Bologna Process & ECTS Compliance
European Higher Education Area, 49 signatory countries
The Bologna Process created the European Higher Education Area, establishing a common credit transfer system (ECTS), a comparable degree structure, and the Diploma Supplement as the standard credential record. OpenEduCat's Bologna module implements the ECTS relative grading scale, generates the Diploma Supplement with Section 8's statistical grading table, supports German Modulnote and French UE templates, and handles PAF group grading adjustments.
ECTS Grading Scale (A–E, FX, F)
The ECTS scale is relative, grades are assigned based on cohort distribution, not fixed score thresholds. Typical percentage ranges are indicative only.
| Grade | Definition | Typical Band | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Best 10% of passing students | ~75–100% | Pass |
| B | Next 25% of passing students | ~65–74% | Pass |
| C | Next 30% of passing students | ~55–64% | Pass |
| D | Next 25% of passing students | ~45–54% | Pass |
| E | Lowest 10% of passing students | ~40–44% | Pass |
| FX | Fail, some improvement needed | ~30–39% | Fail |
| F | Fail, considerable improvement needed | Below 30% | Fail |
Important: Because ECTS grades are relative, the same numerical score can produce different ECTS grades in different cohorts. A student scoring 68% in a cohort where 15% scored above 65% (placing them in the top 15% of passing students) would receive grade A (best 10%) if only 10% scored above their result. The exact cut-point is computed from the actual cohort data, not predetermined.
How OpenEduCat Implements EHEA Requirements
ECTS Relative Grading Scale
The ECTS scale is not absolute, it is relative to cohort performance. A grade of A means the student is in the best 10% of passing students in that subject cohort, not that they scored above a fixed percentage. OpenEduCat computes the ECTS distribution based on the actual score distribution in each subject across a 2+ year window (minimum 30 passing students for statistical validity). When fewer than 30 students have passed, the system flags the grading table as statistically unreliable with a low_n indicator.
ECTS Grading Table, Diploma Supplement Section 8
The Diploma Supplement requires Section 8 to contain the ECTS grading table (the statistical distribution showing the percentage of students who received each ECTS grade (A through E). OpenEduCat's gradebook analytics pre-computes this distribution using published, passing gradebook records over the standard 2-year window. The Diploma Supplement PDF report includes this table automatically. Your institution is responsible for submitting the Diploma Supplement to receiving institutions) OpenEduCat generates it; the delivery is yours.
Diploma Supplement Generation
The Diploma Supplement is a four-section PDF report: student identification, qualification information, programme details with level (using the EHEA/QF-EHEA level descriptor), and programme results with the ECTS grading table. The report is generated from published gradebook data via diploma_supplement_report.py. Only gradebooks in the "published" state are included, draft or in-progress records are excluded to ensure the document reflects final results.
ECTS-Weighted Modulnote (German/French Module Templates)
German universities group subjects into Modulen (module groups) with an ECTS-weighted composite grade (Modulnote). French universities use Unités d'Enseignement (UE) with allow_compensation, a UE passes if the weighted average meets the threshold even if one subject within it fails. OpenEduCat's module template system supports both. When any subject grade changes, the system recomputes the Modulnote or UE grade automatically. Both ECTS-weighted and simple average modes are available.
PAF, Programme Achievement Factor (Group Grading)
Some European programmes apply a cohort-wide scaling factor (PAF (Programme Achievement Factor) to adjust grade distributions before the ECTS table is computed. This is used when external factors (an unusually difficult exam, a change in assessment method) systematically affect a cohort's scores. The PAF wizard allows applying a multiplier and clamp to all grades in a subject before the ECTS distribution is recalculated. PAF is transparent) it is recorded in the audit log.
Absence Auto-Zero
Under Bologna Process regulations, an absence from a mandatory assessment should result in zero marks (not an incomplete or exemption). OpenEduCat enforces this: when a gradebook line is marked is_absent = True, the mark is forced to 0 and treated as a fail. is_absent and is_excused are mutually exclusive at the database level, a student cannot be both absent and excused. This ensures the ECTS distribution is not contaminated by unresolved absence records.
Diploma Supplement, What OpenEduCat Generates
The DS is a four-section document. OpenEduCat generates all sections from live data.
Student Information
Student name, date of birth, student ID, nationality. Drawn from the student profile.
Qualification Information
Degree title, field of study, ISCED classification, institution name. Configured at programme level.
Programme Details
Duration, entry requirements, QF-EHEA level (Bachelor = Level 6, Master = Level 7, Doctorate = Level 8). Programme description.
Programme Results with ECTS Grading Table
Subject-by-subject results with ECTS credits and grades. Section 8 contains the statistical distribution table (% students per ECTS grade across the 2-year cohort window).
Scope of OpenEduCat's responsibility: OpenEduCat generates the Diploma Supplement PDF with correct Section 8 ECTS grading table from published grade data. Your institution's academic records office is responsible for issuing the DS to students, submitting it to receiving institutions for credit transfers, and confirming that any country-specific requirements (e.g., national authentication stamps, language requirements) are met.
Full Bologna / ECTS Gradebook Documentation
ECTS scale configuration, cohort distribution computation, Diploma Supplement format, Modulnote templates for German and French programmes, and PAF configuration.
Bologna Gradebook Details →Frequently Asked Questions, Bologna Process & ECTS
Questions from European university registrars and quality assurance officers.
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