Diploma Supplement

Since 2004, Bahcesehir University issues the Diploma Supplement to every student, upon graduation, together with the diploma, free of charge and in a widely spoken European language (English).  

Since May 2006, Bahçeşehir Üniversity has been awarded a Diploma Supplement Label.

 What is Diploma Supplement (DS)

The Diploma Supplement (DS) ) is a document attached to a higher education diploma aiming at improving international "transparency" and at facilitating the academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates etc.). It is designed to provide a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies that were successfully completed by the individual named on the original qualification to which this supplement is appended. It should be free from any value-judgements, equivalence statements or suggestions about recognition. It is a flexible non-prescriptive tool which is designed to save time, money and workload. It is capable of adaptation to local needs.

The DS is produced by national institutions according to a template that has been developed by a Joint European Commission - Council of Europe - UNESCO working party that tested and refined it.

The DS is composed of eight sections (information identifying the holder of the qualification, information identifying the qualification, information on the level of the qualification, information on the contents and results gained, information on the function of the qualification, additional information, certification of the Supplement, information on the national higher education system). Information in all eight sections should be provided. Where information is not provided, an explanation should give the reason why.

A description of the national higher education system within which the individual named on the original qualification graduated has to be attached to the DS. This description is provided by the National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARICs) and is available on the website: www.enic-naric.net

What does the Diploma Supplement offer to students?

• A diploma that is more readable and easily comparable abroad.
• A precise description of their academic career and the competencies acquired during the study period.
• Objective description of their achievements and competencies
• An easier access to opportunities of work or further studies abroad
• It fosters their employability
  

Why is the Diploma Supplement needed?

New qualifications proliferate worldwide and countries are constantly changing their qualification systems and educational structures under the impact of rapid economic, political and technological change. An increasing number of mobile citizens are seeking the fair recognition of their qualifications. The non-recognition and poor-evaluation of qualifications is now a global problem. Since original credentials alone do not provide sufficient information, it is very difficult to gauge the level and function of a qualification without detailed appropriate explanation.

The Diploma Supplement is a response to these challenges since:

• It promotes transparency in higher education.
• It accommodates rapid changes in qualifications.
• It aids mobility, access and lifelong learning.
• It promotes fair and informed judgements about qualifications.
  

What is ECTS?

The European Credit Transfer System is a student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme, objectives preferably specified in terms of learning outcomes and competences to be acquired.

ECTS-European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is used in measuring and comparing learning achievements of ECTS students, and transferring them from one institution to another.

What are the key features of ECTS?

1. ECTS is based on the principles that 60 credits measure the workload of a full-time student during one academic year.
   

2. Learning outcomes are sets of competences, expressing what the student will know, understand or be able to do after completion of a process of learning, long or short. Credits in ECTS can only be obtained after completion of the work required and appropriate assessment of the learning outcomes achieved.
   

3. Student workload in ECTS consists of the time required to complete all planned learning activities such as attending lectures, seminars, independent study, preparation of projects , examinations, and so forth.
   

4. Credits are allocated to all educational components of a study programme (such as modules, courses, placements, dissertation work, etc.) and reflect the quantity of work each component requires in relation to the total quantity of work necessary to complete a full year of study in the programme considered.
   

5. The performance of the student is documented by a local/national grade. It is good practice to add an ECTS grade, particularly in case of credit transfer. The ECTS grading scale ranks the students on a statictical basis. Therefore, elaboration of statistical data on student performance is a prerequisite for applying the ECTS grading system. Graed are assigned among the students with a pass grade as follows: A best %10 B next % 25 C next % 30 D next % 25 E next % 10. A distinction is made between the grades FX and F that are used for unsuccessful students. FX means: "fail - some more work required to pass" and F means: "fail - considerable further work required". The inclusion of failure rates in the Transcript of Records is optional.
   

For each course taken, the student is given one of the following grades depending upon course teacher's assessment. Given below are the local grades and their grade point ranges, equivalent to ECTS grades, prepared for incoming Erasmus students:

Below is the transfer of ECTS grades into local grades for outgoing Erasmus students: