What is the HEAR and what is it for?
The Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is an electronic document produced by a higher education institution that provides a record of student achievement during their period of study.
It provides detailed information about your learning and achievement to supplement the traditional degree classification and standard transcript, and includes your modules results, any awards attained and your final degree classification.
When & why was the HEAR created?
The Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is designed to encourage a more sophisticated approach to recording student achievement, which acknowledges fully the range of opportunities that higher education institutions in the UK offer to their students.
The HEAR replaces the ‘diploma supplement’ which used to be produced for graduates who needed more detail, especially for getting their degree recognised overseas. The first HEARs were issued by King's in August 2013.
Am I eligible to get the HEAR?
All taught students studying at King's from the 2012/13 academic year will be eligible to receive a HEAR.
Students registered on an Intercalated BSc programme will become eligible to receive a HEAR when their substantive Medical or Dental Programme becomes eligible.
If you studied sometime between 2000 and 2012, you won’t have a Gradintel account for your HEAR automatically, but it may be possible for us to create one. If this is the case for you, please log a case and we will liaise with the KCL HEAR team to support you.
For more information about options for alumni prior to 2012, please read our article I’m King’s alumni and I need to prove my degree.
Postgraduate research graduates
Unfortunately, we’re not able to offer the HEAR for research graduates. This is because research studies don’t follow a prescribed set of modules. If this is you, and you’re looking for documentation, Student Services can help. For more information, we advise reading our article I need to prove I’ve graduated if you graduated this year, or you may find I’m King’s alumni and I need to prove my degree more helpful if you graduated last year or earlier.
How much detail does the HEAR contain?
The HEAR follows a nationally agreed schema which King’s adopts. If you would like to know what the HEAR contains and what it looks like view an example of this letter online.
Module marks & degree award
Your HEAR will contain the overall mark for each module you have achieved. This information will be added each year of your studies, as the modules are ratified and released. Once you completed your course and your degree has been awarded, your degree classification will also be included.
Placements
Unfortunately, we’re not yet able to include placement information on the HEAR, however we hope to be able to do this in the future.
In the meantime, if you’re seeking placement information we would advise contacting your department/faculty directly who would hold this information.
Or, if you need support obtaining this information as part of a document from King’s, please log a case with Student Services and we will do our best to help you.
Student Selected Components
Unfortunately, we’re not yet able to include information about Student Selected Components (SSCs) on the HEAR, however we hope to be able to do this in the future.
In the meantime, if you need information about this we advise contacting your department, or please log a case and we will do our best to support you.
Can I choose what information is included in my HEAR?
Most of the information on the HEAR is nationally defined and can’t be changed. However, students will have the option to display some items in the ‘Additional information’ section, or section 6.1.
This section is particularly useful, because it provides a place for your extra-curricular activities to be officially recorded by the university. Previously, there was no capacity for this type of information to be formally documented.
To request extra achievements to be added to your HEAR, please contact your department/faculty.
When will my HEAR show all my results?
During January, July and September HEARs are updated daily following the ratification of results by the relevant assessment board. During these busy periods, please allow 2-3 working days for the information to be updated.
During the rest of the year, HEARs are updated weekly on a Monday, following ratification of results by the relevant Assessment Sub Board.
Does the HEAR contain information which meets professional requirements?
No, unfortunately the current schema does not allow for the inclusion of additional information required by students applying for certain professions, such as Nursing. In these cases, transcripts with this information will remain available, and we continue to review what we can do to enhance our documents.
If you graduated from a course where you need additional information to be added to your transcript, such as about placements or syllabus details, please see our article I need a specialised transcript for my course for more information.
My HEAR is missing information/has incorrect details. What should I do?
If the information on your HEAR is incorrect, please log a case and will look into this for you with support from the KCL HEAR team.
How can I access my HEAR?
You can access your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) yourself through your Gradintelligence account that King’s has already set up for you; you just need to activate it.
Important to know: Please don't register yourself for your own account on Gradintel. This creates an account which is not linked to your student record and your HEAR won't appear there. King's has automatically created Gradintel accounts for every graduate since 2012, which is linked to your student record.
Please read Accessing my Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) on Gradintel for steps in accessing your account, including details on helping you troubleshoot any issues you may experience.