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The Diploma Supplement
This resource includes information from various sources about diploma supplements, answering basic questions including what are they, who creates them, and why they are needed.
European Union (EU)
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
The Diploma Supplement was initiated by UNESCO and revised jointly by UNESCO, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe to provide additional information on students' qualifications.
The Diploma Supplement generally was agreed to include the courses/modules taken by the student, grades awarded, ECTS credit values earned and accumulated toward the award of the degree described, and a summary of the country educational system in the indigenous language and in English.
These six Supplements reflect the minimalist approach taken by some countries and the more detailed version employed by others. U.S. Admissions Officers and Credential Evaluators should also take note that the Diploma Supplement can vary from institution to institution even within countries so that those depicted here do not necessarily reflect a uniform approach to the Diploma Supplement in these countries.
Diploma Supplement samples are provided from:
European Union (EU)
- This Eurydice resource contains information about how and when different signatory countries are implementing the Diploma Supplement.
- Resource from the European Union about the development of the Diploma Supplement, which is attached to higher education diplomas for the purpose of improving international ‘transparency’ and facilitating the academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates etc.).
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
The Diploma Supplement was initiated by UNESCO and revised jointly by UNESCO, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe to provide additional information on students' qualifications. World Education Services (WES)
The January/February 2005 article in the World Education News & Reviews provides a practical guide to: Diploma Supplements, the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), the European Network of Information Centers (ENIC), and National Academic Recognition and Information Centers (NARIC).Diploma Supplement Samples
The list below includes six examples of the Bologna-compliant Diploma Supplement from different signatory countries. These samples graphically illustrate the divergent approach of the many countries participating in the Bologna Process toward this one specific feature of the Process.The Diploma Supplement generally was agreed to include the courses/modules taken by the student, grades awarded, ECTS credit values earned and accumulated toward the award of the degree described, and a summary of the country educational system in the indigenous language and in English.
These six Supplements reflect the minimalist approach taken by some countries and the more detailed version employed by others. U.S. Admissions Officers and Credential Evaluators should also take note that the Diploma Supplement can vary from institution to institution even within countries so that those depicted here do not necessarily reflect a uniform approach to the Diploma Supplement in these countries.
Diploma Supplement samples are provided from:
- Turkey (157kb
) - U.K. - University of East Anglia (478kb )
- U.K. - University of Leeds (523kb )
