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WHAT IS THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT?

The Diploma Supplement (DS) is a complementary and explanatory document issued by higher education institutions alongside a diploma. It helps other countries understand the diploma, which may otherwise only be recognized within the issuing country. The document provides all necessary information for an accurate assessment of the awarded degree.

The Diploma Supplement is issued free of charge in a widely spoken European language to all students upon graduation. Higher education institutions are responsible for widely informing their students, local institutions, employers, and other relevant stakeholders about the purpose and content of the Diploma Supplement.

The European Commission aims to integrate various transparency and recognition tools, including the Diploma Supplement, into a unified framework. For this reason, the Diploma Supplement will soon be included in EUROPASS, an initiative aimed at enhancing qualification transparency across Europe.

Each Diploma Supplement begins with the following statement:

"This Diploma Supplement follows the model developed by the European Commission, Council of Europe, and UNESCO/CEPES. The purpose of the supplement is to provide sufficient independent data to improve the international ‘transparency’ and fair academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.). It is designed to provide a description of the nature, level, context, content, and status of the studies that were pursued and successfully completed by the individual named on the original qualification to which this supplement is appended. It should be free from any value judgments, equivalence statements, or suggestions about recognition. Information in all eight sections should be provided. Where information is not provided, an explanation should give the reason why."

STRUCTURE OF THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT

The Diploma Supplement consists of eight sections, which must all be completed:

1. Identification of the holder of the qualification
2. Qualification information (name, title, awarding institution, language of instruction, etc.)
3. Level of qualification
4. Content and results gained
5. Function of qualification
6. Additional information
7. Certification of the supplement
8. Information on the national higher education system

If any section is left blank, an explanation must be provided. Institutions must apply the same certification and authentication processes to the Diploma Supplement as they do for the diploma itself. Additionally, a description of the national higher education system must be attached to the document. This information can be obtained from National Recognition Information Centres (NARICs) at:
👉 http://www.enic-naric.net

The Diploma Supplement was developed by the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO/CEPES. Its purpose is to enhance international transparency and improve the academic and professional recognition of qualifications. In addition to information about the diploma holder, the supplement provides details on the qualification, its level, purpose, and the completed study program. The Diploma Supplement does not contain value judgments, equivalence statements, or recognition recommendations. If any sections are left blank, the reason must be explained.

WHAT THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT IS NOT

• It is not a CV (Curriculum Vitae).
• It does not replace an academic transcript.
• It does not automatically guarantee recognition of the qualification.

The Diploma Supplement is necessary because global economic, political, and technological changes constantly require countries to adapt their education systems. As international labor mobility increases, there is a growing need for fair and accurate recognition of qualifications. The Diploma Supplement addresses this issue by standardizing the format of diplomas, thereby eliminating recognition problems and providing an internationally recognized description of the level, context, content, and status of the completed studies.

BENEFITS OF THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT

For Students

✔ A diploma that can be easily compared across countries.
✔ A comprehensive description of qualifications earned through coursework and study duration.
✔ Objective and fair assessment of achievements and competencies.
✔ Enhanced access to job opportunities or further education abroad.

For Higher Education Institutions

✔ Facilitates academic and professional recognition.
✔ Increases institutional transparency.
✔ Provides a standardized diploma format accepted across Europe.
✔ Enhances graduates' employment opportunities both nationally and internationally.

WHY IS THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT NECESSARY?

Today, new diploma and certification formats are constantly emerging worldwide. Countries must continuously adapt their education systems due to rapidly evolving economic, political, and technological developments. As global mobility increases, individuals demand fair recognition of their qualifications and competencies. The misrecognition or underestimation of skills and credentials has become a major global issue.

Since original diplomas and certificates often do not provide sufficient detailed information, it is becoming increasingly difficult to accurately evaluate a diploma’s level and function without additional documentation.

The Diploma Supplement has been introduced to address these challenges by:
✔ Ensuring greater transparency in higher education.
✔ Facilitating the swift evaluation of diplomas and academic credentials.
✔ Promoting mobility and lifelong learning opportunities.
✔ Providing fair, reliable, and competent information about a diploma and the skills it represents.