities abroad for the future
5. Increased employment opportunities
What are the benefits of the Diploma Supplement for higher education institutions?
1. It facilitates academic and professional recognition by increasing the transparency of qualifications.
2. It provides a common framework recognised across Europe while maintaining national and institutional independence.
3. It provides an informed judgement on the qualification held that can be understood in a different educational framework.
4. ensures the visibility of the institution abroad.
5. It increases the employability of the graduates of the institution in national and international framework
.
6. It saves time for the administrative units of the institutions by automatically answering a series of recurring questions about the content and transferability of diplomas.
What is the Diploma Supplement needed for?
New qualifications are being developed all over the world and countries are constantly changing their qualification systems and educational structures in the face of rapidly changing economic, political and technological developments. An increasing number of mobile citizens demand fair assessment of their qualifications. Today, non-recognition or under-assessment of qualifications has become a global problem. Since original documents alone cannot provide sufficient information, it is extremely difficult to assess the level and function of a qualification without more detailed description.
Which challenges has the Diploma Supplement been produced in response to?
1. It provides transparency in higher education.
2. It accommodates rapid change in qualifications.
3. Facilitates mobility; makes lifelong learning accessible.
4. Provides fair and reliable judgements about qualifications.
