Swansea University

"Swansea University was one of the first universities in the UK to produce Diploma Supplements for undergraduate and taught masters students and to distribute them to students on completion of their degrees.

A conscious decision was taken to provide students with this document, believing that a student's employment prospects or their application for admission to higher degrees would be enhanced. Although, initially, students were unaware of the benefits of such documents, feedback to the institution, particularly from students who have decided to gain employment or to study in other countries, has been extremely positive.

The Diploma Supplement is now one of 3 documents sent to students on completion of their studies - the others being the Transcript, and the Certificate itself. In order to facilitate further a student's mobility opportunities within the international workplace, or within higher education, the university intends to provide its students with other mobility-related documents, such as the Europass and language passport."

• This page provides an example of a three year Undergraduate Degree Diploma Supplement issued by Swansea University.
• This page provides an example of an Integrated Masters Diploma Supplement
• This page provides an example of a Taught Masters Diploma Supplement issued by Swansea University.

The following statement is taken from an email to Huw Morris (University of Swansea Academic Registrar and Bologna Expert) from a student who benefited from using the Europass Diploma Supplement:

"Yes, diploma supplements proved to be very useful for me. I applied for recognition of my degrees BA and MSc to the authorities in Greece and the ones in Cyprus. They both said that the documents, being so descriptive, accelerated their investigation and gave them full view of the courses. Also, I submitted them in order to obtain teaching English allowance and they seem to be a necessary accessory to the applications I make for a Phd degree".

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Case Study - Implementation of the Diploma Supplement/Record of Academic Achievement at the University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham implemented the Diploma Supplement/Record of Academic Achievement for the first time in 2006. Graduation Diploma Supplements are produced in-house and are issued to graduating students at the same time as they receive their Degree Certificate (normally at a Graduation Ceremony held at the University). Students who graduated in 2005 are able to obtain a Diploma Supplement free of charge on request.

Students are able to request additional copies of the Diploma Supplement and are also able to request copies of the transcript element only. Students are able to obtain interim transcripts of marks throughout their studies.

The cost of production and length of document were important considerations and the Diploma Supplement was designed to be no more than four pages in length.

The first page of the Diploma Supplement is security printed and embossed with the University seal on the front side. This page contains information relating to the student, qualification achieved and transcript of marks taken from the student record system (Sections 1-4). Certification of the Supplement is also on this page. The second page of the Diploma Supplement is pre-printed with information relating to Sections 4.3 and 4.5 and Sections 5-6, where necessary giving links to the University of Nottingham website. Pages three and four relate to Section 8, the description of Higher Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland together with a diagram of the higher education qualification levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and again are pre-printed.

Difficulties in Implementation

As at other Institutions, the initial development and implementation of the Diploma Supplement at the University was delayed owing to the limitations of the existing student record system and in anticipation of a new student management system.

Prior to 2006, the Examinations Office was responsible for a centralised marks processing and Graduation Transcript service for the majority of Schools within the University. This enabled graduating students to receive a transcript of marks together with their degree certificate at Graduation.

Schools not using central marks processing issued transcripts for their students.

Following an expansion in the number of Schools using the centralised marks processing system, to include all Schools except the School of Nursing, an analysis of the information which was contained in the existing system was undertaken. It was then decided to go ahead with producing the Supplement, following the official Diploma Supplement template, using the information which was available in the student record system together with references to University websites for additional information and clarification.

The use of a centralised marks processing system, together with tested internal procedures for ensuring the quality of the data, made the transition to using the Diploma Supplement a smooth one.

The introduction of a new student management system in the near future will enable the production of an updated version of the Diploma Supplement which will make less use of webpage references for additional information and will enable the inclusion of the School of Nursing.

Benefits of Implementation

The Diploma Supplement gives information about the student’s academic achievement and also gives more information on their programme of study, how awards have been made and the national education system. The information contained within the document gives employers and other institutions abroad the ability to assess applicants without further reference back to the University or the student for clarification.

The benefits for students from implementation of the Diploma Supplement at Nottingham come from being among the first students in the United Kingdom to be issued with the document. The Diploma Supplement is portable, readable, easily comparable abroad and follows a common template which is instantly recognisable.