30 Years of Trusted Academic Certificate Translations
Degree certificates and other academic certificates and qualifications frequently need to be translated when applying for jobs and education abroad. Although academic certificates often appear straightforward, education systems differ substantially from country to country, so their translation requires specialist local knowledge and attention to detail that only an experienced translator has.
Business Language Services has been translating all types of academic certificates for over 30 years. As an Accredited Member of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), our certified academic certificate translations can be relied upon by any organisations receiving them.
Certified translations in just four simple steps!
Quick, Simple and Reliable: Certified Translations Made Easy
Our academic certificate translation services are designed to make the entire process – from getting a quote to delivering high-quality translations – as simple and seamless as possible:
Submit Documents
Send us a scan or photograph of your certificate(s), either by email or via the online quote form.
Project Assigned
A project manager oversees your translation from start to finish, starting with a certification consultation.
Quote Preparation
We analyse the document(s), determine the word count, and prepare a quote for cost and turnaround time.
Approve & Pay
If you are happy with the quote, you make your payment. We then get your translation underway.
Why translate an academic certificate?
Academic certificates are most commonly translated for academic or work‑related purposes, such as:
- Applying for a job abroad
- Applying for university or other studies
- Applying for financial support for studies (scholarships, bursaries, etc.)
- Applying for a long‑term or permanent visa, such as for work or study
- Applying for permanent residency
How to choose an academic certificate translation provider
Since they are almost always for official purposes, academic certificate translations must always be certified. This confirms to the organisation receiving the translation that it was completed by a skilled professional linguist and that the translated document is a true and accurate representation of the original document.
Only an accredited linguist or translation company can certify a translation, as this requires a stamp from a recognised translation industry body. The three such bodies in the UK are the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), and the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), all of whom endorse each other’s certification procedures and guidelines.
Business Language Services is an Accredited Member of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), so you will see our ATC stamp on any certified translation we provide (except ‘sworn’ translations, due to their specific requirements). This stamp is your seal of quality and accuracy and is recognised by all major institutions.
Academic certificate translation from £66!
The exact certification requirements for academic certificate translations vary from country to country.
We offer four levels/types of certification, depending on your requirements:
Certified translation
Certified Translation is the standard level of certification needed for any translation for legal purposes. The translation includes our ATC stamp and a verification letter, signed by a project manager or translator, certifying its accuracy. Certified Translation involves:
- Translation by a native-speaking professional
- Editing by a second experienced linguist
- Proofreading and formatting checks by your project manager
- Certification using our ATC stamp and verification letter
- Delivery of scanned copy by email, hard copy via first-class post to your UK address
Notarised translation
Notarisation provides an extra level of guarantee on top of our standard certification. Notarisation is often required for government, legal submissions, and sometimes for job or education applications. Notarised Translation involves:
- Translation by a native-speaking professional
- Editing by a second experienced linguist
- Proofreading and formatting checks by your project manager
- Certification using our ATC stamp and verification letter
- Notarisation by our trusted Notary Public
- Delivery of scanned copy by email, hard copy via first-class post to your UK address
Every project is unique, so the above prices are estimates only. In order to provide an accurate quote for the cost and turnaround time for your translation, we will need to analyse your document(s).
Choosing the right certification for your academic certificate translation
The exact certification requirements for academic certificate translations vary from country to country and depend on the organisation to which you are submitting the translation.
Standard Certified Translation is almost always sufficient for academic certificates if they are for job or study applications. If, however, the translation is needed as part of a visa application or similar, then Notarised Translation might be required.
There are also two other types of certification – legalised (also known as apostilled) and sworn. These are almost never needed for academic certificates, but we are able to provide them if stipulated by the organisation receiving your translation.
How long does it take to translate a academic certificate?
Standard Certified Translation of a single-page academic certificate typically takes around a full working day to translate, edit, proofread and certify, so you can expect to receive the translation 2 working days after we receive the source file.
If Notarisation is needed, this usually adds an extra working day on top of the standard certification timeline, so notarised translations are generally completed in a total of 2–3 working days.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about academic certificate translation.
Do you need the original certificate?
In most cases, no. A scan or clear photograph of the death certificate is sufficient for a Certified Translation. If you do not have access to a scanner, you are more than welcome to bring the certificate to our office, and we will be happy to scan it for you.
However, if Notarisation or Legalisation is required, then our Notary Public and the FCDO will need to receive the original paper certificate to verify that it is genuine. We will let you know if this is needed.
My translated certificate looks quite different to the original – is this correct?
Yes. Due to the substantial differences between the grading systems and education systems in different countries, it is common for translator’s notes to be added to academic certificates to provide additional explanations of what the grades signify. This can mean that the layout needs to be adjusted for aesthetic reasons.
Our team is highly experienced, so you can be confident that the translated certificate is presented in the best possible way to ensure that the organisation receiving it has all the information they need.