How to Translate a Diploma for University Admission, WES or a Job

5 MIN READ

Updated October 12, 2026

To use a foreign diploma for a university application, a WES evaluation or a job, you usually need a certified translation. That is a complete, word-for-word English translation made by a professional translator, with a signed statement that it is accurate. You can’t translate the diploma yourself, and machine translations are not accepted.

This guide takes you through the process step by step, from checking the requirements to submitting the translation. If you already know you need a certified translation, see our high school diploma translation and university degree translation pages for prices and delivery times.

How to Translate a Diploma in 5 Steps

1. Check what the receiving institution requires: a certified, notarized or sworn translation, and whether it also needs your transcript.
2. Get a clear scan or photo of the whole diploma, front and back, with all stamps and seals visible.
3. Order a certified translation from a professional translator or translation company.
4. Add notarization or an apostille only if the institution asks for it.
5. Check the names and dates in the translation, then submit it with a copy of your original diploma.

Step 1: Check What the Institution Requires

University admission

Most US colleges and universities ask for a certified English translation of any diploma, degree certificate or transcript that isn’t in English. Many also ask for a credential evaluation from WES, ECE or another NACES member. Check the international admissions page of each university, because the rules differ. Some want the translation sent by your school, and community colleges often have their own requirements.

WES credential evaluation

World Education Services (WES) accepts translations only from your academic institution or a certified translation service. The translation must be a precise, word-for-word translation of the whole document. WES doesn’t translate documents, and it doesn’t accept translations you make yourself. You can upload the translation in your WES account, and it doesn’t need to come in a sealed envelope. Your academic records themselves often have to come directly from your school, so check WES’s required documents for the country where you studied.

A job or a professional license

Employers that check foreign qualifications, and licensing boards for professions such as nursing, engineering, teaching and accounting, usually ask for a certified translation plus a credential evaluation. Some boards name the evaluation service you must use, so read the board’s instructions before you order.

Immigration (USCIS)

USCIS requires a full English translation of every foreign-language document you submit. The translator must sign a statement that they are competent to translate and that the translation is accurate. Diplomas are often part of employment-based petitions.

Using your diploma outside the US

Many countries have their own rules. Some require a sworn translation by a translator registered with a court or ministry in that country. Many also ask for an apostille on the original diploma before it is translated. Ask the receiving institution which of these it needs.

Step 2: Prepare Your Diploma

• Scan or photograph the whole document, front and back, in color, with every stamp, seal, signature and handwritten note visible.
• Add your transcript or mark sheet if the institution asks for it. A diploma alone rarely shows your courses and grades.
• Write down how your name is spelled in your passport, so the translation uses the same spelling.
• When you order, say what the translation is for (university, WES, a job or immigration) and when you need it.

Step 3: Order a Certified Translation

A certified diploma translation includes:

• a complete, word-for-word translation of all the text, including stamps, seals, signatures and notes in the margins
• the same layout as the original, so the reader can match each part
• a signed certificate of accuracy from the translator or translation company

The translator translates your degree title, grades and school name exactly as they appear. They don’t convert your grades to a US GPA or replace your degree with a US equivalent, because that is the credential evaluator’s job. A translation that changes or interprets grades can be rejected.

At TheWordPoint, a certified translation of a one-page high school diploma starts at $24.75, and a university degree certificate starts at $26.90 per page. Prices depend on the language pair, and standard delivery is 24–48 hours. See all prices or get a free quote.

Step 4: Add Notarization or an Apostille Only If Asked

Most US universities and USCIS accept a certified translation without notarization, and WES doesn’t ask for it either. Some schools, courts and foreign authorities still want a notarized translation. In that case, a notary public confirms the identity of the person who signed the certificate of accuracy. The notary doesn’t check the translation itself.

An apostille is something else. It confirms that a public document, such as your original diploma, is genuine, so it can be used in another country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention. Order these extras only when the institution asks for them, and mention them when you request a quote.

Step 5: Check and Submit the Translation

• Compare the names, dates of birth, graduation dates and school name with your original diploma and your passport.
• If anything is wrong, ask for a correction before you submit.
• Submit the translation with a copy of the original, the way the institution asks: upload, email or post.
• Keep the PDF. You can reuse the same certified translation for other applications if the institution accepts it.

At TheWordPoint, if a university, WES or USCIS asks for a change to our certified translation, we revise it at no extra cost.

Common Mistakes That Get Diploma Translations Rejected

• Translating the diploma yourself, or asking a friend who isn’t a professional translator.
• Using machine translation.
• Translating only the main text and leaving out the stamps, the seals or the back of the document.
• Converting grades, or replacing the degree title with a US equivalent.
• Spelling names differently from your passport or other documents.
• Sending the diploma without the transcript when the institution asks for both.
• Leaving it too late. Order the translation as soon as you know you need it.

How to Choose a Diploma Translation Provider

Look for a provider that offers:

• certified translations with a signed certificate of accuracy, accepted by universities, WES and USCIS
• experience with academic documents and grading systems from your country
• a fixed price before work starts, with no hidden fees
• a clear confidentiality policy for your personal data
• free revisions if the institution asks for changes
• support that answers quickly when your deadline is close

Read also: How to get a certified translation in 2026

Diploma Translation: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I translate my own diploma?
Usually not. WES doesn’t accept translations you make yourself, and most universities ask for a translation by a professional translator or a translation company.

Do I need to translate my transcript as well as my diploma?
Often, yes. Universities and WES usually want both: the diploma shows that you graduated, and the transcript shows your courses and grades.

Does WES accept translations from a translation company?
Yes. WES accepts precise, word-for-word translations from your academic institution or a certified translation service, and you can upload them in your WES account.

Do I need a notarized translation of my diploma?
Usually not, for US universities, WES or USCIS. Get one only if the institution asks for it.

How much does it cost to translate a diploma?
At TheWordPoint, a high school diploma costs from $24.75 per page and a university degree certificate from $26.90 per page, depending on the language pair. The price per page is lower in 2- and 3-page documents.

How long does diploma translation take?
A certified translation usually takes 24–48 hours, and rush delivery is available.