Translation for University Admissions
Certified translations of transcripts, diplomas, recommendation letters and bank documents for undergraduate and graduate applications and the Form I-20.
The short answer
US colleges ask international applicants for academic records in the original language with an English translation, often a "certified" or "official" one, and some require a credential evaluation instead. For the Form I-20, schools also need documentary evidence that the student can pay (8 CFR 214.2(f)(1)(i)(B)), so foreign bank and sponsor documents need translating too.
Rules that apply
Each rule links to its source. Checked 4 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the office that will receive your documents.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| An F-1 student must present documentary evidence of financial support for the I-20. | 8 CFR 214.2(f)(1)(i)(B) |
| Schools set their own translation rules; CUNY's guidelines, for example, describe what an official translation must include. | City College of New York (CUNY), Translation of documents |
| WES evaluations require word-for-word translations from the institution or a certified translation service. | WES, Translation requirements |
| ECE requires translations of documents not in English, with a translation waiver option for some reports. | ECE, FAQs |
| Schools issue the Form I-20 through SEVIS once the student is admitted and has shown funding. | Study in the States (DHS), Form I-20 |
Read the school's instructions first
Each university sets its own rules, and they differ more than applicants expect. Some accept uploaded translations for review and want official records later. Some want records and translations sent directly by the school abroad. Some do not want translations at all, because they require a credential evaluation (WES, ECE or another) and the evaluator handles translation rules. Find the admissions page on international records before ordering anything.
What is usually translated
- Transcripts or mark sheets for every secondary school or university attended.
- Diplomas and degree certificates, and provisional certificates if the degree is not yet awarded.
- Recommendation letters written in another language, if the school accepts them translated.
- Bank statements and sponsor letters for the I-20, and an affidavit of support if a relative is paying.
- Course descriptions, for transfer credit.
Grades stay as awarded
A translation reproduces the grades exactly as written: 18/20, 9.2, "Sehr gut", first class. Converting them to a US GPA is the admissions office's or the evaluator's job, and a translation that converts grades can be rejected. Grading scales printed on the back of a transcript are translated too; they help the reader interpret the grades.
Financial documents for the I-20
To issue an I-20, the school needs proof that tuition and living costs are covered. Bank letters and statements in another language need translating. Amounts stay in the original currency; the school converts them. If the sponsor is a parent, the parent's employment or business documents may be needed as well.
Timing
Admissions deadlines cluster in winter. Order translations as soon as you have final records, and ask your school abroad for extra sealed copies at the same time, since some universities want both the sealed original and the translation.
Graduate applications
Graduate programmes often want more detail than undergraduate admissions: a degree certificate, the full transcript with every year, a grading scale, and sometimes a statement of class rank. For research degrees, a thesis abstract or publication list may be requested. Each is translated in full with names and dates as on your passport, so the file reads as one person.
Recommendation letters
Recommendation letters are usually written in English, but some recommenders can only write in their own language. If the programme accepts translated letters, we translate the letter in full with the recommender's title and institution, and the certificate makes clear it is a translation, not the recommender's own English text.
What we don't do
We translate; we do not evaluate degrees, convert grades, submit applications, or communicate with admissions offices for you.
Documents we translate for this
Academic Transcripts translation
Certified transcript translation for credential evaluation, graduate admission and professional licensing.
Diploma translation
Certified diploma and degree certificate translation for credential evaluation, licensing boards, employers and use abroad.
Bank Statement translation
Certified translation of foreign bank statements as evidence of assets for the I-864 affidavit of support, visas, courts and lenders.
Course Descriptions translation
Translation of syllabi and course descriptions for course-by-course evaluations, transfer credit and professional licensing, with hours and credits kept as stated.
Price
$39 for the first page (up to 250 words) into English, $49 into any other language, then $0.116 per additional word. Each file is priced on its own. The signed certificate of accuracy is included.
Full pricingTurnaround
24 hours standard for most documents. Expedited service is +50% for 6–8 hours and +100% for 1–3 hours. Large files are quoted with a delivery date before you pay.
Questions
Do you translate secondary-school records?
Yes: mark sheets, leaving certificates and national exam results, each with grades exactly as awarded.
Can the translation be sent directly to the university?
We deliver to you by email; some universities accept translations uploaded by the applicant. If yours needs them from the translator, tell us when ordering.
Can you translate a recommendation letter?
Yes, if the programme accepts translated letters. The certificate makes clear it is a translation of the recommender's original.
Do US universities accept certified translations?
Most do, but each sets its own rules, and some require a credential evaluation instead. Check the admissions page for international records.
Should my GPA be converted in the translation?
No. Grades are translated exactly as written. The university or evaluator converts them.
Do bank statements for the I-20 need translating?
If they are not in English, yes. Amounts stay in the original currency.
Related
Prepared by Global Certified Translations, Edgewater, NJ. Translations are signed by a State Court Certified Translator. This page explains translation requirements; it is not legal advice.
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