HEAR FAQ

The HEAR is available to currently registered students and graduates from 2014/5 onwards who are on or have completed a full-time undergraduate degree programme or a taught Master’s programme. 

The HEAR is not available to Research students or graduates prior to 2014/5. The HEAR is also not available for CPD/short courses or any visiting student programmes. 

Where a HEAR is not available, a paper transcript will be issued at the end of study.

The HEAR is an electronic University-verified document which makes it distinct from a personal CV.

The HEAR does not replace your CV, it is intended to complement it. The HEAR is also different from your e-portfolio which, like your CV, is not verified by the University.

Your HEAR contains all the information that was previously contained in an academic transcript, plus details of any agreed additional achievements undertaken during your time at Abertay.

It adheres to a template, including the European Diploma Supplement (EDS).

The HEAR is divided into a number of sections. The following text is adapted from the national HEAR website.

Section 1. Information identifying the holder of the qualification, contains all of your relevant personal information: name, date of birth, student ID number etc.

Section 2. Information identifying the qualification confirms the name of the qualification gained and the title it confers.

Section 3. Information on the level of the qualification clarifies the level of qualification through confirming length of study and access requirements.

Section 4. Information on the contents and results gained outlines the degree programme’s contents, results gained and the overall degree classification of the final award. For students who graduated from July 2016 this will include your Grade Point Average (GPA).

Section 5. Information on the function of the qualification says whether or not the qualification confers professional status on the holder (applicable to many, but not all, Abertay degrees).

Section 6. Additional information, is a critical part of the HEAR and this section is the key differentiator between a HEAR and traditional academic transcript. It is intended to provide a rich picture of student’s wider achievements which can be verified by the University.

Section 7. Certification of the HEAR is the formal authentication of the HEAR (University stamp).

Section 8. Information on the national higher education system provides a web reference to a description of Scotland’s national higher education system.

View the full list of all HEAR-verified achievements offered by Abertay  University.

Here is an example of what an Abertay HEAR looks like.

As a new student, you will be sent an email explaining that HEAR’s need to be accessed via Gradintel.

The email will contain a link to the Gradintel website, where you will be asked to activate your account by setting up a username and password. Once logged into your Gradintel account you can view your HEAR document. You will have the option of adding other contact information.

Your HEAR will then be available to you throughout your time at Abertay, and during your working life. Once you have finished your studies your HEAR will be updated to Final status.

If you have activated your Gradintel account but have forgotten your login details, you will need to contact Gradintel Customer Services on customerservices@gradintel.com for assistance. 

If you have not yet activated your account, please contact hear@abertay.ac.uk .

The formative HEAR will be updated periodically during each academic year e.g. after assessment boards have met and the results have been confirmed. This is usually around February and June.

The Final HEAR will be updated after the Programme Assessment Board has confirmed the final awards.

All confirmed academic results will be displayed on the HEAR as this is your official Abertay Academic Transcript.

But for any additional activities in section 6.1 of the HEAR which have been recorded and verified, you have the option to exclude them from your HEAR in the University Services section of your Gradintel account.

This must be completed prior to the generation of your Final HEAR.

The University cannot generally verify activities that take place outside the University, e.g. part-time work.

However, the Principal’s Award for employability is included in the HEAR, which allows you to use and get reward for work-related skills and achievements, including certain external activities.

Not all students will have achievements listed in section 6.1.

In such cases, this section will be blank. If you have other achievements that the University cannot verify, you are encouraged to include details of such additional achievements in other documentation such as your CV, e-portfolios and job application statements.

Your achievements will be added to your HEAR as soon as they are verified in your student record, held by the University.

For academic achievements, these will not be added until after the Final Assessment Boards at the end of the academic year.

Other HEAR achievements can be recorded during the academic year, when they have been completed and verified.

You can check your HEAR at any time by logging into your Gradintel account – but remember that it will updated at key times of the year, and so additions won’t always be visible immediately.

The HEAR is the Abertay official academic transcript and should be used to officially verify your results and award.

You can print, download or share it electronically directly from your HEAR logon.  Instructions for this are given on your Gradintel HEAR account.

The HEAR can be used in a variety of ways to aid your employability. As a student at Abertay, there is a wealth of opportunity to develop academically and through a whole range of extra-curricular activities.

You can browse the range of HEAR-verifiable achievements offered by the university e.g. The Principal’s Award for employability or those offered by the Students’ Association.  

You can choose to share it with staff, support services (e.g. Academic Support or the Careers Development Centre) or even your peers and seek their feedback or advice on your progress. You will be encouraged during your course at Abertay to engage with and reflect upon your 'in progress' HEAR with associated learning activities provided.

You can share it with employers and perform searches using your Gradintel account, thereby increasing your chances of finding the right job for you. But remember - your HEAR complements but does not replace a CV or your own e-portfolio. We  encourage you to keep these up to date.