How to Translate Academic Transcripts and Diplomas for U.S. Universities
International students and professionals seeking to use their foreign academic credentials in the United States face a two-step process: certified translation and credential evaluation. This guide explains how each step works, what institutions require, and how to ensure your translated academic documents are accepted.
Why Academic Documents Need Certified Translation
U.S. universities, credential evaluation agencies, and professional licensing boards cannot assess documents they cannot read. When your academic records are in a language other than English, you need a certified translation that:
Renders every element of the original document in English, Includes a Certificate of Accuracy from the translator, Preserves the original grades, credits, and formatting without conversion, and Is performed by a qualified translator (not by the applicant)
Understanding the Credential Evaluation Process
What Is Credential Evaluation?
A credential evaluation is a professional assessment that compares foreign academic credentials to U.S. educational standards. The evaluator reviews your translated documents and issues a report stating:
- The U.S. equivalent of your degree (e.g., "equivalent to a Bachelor of Science from an accredited U.S. university")
- A course-by-course analysis with U.S. grade equivalents and credit hours
- The standing of your institution in the foreign education system
Major Credential Evaluation Agencies
WES (World Education Services):
- The most widely recognized evaluator in the U.S. and Canada
- Requires documents to be sent directly from issuing institutions for some countries
- Accepts certified translations from professional translation services
- Two evaluation types: document-by-document and course-by-course
ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators): Another widely respected evaluator, Accepts both official documents and certified translations, and Offers general and course-by-course evaluations
NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services): Not an evaluation agency itself but an association of approved evaluators, Any NACES member evaluation is generally accepted by U.S. institutions, and Members include WES, ECE, IERF, SpanTran, and others
AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators):
- An alternative to NACES
- Members include various evaluation agencies with specific regional expertise
Choosing Between Credential Evaluators
- WES or ECE for general graduate school or employment applications
- A NACES member if the receiving institution specifies "NACES-approved evaluation"
- A country-specific evaluator if your credentials are from a country with unusual requirements (e.g., SpanTran for Latin American credentials)
Translation Requirements by Evaluator
WES Translation Requirements
WES has specific translation requirements:
- Translations must be complete and literal (word-for-word, not summarized)
- The translation must include all information on the original document
- The translator must certify that the translation is accurate and complete
- WES prefers translations that maintain the original format
- For some countries, WES requires documents to be sent via specific channels (e.g., the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center for Chinese credentials)
ECE Translation Requirements
ECE requirements include:
- Professional certified translation
- The translator's name and credentials on the certification
- Complete translation of all text, including institutional stamps and seals
- Translations must not be performed by the applicant or a family member
General Best Practices for Credential Evaluation Translations
Translate literally. Do not interpret, explain, or convert foreign grades to U.S. equivalents — that is the evaluator's job.
Include everything. Course names, credit hours, grades, dates, institutional information, stamps, signatures — all must be translated.
Maintain format. A tabular transcript should produce a tabular translation. This helps the evaluator match entries between the original and translation.
Do not substitute. If the original says "Licenciatura," translate it as "Licenciatura" (with a note: "Translator's Note: 'Licenciatura' is". Do not simply write "Bachelor's Degree" — the evaluator will determine the equivalency.
Common Academic Document Types
Transcripts
Academic transcripts list courses taken, grades received, and credits earned. They vary significantly by country:
U.S.-style transcripts (used in many countries): tabular format with course names, grades, and credit hours
European-style transcripts (used in EU and some other countries): may follow the Diploma Supplement format under the Bologna Process
Soviet/Russian-style transcripts (used in former Soviet countries): list courses, hours, and grades on a 5-point scale
Chinese transcripts: may include percentage grades, letter grades, or Chinese descriptive grades
Indian transcripts: vary by university and may include marksheets, grade cards, and consolidation sheets
Diplomas and Degrees
Diplomas typically contain: The institution's name and logo, The graduate's name, The degree title, The date of conferral, Seals and signatures of institutional officers, and Often ornate language and formatting
Diploma Supplements
In countries following the Bologna Process, a diploma supplement accompanies the degree and provides additional information about the nature, level, context, and status of the studies. This document must also be translated.
Marksheets (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh)
South Asian educational systems issue individual marksheets for each examination period, rather than a consolidated transcript. An applicant may have 6 to 10 marksheets for a single degree. Each must be translated.
Challenges in Academic Translation
Grading System Conversion
Different countries use different grading scales:
| Country | Scale | Passing Grade | |---------|-------|---------------| | United States | 4.0 GPA | 2.0 (C) | | France | 0-20 | 10 | | Germany | 1.0-5.0 | 4.0 (lower is better) | | India | Percentage or CGPA (10-point) | Varies by university | | Japan | S/A/B/C/D or 0-100 | C or 60 | | Russia | 5-point scale | 3 | | Brazil | 0-10 | 5 or 7 | | Mexico | 0-10 | 6 | | China | 0-100 or descriptive | 60 |
The translator must render grades exactly as they appear. Converting grades is the evaluator's responsibility.
Degree Title Translation
Foreign degree titles should be translated literally, not converted:
"Licenciatura" (Spanish/Portuguese) → "Licenciatura" (not "Bachelor's Degree"), "Maîtrise" (French) → "Maîtrise" (not "Master's Degree"), "Kandidat Nauk" (Russian) → "Candidate of Sciences" (not "Ph.D."), and "Sarjana" (Indonesian) → "Sarjana" (not "Bachelor")
A translator's note may explain the general equivalency, but the title itself should not be changed.
Course Name Translation
Course names should be translated as accurately as possible, reflecting the subject matter. When a course name is ambiguous, the translator should provide a literal translation and note any uncertainty.
Direct University Submissions
Some U.S. universities accept translated documents directly without requiring a separate credential evaluation. In these cases:
- The translation must still be certified
- The university's international admissions office will perform its own assessment
- Requirements vary by university — check with the admissions office before submitting
Link Translations Academic Translation Services
Link Translations provides certified translation of academic documents from any country and language. Our translators understand the specific requirements of WES, ECE, and other credential evaluation agencies.
Our academic translation services include:
Certified translation of transcripts, diplomas, and marksheets, Literal, word-for-word translation that meets evaluator requirements, Format-preserved translations for easy comparison with originals, Certificate of Accuracy included, and Rush delivery available for application deadlines
Get a free quote for your academic document translation.