Do I Need a Certified Translation for My University Degree?

If your degree was awarded outside the UK and is not in English, you have probably wondered whether you need a certified translation before you apply for a master's, a job or a visa. The short answer is: in most cases, yes. This guide explains who asks for it, which documents you need to translate, and how to make sure your translation is accepted first time.

Who Requires a Certified Translation of Your Degree?

UK universities

Almost every UK university requires applicants with foreign qualifications to provide a certified English translation of their degree certificate and academic transcript. This applies to postgraduate applications, PhD admissions and transfers from foreign universities.

UK ENIC (statement of comparability)

If you need to prove how your qualification compares to the UK system, UK ENIC will ask for your documents — and a professional English translation for any document not in English.

Employers

Many UK employers, particularly in regulated sectors such as education, engineering, finance and healthcare, will ask for a certified translation to verify your qualifications during recruitment.

UKVI and the Home Office

For certain visa routes (for example Skilled Worker or some Student visa applications), educational documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. See our guide to UKVI translation requirements in 2026.

Professional bodies

Regulators such as the GMC, NMC, HCPC and teaching or engineering bodies require certified translations of your degree and transcripts before you can register. Learn more about our GMC and NMC document translation service.

Which Documents Should You Translate?

Depending on the institution, you may be asked for some or all of the following:

• Degree certificate or diploma
• Academic transcript (list of modules and grades)
• Diploma supplement
• Proof of enrolment or completion letter
• Secondary school certificates (for undergraduate applications)

Tip: the transcript is often the document people forget. Admissions teams use it to check your grades and modules, so translate it at the same time as your diploma.

Is a Standard Translation Enough?

No. A standard translation — or one you made yourself — will usually be refused. A certified translation must include:

• A complete and accurate translation of the whole document, including stamps and seals
• A signed statement from the translator confirming accuracy
• The translator's full name, contact details and the date

Even if you are fluent in English, you should not translate your own documents: institutions require an independent, qualified translator.

Do Grades Need to Be Converted?

A certified translation reproduces your grades exactly as they appear on the original (for example 16/20 or 8.5/10). Translators do not convert grades into the UK system — that is the role of the university admissions team or UK ENIC.

How Long Does It Take?

At FastCert, degree certificates and transcripts are usually delivered in 24–48 hours, with same-day express options for urgent application deadlines. You receive a digital certified PDF that can be uploaded directly to university portals, UCAS or UKVI.

Get Your Degree Translated

We translate diplomas, transcripts and academic documents from all major languages into English, accepted by UK universities, employers, UKVI and professional bodies.

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