Diploma SupplementWhat is a Diploma Supplement?
A Diploma Supplement is an addition to the leaving certificate in the area of Higher Education. It was developed by the European Commission, Council of Europe and by 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. 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 student.
It is free from any value-judgements, equivalence statements or suggestions about recognition.

Which are the aspects mentioned in a Diploma Supplement?
The following aspects are part of the Diploma Supplement:

• Personal details of the graduate
• Information about the qualification gained
• Information about the study career contents and the reached results
• Information about the expendability of the title
• Additional information
• Information about the Italian national higher education system

When was the Diploma Supplement introduced? Who can obtain it?
The Diploma supplement was introduced in Italy with the reform of the higher education system (law n. 509/1999) and it is issued to the graduates of the post-reform degree courses. The current document outline was approved by the Ministry Decree nr. 49 dated 26 October 2005, according to the European standard.

In which languages is it issued and how can it be obtained?
The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano issues the Diploma Supplement in Italian, German, English. After study conclusion, the Student secretariat will dispatch the Diploma supplement.

What are the benefits for all parties involved?
Benefits for students: With an objective description of the particular performances and skills the individual academic career gains transparency. The professional qualification sharpens up and the international aspect of the career comes to the fore. The same applies to the continuation of studies abroad. Consequently a Diploma Supplement enhances the students' mobility.
Benefits for academies: The Diploma supplement facilitates academic titles recognition and provides a more transparent description of the course completed by the graduate.
Benefits for businesses: For businesses the Diploma Supplement means the chance to find appropriate applicants considerably quicker. This standardisation permits the comparison of the applicants' competences at one glance.

Further information regarding the Diploma Supplement.