Recognition of degrees is a key element of the Bologna Process and enables students and teachers to have their qualifications recognised more widely. Recognition facilitates freedom of movement around a more transparent European Higher Education Area.

The Bologna Process endorses the Council of Europe Lisbon Recognition Convention and subsequent texts which sets out basic principles for recognition of qualifications. All Bologna Process participating countries are required to ratify the Convention. The UK did so in 2003. The Lisbon Convention also promotes the Diploma Supplement.

The Berlin summit called for “every student graduating as from 2005 to receive the Diploma Supplement automatically and free of charge”. The Diploma Supplement is a document to be issued to students by their higher education institutions on graduation. It aims to describe the qualification they have received in a standard format that is easy to understand and easy to compare. It also describes the content of the qualification and the structure of the higher education system within which it was issued. It is not a curriculum vitae and simply acts as a supplementary explanation of the qualification rather than a substitute for it.

The Diploma Supplement is widely used in many other Bologna Process participating countries. The Europe Unit is advising the sector on issuing the Diploma Supplement in the UK and has published a Guide to the Diploma Supplement. In 2005, the Unit survey of UK HEIs on European HE developments indicated that around one third of respondent institutions currently issue the Diploma Supplement. UK institutions are encouraged to proceed with issuing the Diploma Supplement as soon as possible. A national description of the higher education systems in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a separate description for Scotland (a required field in the Diploma Supplement) are available on the Europe Unit and UK NARIC's website to help HEIs issuing the Diploma Supplement. Currently UK HEIs compare unfavourably with their continental counterparts on introducing the Diploma Supplement. It is important that students graduating in the UK are able to benefit from the enhanced recognition and mobility that the Diploma Supplement brings.

Further information on introducing the Diploma Supplement can be found in the Europe Unit’s Europe Notes. The European Commission funds a team of national Bologna Process Experts to advise HEIs on introducing the Diploma Supplement and other Bologna issues. Their contact details can be found via the link in the right hand column.