- University Homepage
- Schools & departments
- Academic Registry
- Graduations
- Order Tickets & Documents
- European Diploma Supplement
European Diploma Supplement - Guidance Notes
The European Diploma Supplement is a supplement to the degree certificate and describes of the nature, level, context, content and status of your studies. This, and the accompanying pages, tell you how to obtain one.
- What are European Diploma Supplements?
- What does the European Diploma Supplement offer students?
- Who is to receive a European Diploma Supplement?
- When should the EDS be issued?
What are European Diploma Supplements?
The European Diploma Supplement has been initiated by UNESCO, the European Commission and the Council of Europe and ratified as part of the Bologna Declaration at the Convention for the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon 1997), (Section IX. Article IX.3). It is designed as a supplement to the degree certificate and to provide a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies that were pursued by graduates. It aims to:
- Promote transparency in higher education
- Facilitate the academic and professional recognition of qualifications
- Explain the contents of the qualifications delivered by higher education institutions in an internationally understandable form
- Accommodate rapid changes in qualifications
- Aid mobility, access and lifelong learning
- Promote fair and informed judgements about qualifications
The EDS contains information on: the holder of the qualification, the qualification, the level of the qualification, the contents and results gained as well as information on the function of the qualification.
The EDS contains 4 documents: 1) Full Academic Transcript (including an explanation of the University's marking scheme; 2) Information related to the Programme of Study; 3) Description of the Higher Education sector in Scotland; 4 ) Description of the University of Edinburgh.
The University of Edinburgh is strongly committed to compliance with this directive and the following guidance has been developed in consultation with the European Diploma Supplement Working Party set up by the Senatus Quality Assurance Committee.
2. What does the European Diploma Supplement offer students?
- A diploma that is more readable and easily comparable abroad
- A precise description of their academic history and on the competencies acquired during the study period
- Objectivity and a fair judgement of their achievements and competencies
- An easier access to opportunities of work or further studies abroad
3. Who is to receive a European Diploma Supplement?
The EDS is to be provided free of charge in the first instance to all graduating Undergraduate, Taught Postgraduate and Master of Science by Research students (if all courses are recorded on the records system). Other Research Postgraduates e.g. PhD, MPhil, DSc etc are excluded. EDS must only be provided to students who have graduated i.e. are recorded as having their award conferred by Senatus Academicus either at a ceremony or in absentia. Students who have not had their awards conferred or have not applied to graduate should not receive an EDS.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to supplying those students graduating from 2004/05 with an EDS.
4. When should the EDS be issued?
The concept of the EDS is that it should accompany a graduate’s certificate however as this is currently not feasible EDS should be issued within 2 months of the relevant Board of Examiners (10.18, Assessment Regulations). EDS will be sent to the graduate's home address (as recorded on the student records system).
This article was published on Apr 22, 2011