Academic Document Translation
Academic Document
Translation
Certified translation of transcripts, diplomas, and scholarly work for universities, sponsors, and the firms handling their filings, with the original grading scale preserved rather than converted and every seal and signature accounted for.
What does a certified academic transcript translation need to include?
A certified transcript translation must render the complete document: every course and grade, the original grading scale, institutional seals, signatures, and any reverse-side content, plus a signed certificate of accuracy naming the translator. It should preserve the original grading scale rather than converting it to a US GPA, because conversion is the credential evaluator's role. Kaplan translates academic records in 200+ languages and marks illegible passages rather than guessing.
Academic Translation
Transcripts & Academic Records
Certified translation of transcripts, mark sheets, and grade reports where the grading scale itself has to survive the translation. We render the original scale accurately and describe it rather than converting it to a US equivalent, because conversion is the evaluator's job and doing it in translation invalidates the document.
Academic Translation
Diplomas, Degrees & Certificates
Translation of diplomas, degree certificates, and professional qualifications, including the seals, signatures, and security features that appear on the original. Institutions verifying authenticity need those elements described, not silently dropped.
Academic Translation
Research, Theses & Scholarly Work
Translation of dissertations, published papers, research proposals, and conference material for collaboration, publication, and grant applications. Assigned to linguists with subject-matter background so field terminology and citation conventions are handled correctly.
Academic Translation
Institutional & Sponsor Documentation
Translation of enrolment verification, letters of recommendation, sponsorship and funding letters, and exchange-programme agreements for universities, sponsors, and the firms handling their filings. Turned around against admissions and term-start deadlines.
Why Kaplan
Built for Admissions and Verification
Grading Scales Preserved, Not Converted
We translate the original grading scale and describe it. Converting it to a US equivalent is the credential evaluator's role, and doing it inside the translation is a common reason a document is rejected.
Complete Document Standard
Seals, signatures, security features, and reverse-side content are translated or described, because an institution verifying authenticity is looking for exactly those elements.
Signed Certificate of Accuracy
Certified academic translations carry a signed certificate naming the translator, which is what admissions offices, licensing boards, and evaluators require.
Admissions-Deadline Aware
Academic work is deadline-shaped. We plan backward from your admissions, term-start, or filing date and confirm a realistic timeline before work begins.
Subject-Matter Linguists for Research
Theses and published papers go to linguists with background in the field, so terminology and citation conventions survive rather than being flattened into general prose.
200+ Languages
Certified academic translation in over 200 languages and dialects, including the regional pairs common in international admissions and research collaboration.
Client Feedback
What Our Clients Say
"They kept the original grading scale and described it instead of converting it. The evaluator accepted the file without a single query."
Beatriz N.
Admissions Coordinator
"Every seal and signature on the diploma was accounted for. Verification went through on the first pass."
Jonas E.
International Programmes Officer
FAQs
Common Questions
Do you convert foreign grades into a US GPA?
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No, deliberately. A certified translation renders the original grading scale accurately and describes it. Converting grades into a US equivalent is the role of a credential evaluation service, and performing that conversion inside a translation is one of the more common reasons an admissions office or licensing board rejects a document. We translate the scale faithfully so the evaluator can do their own work from it.
Is a certified translation the same as a credential evaluation?
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No, and institutions frequently ask for both. A certified translation renders the document into English with a signed certificate of accuracy. A credential evaluation is a separate, regulated assessment of what a foreign qualification is equivalent to in the United States. We provide the translation. We do not perform evaluations, and we will not claim to. Most evaluators require a certified translation before they will begin, so translation usually comes first.
What does a certified transcript translation need to include?
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The complete document: every course entry, every grade, the grading scale, institutional seals, signatures, and any reverse-side content or marginal notation. Partial translations of transcripts are a frequent cause of rejection, because an admissions office comparing the translation against the original will notice the omissions immediately. It also needs a signed certificate of accuracy naming the translator.
Can you meet an admissions or term-start deadline?
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Usually. Academic timelines are fixed and we plan backward from them from the first conversation. Many transcript and diploma sets are completed with same-week availability, and larger research documents are scheduled against your submission date. Tell us the deadline when you send documents and we confirm a realistic timeline before starting rather than after.
Do you translate dissertations and research papers?
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Yes. Theses, published papers, research proposals, and grant applications are assigned to linguists with background in the relevant field, so field terminology, methodology language, and citation conventions are handled correctly. General linguists tend to produce prose that reads smoothly while losing the precision a reviewer is assessing.
What if the transcript is an old or poor-quality copy?
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We translate what is legible and mark illegible passages explicitly rather than guessing at a grade or a course title. Guessing is far riskier here than flagging, because a discrepancy between the translation and the original surfaces during verification. Where the illegible portion is material, we will tell you so you can request a fresh copy from the institution.
Are these translations accepted for immigration filings?
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Academic credentials frequently support employment-based petitions and labour certification. When the destination is USCIS or a consulate, the certification wording and completeness standard are specific, so see our immigration document translation service. Tell us the receiving body when you send documents and we will format the certification correctly the first time.
Do you work with universities and sponsors directly?
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Yes. Universities, exchange programmes, sponsors, and the firms handling their filings are our usual clients on this work, typically with recurring volume across an admissions cycle. Institutions with ongoing needs are set up with a standing intake process and a consistent linguist team so turnaround stays predictable through peak periods.
How do I request an academic document translation quote?
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Send the documents, the target language, and the institution or body receiving them through our online form or by phone at (833) 547-7770. We confirm scope, certification format, and turnaround against your deadline, and provide a fixed quote before work begins.
Related Document Translation Services
Academic credentials rarely travel alone. They usually accompany an immigration petition or a professional licensing file, and the certification requirements differ by destination.
Request an Academic Document Translation Quote
Send your transcripts or research and tell us the receiving institution and deadline. We quote a fixed price before work begins.