Turning a University Degree Certificate into an Officially Certified Translation

A certificate of degree is a vital academic record that certifies a person’s achievement of a degree. If the certificate is not in the required language it may be necessary to obtain a translation if they are to be submitted to an organisation in another country. A certified translation is required for many official uses instead of a regular translation.

A professional degree certificate translation helps ensure that academic qualifications can be clearly understood by institutions and authorities that do not accept the original language. The translation should accurately reflect the degree title, graduate’s name, university details, dates, registration information, and other relevant content without changing the meaning of the original document. Because official requirements can vary depending on the purpose of submission, it is important to confirm whether a certified translation and any specific certification format are required before beginning the process.

Determine whether translation is necessary

The first step is to check the requirements of the organization receiving the degree certificate. There may be different rules for immigration authorities, educational institutions, employers, or government departments. Some may accept documents in certain languages without translation, others may wish to have a certified translation. Making sure to go through these requirements beforehand can save the hassle of additional costs and delays.

Prepare a Clear Copy of the Certificate

The translator needs to have a clear copy of the entire degree certificate. The information must be fully visible – graduate’s Name, Degree Title, University Information, Dates, Signatures, Seals, Registration number etc. Give copies of both sides of the certificate if it has information on both sides.

Choose a Qualified Translator

A degree certificate has formal academic language and should be translated by a person proficient in both languages. The receiving party can designate who may certify the translation for such purposes. This may include a recognised translator, translation organisation, school, or any other recognised professional.

State every important detail in the translation.

The translation should accurately reproduce the information on the original certificate. Names, degree titles, dates and identification numbers and other details should be thoroughly reviewed. The translator should not alter the content of academic qualifications to make it sound familiar in another language. If no equivalent qualification exists, there may be a case for leaving the original term or language or giving an appropriate explanatory translation.

why it is important for certified translation

Usually, a certified translation will contain a statement by the translator confirming that he or she believes the translation is complete and accurate. It can, for example, contain the translator’s name, signature, date and qualifications. But it does not apply anywhere in one certification procedure. Others may require further documentation, for instance, notarisation or a particular translator qualification.

Please retain the Original Certificate.

Note that the translated certificate is not in place of the degree certificate. If the receiving organisation requires both then the translation should be accompanied by the original document which must be kept safely. It’s also helpful to have a digital copy of the original and the certified copy for other uses later on.

Check the Final Document

Prior to submission of the translation, the translation must be carefully compared to the original certificate. Be sure to look for names, dates, degree titles, numbers and official seals. Ensure that the certificate is certified to the requirements of the organisation to receive the certificate