Higher Education Achievement Report

The Higher Education Achievement Report, is a means for recording student achievement in higher education and is intended to provide more detailed information about a student's learning and achievement than the traditional degree classification system. It has been issued to graduates across the UK since 2013.

The HEAR provides details about the contents of the programme studied. This includes: details of the course including knowledge and understanding the student can be expected to have gained; a transcript of modules studied and marks obtained; and the main intellectual, practical and key transferable skills that the student should have developed during their studies.

A section of the HEAR is dedicated to additional information – providing a fuller picture of the student beyond traditional academic achievement. This includes information which can be verified and validated by Northumbria University and the Students’ Union in three categories of:

additional awards;
additional recognised activities; and
university, professional and departmental prizes.

The Northumbria HEAR

Northumbria University believe that your Northumbria HEAR can help you to showcase your achievements both in terms of your academic success and achievements gained outside the traditional academic environment.

Northumbria University want our students to stand out which will assist with employability and we believe that the Northumbria HEAR will help you with this. For further information on employability please click here.

The Northumbria HEAR will be provided in electronic format to students undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme, studied at Northumbria’s UK campuses. Please see the FAQ’s which details the exclusions.

Access to your HEAR

Secure Computer223x111 From 2016/2017 academic year you can activate your account with Gradintelligence from the beginning of your studies. Gradintelligence provides a secure web-based environment to host the Northumbria HEAR, which will support you in planning and reviewing your personal development and encourage extra-curricular engagement.

Registration will allow you to benefit from opportunity matching for placements, summer jobs, and graduate opportunities while you are at Northumbria University.

Background

The HEAR provides a single comprehensive record of a learner’s achievement, as recommended by the Measuring and Recording Student Achievement Steering Group in the Beyond the Honours Degree – the Burgess Group Final Report (October 2007).

For more information surrounding the HEAR you can also access the official HEAR website.

What does HEAR look like?

The structure of the HEAR is standardised. The HEAR is made up of eight sections and can be up to six pages long and covers the following:

Section 1: Information identifying the holder of the qualification	Basic student details, e.g. name and student ID
Section 2: Information identifying the qualification	Qualification title and subject, awarding institution(s)
Section 3: Information on the level of the qualification	Level of study, duration, entry requirements
Section 4: Information on the contents and results gained	Programme description/requirements, academic transcript*
Section 5: Information on the function of the qualification	Access to further study, professional status
Section 6: Additional information	Verifiable extra-curricular awards, activities and achievements, e.g. prizes
Section 7: Certification of the HEAR	Date of issue, signature of Registrar, University 'stamp'
Section 8: Information on the national higher education system	Description of higher education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, diagram of higher education levels

* Some additional information is likely to be included here, e.g. titles of projects/dissertations.

Please click here for a sample Interim HEAR.

Please click here for a sample Final HEAR.

Who is eligible?

Students undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme, studied at Northumbria’s UK campuses, will be eligible for a Northumbria HEAR.

There are currently some exceptions and the following students will not receive a HEAR:

those studying Postgraduate research programmes
incoming exchange students

Additional Achievements and the HEAR

Section 6.1 of the HEAR is dedicated to additional information - providing a fuller picture of the student beyond traditional academic achievement.

This section provides details of extra-curricular student awards and activities that represent achievement, and can be verified by Northumbria University. Details of prizes gained whilst at the University are also listed here. Activities and awards included in this section support the attainment of Northumbria graduate outcomes aimed at developing well-rounded individuals who have the knowledge, skills and experience to fulfil their potential.

However, the University and its Students' Union are not able to verify all extra-curricular achievements. Students may therefore have undertaken additional activities which have contributed significantly to their personal and professional development. Students will be encouraged to record these in other documentation such as a CV or job application statement.

If you require any further guidance on how you can develop your HEAR and participate in additional verified activities you can always speak with your guidance tutor or the Students' Union.

Verified Activities
The verified additional achievements validated by Northumbria University and the Students’ Union fall into three categories:

additional awards;
additional recognised activities; and
university, professional and departmental prizes.

Additional Awards

These are accredited performance in non-academic contexts in addition to the main degree programme.

Please click here for a list of Northumbria University’s current additional awards.

Additional recognised activities

These are actions undertaken by you which demonstrate achievement and can be verified. This could be roles and activities undertaken by you which evidence achievement but for which no recognition is provided in terms of academic credit, such as volunteering, student union representative roles, representation at national level in sport or training courses run by Northumbria University.

Placement
You may be able to include information regarding your placement on your HEAR, which could be a placement abroad, clinical placement or an industrial placement. The duration of individual placements will vary but, for recognition on the HEAR, the placement should be a minimum of one semester.

Study Abroad
You may be able to include information regarding your study abroad on your HEAR. For recognition on the HEAR, the period of study should be a minimum of one semester.

Captain of University Sports Team
For students who held the position of Captain (or equivalent) can have this information included on their HEAR.

For a full list of Northumbria University Students’ Union roles and activities including volunteering and placement opportunities please click here.

For more information on the roles and activities offered by the Students' Union and how to get involved please click here.

University, Professional and Departmental Prizes

These are prizes and awards that are made to students at module, programme, department, faculty and University level. These may be academic prizes or related to other student achievements and are subject to specific regulations and criteria.

Downloadable lists of all recognised University Prizes are outlined below:

Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences Prizes

Faculty of Business & Law Prizes

Faculty of Engineering & Environment Prizes

Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Prizes

Adding Dissertation or Project Title

You can record your own dissertation or project title so it shows on your HEAR. The title will appear in full on your HEAR transcript.

If you choose not to enter a specific title, your HEAR will display the project/dissertation module title instead.

To record your own Dissertation or Project Title please follow the guide below:

Login to My Northumbria and under 'My Info' click 'My Records'

From the Menu select 'My Courses' and use the option to Update Dissertation Title

Click 'Add Title'

Dissertation 1 Final

Select the Dissertation or Project module from the drop down list and then click 'Add Title'

Dissertation 2 Final

Enter the title into the 'Title' box and click 'Continue'

Dissertation 3 Final

Check the details and if correct select 'Yes' and 'Add Title'

Dissertation 4 Final

Your Dissertation or Project Title will now appear on your HEAR when it is produced.

Excluding an activity from your HEAR

If you choose to do so you can exclude an activity so it does not appear on your HEAR.

To exclude an activity please follow the guide below:

Login to My Northumbria and under 'My Info' click 'My Records'

From the Menu select 'My Courses' and use the option to Update Dissertation Title

Click 'Add Title' or if you have already added a title click 'Update Title'.

Within this area you will see that all of your current achievements are listed. For the activity you would like to exclude please click 'Exclude'.

Hear Exclude 1 Final

Please check that this is the activity you would like to exclude, if so please click 'Yes' and 'Exclude'.

Hear Exclude 2 Final

Should you wish to reinstate the activity so it is included in your HEAR please click on 'Reinstate'.

Hear Exclude 3 Final

Please click on 'Yes' and the activity will be reinstated.

Hear Exclude 4 Final

Benefits to students

There are many benefits to students using a HEAR which can improve your employability.

Help you showcase your achievements outside academia thus allowing you to stand out to employers.
Interim HEARs will provide you with information in respect of your progress and achievement and is more likely to lead to a comprehensive Final HEAR upon completion of your studies.
The use of Interim and Final HEARs can assist with gaining temporary summer jobs, summer placements and gaining employment at the end of your studies.
Can securely share University verified documents as evidence of your higher education credentials with anyone you want e.g. employer, university, friends or family to support job applications, applications to postgraduate courses, immigration applications or to simply showcase your achievements to others.
Gradintelligence provides third parties with immediate online access to the documents shared by you, therefore no waiting for documents to be verified and delaying applications and no risk of losing certificates in the post. This service is provided free by Northumbria University.
HEAR can help with opportunity matching allowing employers who are looking for a certain category of potential recruits. You can choose to be notified by e-mail or SMS when your shared documents are accessed but they still remain anonymous until you choose to complete an online application form.
Gradintelligence hosts a range of tools to help you prepare for interview and assessment centres including psychometric assessments. This service is provided free by Northumbria University.

The official HEAR website also shows a diagram detailing how the HEAR can be used by students and employers, please click here to view.

In addition to the services offered via Gradintelligence Northumbria University also recommend you sign up to JobsOnline and get access to 100s of part-time jobs, work experience opportunities, volunteer roles and graduate jobs. This service is also available to students and graduates.

We also have additional exclusive online resources which includes the option to practice psychometric tests. If you would prefer to access books to improve your psychometric tests you can visit the Careers Zone of the Library. For more information please view Careers and Employment.

If you are unsure on how to shape your study or careers plans please come and see us, and view Careers and Employment.

Reflection Tool

You are encouraged to refer to your HEAR in discussions with your Personal Tutor and the Careers and Employment Service to help you identify and articulate the skills you are gaining, and reflect on how you may be able to build on these to achieve your future goals.

Please click here for a useful reflection guide to help you get the most from your HEAR.