Bologna Transcript and Diploma Supplement
In the 49-country Bologna Process, academic records consist of two complementary documents: the national academic transcript (Zeugnis, relevé de notes, verbale d'esame) listing ECTS credits and grades, and the standardised 8-section Diploma Supplement appended to the degree certificate. Together they make European qualifications readable to institutions and employers anywhere in the world.
The 8 Sections of the Diploma Supplement
The DS structure is standardised across all Bologna member countries. Each section must be completed for the document to be recognised.
Information identifying the holder of the qualification
Family name, given name, date and place of birth. Identifies the document holder unambiguously.
Information identifying the qualification
Name of qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering), main field of study, name of awarding institution, country, and status of the institution.
Information on the level of the qualification
Level of qualification (EQF level 6 for bachelor, 7 for master, 8 for doctorate), official length of programme, and access requirements.
Information on the contents and results gained
Mode of study (full-time/part-time), programme requirements, subjects studied with ECTS credits and grades, grading scheme, and overall classification or GPA.
Information on the function of the qualification
Access to further study (e.g. eligible for master admission), professional status conferred (e.g. licensed engineer), and any national or professional regulatory requirements.
Additional information
Individual achievements, co-curricular activities, publications, or professional experience included at the institution's discretion.
Certification of the supplement
Date, name, and signature of certifying official; official stamp or seal; statement that the document is an official supplement to the diploma.
Information on the national higher education system
Description of the higher education system in the country of the awarding institution, providing context for international readers and ENIC-NARIC evaluators.
National Transcript Formats Across Bologna Countries
Each country uses its own grading scale and document name, but all share ECTS credits and the Diploma Supplement structure.
| Country | Transcript Name | Grade Scale | ECTS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Zeugnis | 1 (sehr gut / excellent) to 5 (nicht bestanden / fail) | ECTS credits shown alongside German Semesterwochenstunden (SWS) |
| France | Relevé de notes | 0–20 scale; 10 is passing; 16–20 is très bien (very good) | ECTS credits listed per UE (Unité d'Enseignement) |
| Italy | Verbale d'esame / Libretto universitario | 18–30 scale; 30 cum laude (30L) is highest distinction | Crediti Formativi Universitari (CFU) are equivalent to ECTS credits |
| Spain | Expediente académico | 0–10 scale; matrícula de honor (top ~5%) is highest mark | ECTS credits per asignatura; 240 ECTS for a 4-year Grado |
| Poland | Transkrypt ocen | 2 (fail) to 5 (very good); 5+ (5 z wyróżnieniem) for distinction | Punkty ECTS listed; 180 ECTS for a licencjat (3-year), 210 for an inżynier (3.5-year) |
International Recognition: WES and ENIC-NARIC
How Bologna transcripts are evaluated for equivalency by foreign credential services.
Gather official documents
WES requires your institution to send the official academic transcript directly to WES in a sealed envelope or via a secure electronic channel. The Diploma Supplement should accompany the transcript. Documents sent by the applicant themselves are not accepted.
Translation requirements
Transcripts not in English, French (for WES Canada), or Spanish require a certified English translation. WES maintains a list of accepted translation services. The translation must be accompanied by the original foreign-language document.
Equivalency determination
WES evaluators use ECTS credits and the EQF level stated in Section 3 of the Diploma Supplement to map the qualification to its North American equivalent. A 3-year Bologna bachelor (180 ECTS) is typically equated to a three-year North American bachelor or a pass degree, not a four-year bachelor.
ENIC-NARIC network
If applying within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the ENIC-NARIC network provides free credential recognition. Each country has a national NARIC centre. The Diploma Supplement is the primary source document for ENIC-NARIC evaluations.
How OpenEduCat Generates Bologna Transcripts
The Bologna module outputs ECTS-credited transcripts, Diploma Supplement data exports, and EUROPASS-compatible records directly from published gradebook data.
ECTS credit tracking per course
The Bologna module records ECTS credits per subject. Transcripts output both ECTS and local credits in a dual-column format, satisfying Bologna portability requirements and enabling students to apply across member countries without manual conversion.
Diploma Supplement data export
All data required for Sections 4 and 5 of the Diploma Supplement (module list, ECTS credits, grades, grading scheme, programme learning outcomes, and access to further study) is exportable in structured format for DS generation.
EUROPASS-compatible output
The transcript module supports export in formats compatible with the EUROPASS digital credentials infrastructure. Institutions participating in EMREX or EWP can share student records electronically with receiving institutions across the EHEA.
National grade scale configuration
Each institution configures its national grading scale (German 1–5, French 0–20, Italian 18–30, etc.) in the gradebook. Transcripts print the local grade and include a grade band table at the footer, making them self-interpreting for international evaluators.
Related Bologna Gradebook Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Bologna transcript format and Diploma Supplement.
Generate Bologna-compliant transcripts automatically
The Bologna module outputs ECTS-credited transcripts and Diploma Supplement data exports, EUROPASS-compatible and ready for ENIC-NARIC evaluation.