Häufig gestellte Fragen zum neuen europass - Die neuen europass Transparenzinstrumente

Frequently Asked Questions on the europass

A list of frequently asked questions on the europass transparency instruments is provided here. Simply click on the question in which you are interested to be taken directly to the answer.

General questions on the europass
What is the europass?
How much do the europass documents cost?
May I fill out europass documents as a trial?
May I add photos to the europass documents?
Are there links between the europass and other initiatives?
How do I find the National Europass Centres (NEC) in other EU countries?
For which target groups are there brochures and how can I order these?

europass Curriculum Vitae
How do I draw up my europass Curriculum Vitae?
Can I design my europass Curriculum Vitae in such a way so as to lend it an individual touch?
Where is the europass Curriculum Vitae stored?

europass Language Passport
Why do I need a europass Language Passport?
Who certifies the europass Language Passport?
Where is the europass Language Passport stored?

europass Diploma Supplement
How and where can I obtain the europass Diploma Supplement?
Does the europass Diploma Supplement apply to German "Diplom" degrees, Bachelor degrees and Masters degrees?
Are templates available for the europass Diploma Supplement?

europass Certificate Supplement
What are europass Certificate Supplements?
When will europass Certificate Supplements be available?
Can a europass Certificate Supplement be of assistance when seeking a job in non-EU countries?

General questions on the europass

What is the europass?
The europass has its basis in the EU Council Resolution of 15 December 2004 which passed the europass Framework Concept. The aim is for the five documents which constitute the europass to assist the citizens of Europe in portraying their qualifications and competences in a transparent manner so as to enable them to present themselves better on their national labour market and on the European labour market.
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How much do the europass documents cost?
europass documents are free of charge.
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May I fill out europass documents as a trial?
It is possible to fill out the europass Mobility on a trial basis. Our homepage provides you with the opportunity to submit a demonstration application (under europass Mobility/apply) once you have registered.
Both the europass Curriculum Vitae and the europass Language Passport are drawn up directly online. Once they have been completed, these documents can be saved on your own PC and edited and supplemented in any way you wish and at any time.
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May I add photos to the europass documents?
You have the opportunity to add a photo to the europass Curriculum Vitae. Photos which you have saved on your own PC may also be added to the document.
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Are there links between the europass and other initiatives?
There is as yet no direct link between other German initiatives such as the ProfilPASS or the Training Pass with the europass. Considerations are, however, ongoing to ascertain whether it is possible to enter competences recorded by such instruments as the ProfilePASS into the europass Curriculum Vitae.
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How do I find the National Europass Centres (NEC) in other EU countries?
Contact information for the Europass Centres in all EU countries is available on the CEDEFOP website.
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For which target groups are there brochures and how can I order these?
• For teaching staff/adults: “Das europass Rahmenkonzept” [The europass Framework Concept – German language document]
• For institutional applicants: “Der schnelle Weg zum europass” [The fast path to the europass – German language document]
• For young people/school pupils: “Nimm deine Zukunft selbst in die Hand” [Take your future into your own hands – German language document]
• For vocational schools/colleges: “europass Curriculum Vitae Poster”
• For teaching in schools/teachers: “europass Unterrichtsmaterialien” [europass teaching materials – German language documentation]
Please visit the download area on our homepage for a detailed summary of available [German language] documents and downloads. These publications may be ordered via the NA Shopping Basket.
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europass Curriculum Vitae

How do I draw up my europass Curriculum Vitae?
The europass Curriculum Vitae is drawn up online. The link on the europass homepage will take you to the CEDEFOP EU Portal. CEDEFOP is responsible for the process in its capacity as the lead management institution. You will be taken through the procedure for drawing up the europassCurriculum Vitae step by step and will receive the document ready for download at the conclusion of the process. It is important always to save the europass Curriculum Vitae in XML or PDF-XML format on your own PC so as to make it possible to upload and supplement the CV online at a later stage.
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Can I design my europass Curriculum Vitae in such a way so as to lend it an individual touch?
The europass Curriculum Vitae may be downloaded in PDF-XML format or as a Word Document. The PDF version may not be edited. The Word version can, however, be reformatted as required.
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Where is the europass Curriculum Vitae stored?
The Curriculum Vitae is stored locally on your own computer. You may download the document in various formats once it has been completed. We suggest saving the document in a format which enables it to be re-edited online, such as XML or PDF-XML. Your personal data cannot be viewed by third parties. Data is not saved on the CEDEFOP servers.
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europass Language Passport

Why do I need a europass Language Passport?
The europass Language Passport provides a standardised template for the presentation of your knowledge of foreign languages, using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages passed by the Council of Europe. The Language Passport requires you to evaluate your own knowledge of foreign languages.
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Who certifies the europass Language Passport?
The europass Language Passport constitutes self-evaluation of knowledge of foreign languages only. For this reason, the Language Passport does not require certification.
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Where is the completed europass Language Passport stored?
The completed europass Language Passport is stored locally on your own computer. Once you have drawn up your Language Passport, you download the completed document in XML or PDF-XML format, enabling you to update or supplement it at any time. Data cannot be viewed by third parties. Data is not saved on the CEDEFOP servers.
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europass Mobility

Who may apply for the europass Mobility?
The home organisation (institution sending people abroad) applies for the europass Mobility. This home organisation may, for example, be a school applying for europassES for its pupils or may equally be a company which is sending staff abroad. europass Mobility applications from individual persons are not currently possible.
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Can an organisation from another country apply for the europass Mobility via the German europass database?
No. The europass Mobility is based on the principle of the home country, meaning that an application has to be submitted from within the respective home country of the participant (i.e. the learner spending a period of time abroad). The addresses of the respective europass Centres are available here.
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In which countries may the periods of learning take place?
A europass Mobility application can be made for stays abroad in all EU countries, in the EEA countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and in Turkey, Croatia and Switzerland. A europass Mobility application can currently be made for the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.
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How do I apply for the europass Mobility?
europass applications take place online. If you have not been involved with europass before, you will need to begin by registering. You will be able to apply for a europass Mobility once your account has been activated. Important: Once you have registered, you will be sent a mail. You will need to confirm the content of this mail within 14 days. When your application has been examined, europasses Mobility you have requested will be activated and may then be edited.
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How do I apply for the europass Mobility as part of the Leonardo da Vinci Project?
The application process takes place via the europass homepage. You will be given the opportunity to enter your LEONARDO DA VINCI Project Number whilst completing your application. In this case, select Procedure A to open the relevant input field. Once you have entered your Project Number, activation of the europasses Mobility you have applied for will take place immediately. Measures which have been approved by the LEONARDO Programme automatically fulfil the europass quality criteria and do not need to be subjected to further scrutiny. Please enter your application number in full.
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May I enter periods spent as an au-pair or language courses in the europass Mobility?
The europass Mobility certifies periods of learning spent abroad in Europe. europass Mobility applications are usually made by such organisations as schools, vocational schools, vocational training centres, international offices at academic institutions, human resources departments at companies and universities.

The decisive factor is that the quality criteria stated in the Council of Europe Resolution need to be fulfilled in respect of the period to be spent abroad. These criteria are as follows:
• a written agreement between the home institution and host organisation on the content, aims and duration of the period of learning;
• appropriate linguistic preparation of participants;
• a mentor abroad to provide support and act as a contact partner;
• compliance with the geographical scope of application: i.e. Europe (not USA, Australia, ….)
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May the host organisation also gain access to the europass Mobility for the purpose of filling it in?
The host organisation may be involved in filling in the europass Mobility, but such involvement is limited to entering content under point 5. If the home organisation wishes the host organisation to participate, the former may activate the password by clicking on “Send password”. The option to do so is contained alongside information on the contact person abroad, Point 3. The host organisation receives a password and log-in by e-mail and can use these to log into the europasses Mobility and fill them in under Point 5. The system sends the home organisation a message informing it that a password has been transmitted to the contact person in the host country.
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What can I do if the host organisation has problems with the log-in or password?
The host organisation may fail to receive the e-mail containing the password and link because Internet security programmes have been activated causing the e-mail to be filtered out as spam or deleted.
If you experience such problems, please contact the NEC. We will do our best to assist you.
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May measures which have been undertaken in the past be entered into the europass Mobility?
Yes. The europass Mobility may be issued retrospectively to cover activities from 1 January 2005 onwards. Activities which took place before this date cannot, unfortunately, be considered.
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May an application for the europass Mobility be made for activities which take place within the applicant's own country?
No. The europass Mobility documents qualifications and activities which have taken place in connection with periods of time spent abroad. It cannot be used to record continuing training which takes place inside the applicant’s own country. Please note that e-learning activities based in participants‘ home countries and involving contact abroad can also not be considered.
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Does the europass Mobility need to be approved by the National Europass Centre (NEC) once it has been filled in?
No. The europass Mobility is signed and stamped by the issuing or home organisation, by the host organisation and by the participant’s mentor abroad. Separate approval on the part of the NEC is not required for the purpose of verification of the europass Mobility.
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May I enter more than one stay abroad into the europass Mobility?
The europass Mobility documents one period spent abroad at a time. It does not provide a facility for the ongoing listing of more than one period spent abroad. This means that you will be issued with a separate europass Mobility for each stay abroad.
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Is there a simplified procedure if a large number of applications are made?
Once an institution making an application has registered once it may continue to use the password it has been e-mailed to apply for further europasses.
Applications may be made for europasses Mobility to cover groups of up to a maximum of 30 participants. If a europass Mobility application for more than 30 participants is made, the NEC will contact the applicant.
When undertaking a group activity, it is possible to transfer all identical content to all europasses via a single click in the application. Such standardised entries may be modified for each europass Mobility if required.
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How can the europass Mobility be completed in other languages? Is any translation assistance available?
The database always offers you a choice of five languages - German, English, French, Italian and Spanish. The desired language may be selected on the homepage. The europass Mobility template then opens in the desired language, and you make your entries in the same language.
Please note that your entries will appear in their original form and will not be translated. If you fill in your europass Mobility entirely in German and select the English language version for print, your content will remain in German even though the layout will now be in English.
We recommend making dual entries of the content in both languages within the same document and then printing out the German template of the europass Mobility followed by a further print out of the foreign language template. If you overwrite your content only the last version will exist.

www.disco-tools.eu provides translation assistance for some languages. “disco” stands for Dictionary of Skills and Competences and is available in German, English, French, Lithuanian, Swedish, Czech and Hungarian. It is an online dictionary which has been developed in conjunction with partners from the linguistic regions mentioned within the scope of a LEONARDO Project. disco is added to and updated on an ongoing basis.
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How are empty or invalid applications deleted?
Empty or invalid applications are automatically deleted from the system at regular intervals. Manual deletion of applications is not possible.
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How are errors in the application corrected (such as in instances where there is a change to the date of travel)?
Telephone us or contact us by e-mail. We will then check your data and make the necessary corrections.
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Are there any opportunities of funding support for the foreign project?
europass itself does not include any financial support for the foreign project being pursued. You may apply to such programmes as the Programme for Lifelong Learning to obtain funding for your projects. The europass may also be used for projects which institutions have organised themselves or for projects which have been funded in a different way.
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How can I obtain the storage folders for the europass Mobility?
europass folders can be ordered directly when submitting applications for europasses Mobility. To order folders, indicate how many folders you require by checking the appropriate box. These folders will then be automatically sent to you when your application is activated. Folders may only be sent out for europass Mobility applications which have been submitted and activated. We do not send out samples or inspection copies. A cover sheet may be downloaded from the europass homepage if required.
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europass Diploma Supplement

How and where can I obtain the europass Diploma Supplement?
The europass Diploma Supplement is issued by the institute of higher education or university awarding the degree.
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Does the europass Diploma Supplement apply to German "Diplom" degrees, Bachelor degrees and Masters degrees?
A Resolution of the Ministers of Education of the Member States provides for europass Diploma Supplements to be issued automatically and free of charge to all graduates of any degree programme from 2005 onwards. The issuing of Diploma Supplements is the responsibility of the institutes of higher education. No legal right to a Diploma Supplement currently exists.
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Are templates available for the europass Diploma Supplement?
Yes. The template is available via a closed section of the europass homepage which is only accessible to institutes of higher education. Institutes need to register to avail themselves of this service. Once registration has been activated the document may be downloaded and filled in English and German. Completed Diploma Supplements are not stored on the europass homepage.
The Internet pages of the German Rectors‘ Conference (HRK) (www.hrk-bologna.de) also provide a Diploma Supplement template, although this does not contain the europass logo.
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europass Certificate Supplements

What are europass Certificate Supplements?
europass Certificate Supplements are a description of training occupations within the respective member states, providing clarity in respect of the nature of the training for the occupation in question in each country.
The europass Certificate contains a brief description of occupational proficiency and of fields of occupational activity, thus providing a picture of the knowledge, skills and competences acquired within the respective occupation. The Certificate Supplement also provides supplementary information on the duration, nature and level of the training and on the content of the course. The Certificate Supplement does not replace the original certificate, but by presenting the nature of the qualification has been achieved may help facilitate recognition on the part of competent authorities.
The europass Certificate Supplement presents the contents and qualifications of a training occupation in a way which is standardised across Europe, thus rendering it particularly suited to making an application abroad.
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When will europass Certificate Supplements be available?
The first 22 europass Certificate Supplements are available for download in German here on our homepage. Further Certificate Supplements will be added on an ongoing basis and made available for download. The europass Certificate Supplements will gradually be translated into English and French. If you cannot find the Certificate Supplement you are looking for, please return at a later date.
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Can a europass Certificate Supplement be of assistance when seeking a job in non-EU countries?
The europass Certificate Supplements assist third parties in understanding the significance of vocational certificates in terms of the competences which the holders of such certificates have acquired. This is of particular relevance when making a job application abroad. Contents and skills which have been acquired during the course of such training as the dual system of VET in Germany are clearly portrayed. europass Certificate Supplements are thus obviously of assistance in non EU countries by presenting what has been learned in Germany.
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