DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT

All students graduating from Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences receive a document, Diploma Supplement (DS), attached to the degree certificate. DS is an explanation in English of the university of applied sciences, degree certificate and the studies and completed courses included in it, as well as of their level and position in the Finnish education system. All graduating students receive DS automatically and free of charge. In addition to the DS, the graduating student receives an English translation of the degree certificate and the transcript of records.

The Diploma Supplement (DS) ) is a document attached to a higher education diploma aiming at improving international ‘transparency’.  It is designed by by a Joint European Commission - Council of Europe - UNESCO working party 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. DS is aimed at improving mobility and facilitating the academic and professional recognition of qualifications. In Finland, all institutions of higher education are legally obliged to give an international attachment of degree certificate. (source: www.cimo.fi)

The DS is signed by the head of department. The translation of the degree certificate and transcript of records is confirmed by the study secretary. The students graduating from the degree programmes in English receive the degree certificate in English and in Finnish but the transcript of records only in English.

Examples of Diploma Supplements of Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences:

bachelor's degree

master’s degree

Diploma Supplement label

The European Commission has awarded Diploma Supplement Label to Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences on 1st August 2006. Diploma Supplement Label is awarded by the European Commission upon application and it is valid for three years. It is given to institutes of higher education that are using Diploma Supplement with distinction. Altogether 103 institutes of higher education applied for the label, of which 13 were from Finland. The label was awarded to one third of the applicants: 38 institutes of higher education. Six of them are from Finland.

See also the European Commission’s site about Diploma Supplement:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/recognition/diploma_en.html