What Translation Does WES Require for a Foreign Diploma?
WES expects a precise, word-for-word English translation when required academic documents are issued in another language. The translation must cover the complete record without adding a US degree equivalency. It accompanies the original-language document; it does not replace the source record or change any institution-specific delivery rule shown in your WES Required Documents checklist.
Table of Contents
- What Translation Does WES Require for a Foreign Diploma?
- What Does "Word-for-Word Translation" Mean for WES?
- Who Can Translate Documents Submitted to WES?
- Which Foreign Academic Documents Usually Need Translation?
- Does the English Translation Replace the Original Document?
- What Translation Problems Can WES Refuse or Leave Unaccepted?
- How Should Names, Degree Titles, and Grades Be Handled?
- How Should You Prepare the Translation for Submission?
- How Much Does a WES Diploma Translation Cost?
- How Long Does the Translation Take?
- What Else Do Applicants Ask About WES Translations?
What Does "Word-for-Word Translation" Mean for WES?
A word-for-word translation gives the evaluator access to everything the academic record says.
It includes the institution name, qualification title, field of study, dates, course names, grades, credits or hours, grading legend, signatures, seals, stamps, handwritten annotations, and text on the reverse. "Word-for-word" does not demand awkward English that copies the source grammar. It demands completeness and fidelity. The translator can produce readable English while preserving the meaning and structure of every entry.
The translation must also preserve the boundary between translation and evaluation. A French licence, Italian laurea, or another national qualification should be rendered accurately, with the original term retained when it prevents ambiguity. The translator should not decide that the credential "equals a US bachelor's degree." WES makes that comparison in its evaluation. Our broader diploma translation and credential evaluation guide explains why those two services remain separate.
Who Can Translate Documents Submitted to WES?
Use a translation route allowed by the current instructions for your application and country of education. Depending on the record, an institution may issue an official English version, or you may obtain a complete translation from a professional translation service. The safest practical choice is an independent translator who can certify accuracy, identify the language pair, sign the statement, and reproduce the academic layout clearly. Check the live WES checklist before ordering because the required document source and delivery channel can differ by country.
An applicant-written summary, a machine translation pasted into a document, or an informal explanation from a friend gives WES no reliable certification trail. It may also mistranslate course titles and grading terms. Professional certification establishes who prepared the translation and what they attest to. The certified translation requirements guide shows the accuracy and competence statements used for US submissions. Certification does not turn a scan into an institution-issued record. If WES requires a transcript sent through an approved channel by your school, the translated copy cannot remove that separate requirement.
Which Foreign Academic Documents Usually Need Translation?
| Document | Translate What? | Keep Separate From |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma or degree certificate | Title, institution, field, award date, seals, signatures, and reverse-side text | WES equivalency conclusion |
| Academic transcript or mark sheet | Every course, grade, credit, term, legend, note, and registrar statement | Institutional delivery requirement |
| Diploma supplement | Program details, level statements, credits, grading information, and authentication text | Evaluator's own analysis |
| Secondary-school credential | Certificate, examination results, subjects, grades, and registration details | College-level credential assumptions |
| Name or identity record when requested | All non-English text and annotations on the requested supporting record | Legal proof connecting different names |
Translate only the records WES or the receiving institution asks for, but translate each selected record completely. A transcript is rarely just its front-facing grade grid. The back may define the scale, explain symbols, identify passing marks, or carry a registrar stamp. A folded diploma can contain an endorsement on an inner panel. Upload every side with content when requesting a quote. That lets the page count and terminology be fixed before work begins.
Does the English Translation Replace the Original Document?
No. WES evaluates the foreign credential, so the original-language record remains part of the evidence. The English translation lets an evaluator read it. Submit or arrange delivery of the source record in the format required by your personal WES checklist, then add the translation through the permitted route. A beautiful certified PDF cannot substitute for an official transcript when WES requires the institution to transmit that transcript. Likewise, a sealed institutional envelope does not make untranslated text readable.
This distinction matters because applicants often solve the language question and the authenticity question as though they were one task. They are parallel checks. Language access comes from the translation. Authenticity and document custody come from the school, approved electronic channel, sealed envelope, or other method WES specifies. Follow both. If the university issues a bilingual record with every field and stamp already in English, confirm whether a separate translation is necessary before paying for one.
What Translation Problems Can WES Refuse or Leave Unaccepted?
Incomplete content
Pages, course rows, legends, seals, signatures, or reverse-side notes are omitted from the English version.
A summary instead of a translation
The document lists only the degree and graduation year while leaving the remaining academic record unreadable.
Invented equivalency
The translator converts a foreign qualification into a US degree or converts grades into a US GPA without being the evaluator.
Translation without the required source
The English pages arrive, but the official original-language record is missing or was sent through the wrong channel.
Poor scans create a fifth problem. A translator cannot recover a cut-off seal, hidden course number, or blurred grade. If an item is unreadable, a faithful translation must mark it as illegible rather than guess. WES then sees the same gap. Replace the scan or request a clearer institutional copy before translating when the missing detail could affect the evaluation. Do not edit the source image to "clean up" a grade or stamp. The source and translation must remain traceable.
How Should Names, Degree Titles, and Grades Be Handled?
Provide the passport spelling used in your WES profile, especially when the source uses Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese characters, or another script with several Latin spellings. The translation must still show the name recorded by the institution. A concise note can explain a transliteration choice, while a genuine maiden name or historical spelling stays visible. Separate civil evidence may be needed to connect two legal names. The translator should never rewrite the academic record merely to make every document look identical.
Keep grades and credits in their source values. A result of 14/20 remains 14/20. A German grade of 1.7 remains 1.7. The grading legend is translated so WES can interpret those numbers in context. Course titles should be consistent across semesters, yet consistency should not erase real changes in program terminology. The same rule applies to degree titles: accurate wording first, evaluator judgment later. The USCIS diploma translation guide uses the same division of labor for immigration evidence.
How Should You Prepare the Translation for Submission?
1. Read your personal checklist
Confirm each required credential, the accepted source, and the delivery method shown for your country of education.
2. Build the complete translation set
Scan every page with content, preserve page order, and include grading legends, stamps, and reverse sides.
3. Match the files before sending
Pair each source record with its English translation and signed certification, then follow the WES upload or delivery instructions.
Use filenames that identify the person, institution, and record, such as `Amina-Rahman-University-Transcript-English-Translation.pdf`. File naming is an organizational choice, not a WES rule, but it helps when a diploma, transcript, and supplement arrive through different routes. Keep your WES reference information where the current instructions request it. Save an untouched copy of every source file and translation because a university, licensing board, employer, or later immigration petition may ask for the same academic evidence.
How Much Does a WES Diploma Translation Cost?
Translatorus pricing starts from €36 per page, including the signed certification. A two-page diploma and supplement at the starting rate is 2 pages × €36 = €72. A seven-page set with one diploma and six transcript pages is 7 pages × €36 = €252. If you request postal delivery of the signed paper copy, the second example becomes €252 + €8 = €260. The instant quote confirms the actual total before payment because language pair and page count may affect it. No WES evaluation fee is included or estimated here. Translatorus has processed 4,866 orders as of July 30, 2026 and is rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot with 940+ reviews.
How Long Does the Translation Take?
Turnaround ranges from 12 to 48 hours for typical diploma and transcript sets, depending on the delivery option selected at checkout. That window starts with readable, complete files. It does not include the time your institution needs to issue records, the delivery time to WES, or WES evaluation processing. Order after confirming the correct document list so a missing transcript legend or degree supplement does not force a second translation order. Leave time to compare names, dates, grades, and page order before submission.
Prepare a complete English set for WES.
Word-for-word diploma and transcript translation with signed certification in 12-48h. From €36 per page, with postal delivery available for +8 €.
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