Savanna Hoffman
International students are often required to submit official transcripts when enrolling at a university or college. Official transcripts are documents that list a student's academic performance, including courses studied, grades received, and credits obtained. They are necessary for transferring credits between universities, applying for a new degree program, studying abroad, or seeking admission to a university. Official transcripts must be issued by the student's previous educational institution and may need to be accompanied by certified English translations if they are not originally in English. These transcripts play a crucial role in evaluating a student's academic background and facilitating their transition into a new academic program or educational institution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Applying for a new academic programme, transferring between universities, applying to an international institution, studying abroad, or transferring credits. |
| Submission methods | E-transcripts, mailed hard copies, in-person delivery |
| Submission timing | Before the first day of classes, by the end of the admit term, before July 15 |
| Contents | Student's academic performance, courses completed, grades earned, credits obtained, academic year, type of course, institution where courses were taken, degree pursued, completion of a degree |
| Requirements | Official translation, original stamp and/or signature of a school official, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, other government authority, Education USA |
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What You'll Learn
Submission methods
The submission methods for official transcripts vary depending on the educational institution. Here are some common methods accepted by different universities:
Email: Many universities accept official transcripts via email. For instance, the University of Arizona accepts emailed transcripts at [email protected] or [email protected]. Similarly, Wichita State University accepts transcripts at Wichita State University – International. It is important to note that universities often require transcripts to be sent directly from the institution and in a specific format, such as PDF.
Online portals: Some universities provide online portals for students to upload their transcripts. For example, the University of Arizona allows students to upload transcripts through their application or Future Wildcat portal.
In-person delivery: Certain institutions, such as the University of South Florida (USF), permit students to deliver their official transcripts in person. Students must submit their documents in a sealed institutional envelope to the Office of Admissions.
Mail: Some universities, like USF and Wichita State University, accept hard copies of official transcripts via mail. These transcripts should be sent directly from the school in sealed envelopes.
Third-party evaluation services: Institutions such as Lone Star College (LSC) require international students to submit their transcripts through a third-party evaluation service. LSC accepts evaluations from organisations like the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and the Association of International Credit Evaluators (AICE), while University of Arizona considers evaluations from World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
It is important to carefully review the specific requirements and submission methods outlined by the institution to which you are applying. Each university may have unique guidelines for submitting official transcripts.
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Translation requirements
International students are generally required to submit transcripts to enroll at a university. These transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated for equivalency with US education standards.
- Certified Translation: All international documents must be translated into English. Translations must be certified and can be issued or verified by the student's previous institution, or translated by a member of the ATA (American Translators Association). Translations issued by the Ministry of Education are also accepted, but translations done by other government ministries are not valid.
- Word-for-Word Translation: The translation must be a faithful, word-for-word reproduction of the original document.
- Evaluation: The translated transcript must be evaluated for equivalency with US education standards. This can be done by a professional evaluation service such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
- Official Transcript: The transcript must be an original or certified copy issued by the student's previous institution. It should include all years of study, with grades and official exam results. Each page must contain the original stamp or seal of the institution, the original signature of the appropriate school authority, and the date of issuance.
- Submission: Translations can be submitted electronically as PDF documents or mailed in a sealed envelope directly to the admissions office.
It is important to note that students should refer to the specific requirements of the university or college they are applying to, as there may be additional or unique requirements for transcript submission.
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Deadlines
UC Admissions requires that final, official transcripts be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 1. All other documents and exam scores must be submitted by July 15.
The University of Washington does not specify a deadline, but it does state that transcripts should be sent as soon as coursework and graduation dates are recorded. They also mention that the Common App, which is one way to send transcripts, resets at the end of July, so transcripts should arrive before then.
The University of South Florida (USF) does not specify a deadline either, but they do mention that it takes 4-6 weeks for the Office of Admissions to process transcripts.
It is important to note that some universities, like UCLA, may have specific deadlines for certain types of transcripts or test scores, such as IB exam results. Additionally, there may be variations in deadlines for transfer students compared to first-year students.
When applying to universities, it is essential to check the specific requirements and deadlines for official transcript submissions, as they may vary. Some universities may also have different methods of submission, such as electronic submission or hard copies, which can impact the processing time and deadline requirements.
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Transcript contents
A transcript of records is an official document that lists a student's academic performance. It is essential when applying for a new academic programme, especially if you are transferring between universities or applying to an international institution. It is also required when participating in study abroad programmes or transferring credits from one institution to another.
The transcript of records should include a detailed list of all the courses completed during your studies, along with the grades earned and the credits obtained. It may also include additional information such as the academic year, the type of course, and the institution where the courses were taken.
If your transcript is not in English, it must be accompanied by an official translation in the same format, with an original stamp and/or signature of a qualified translator. Translations by students are usually not accepted.
The transcript should also include an explanation of the credit and grading systems used, especially if your home university does not use the ECTS system. The description should clarify which are the highest and lowest grades.
Additionally, the transcript of records is closely linked with the learning agreement plan, which is an official document that specifies the courses, research, and training/teaching activities you are supposed to achieve during your mobility.
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Evaluation services
International students are often required to submit official transcripts to enrol at a university. These transcripts are used to verify the completion of a student's secondary credential and determine the possible transfer of credits. For instance, F-1 visa students are required to submit proof of high school completion or its equivalent.
Official transcripts must be submitted from each institution attended, and they must be issued in English or accompanied by certified English translations. The transcripts must be sent directly from the school in sealed envelopes or emailed by a high school official or guidance counsellor.
A general evaluation of transcripts is required for all applicants unless official transcripts are submitted that show a degree earned in the US or admission to a college undergraduate or graduate degree. A course-by-course evaluation may also be needed to award transfer equivalency credit. This evaluation service comes at a fee.
Students can submit their transcripts for evaluation to organisations such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). For a transcript evaluation to be considered official, it must be mailed from the issuing institution or evaluation agency directly to the college or university's admissions office.
Additionally, students with college or university credits from outside the US who wish to transfer their credits must submit a course-by-course evaluation by an organisation like the American Association for Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) International Education Services.
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Frequently asked questions
A transcript of records is an official document that lists a student's academic performance, including courses completed, grades earned, and credits obtained. It is necessary when applying for a new academic program, especially when transferring between universities or going to an international institution.
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly from the institution or transcript service to the university. They must be original documents or certified copies with the seal of the issuing institution or signed by an appropriate authority. Unofficial transcripts are those that are uploaded or emailed by the student and are sufficient for initial evaluation.
Official transcripts must be original documents or certified copies with the original stamp or signature of a school official, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, or other government authority. They must not be stamped "issued to the student". If the transcript is not in English, it must be accompanied by an official English translation.
Official transcripts should be sent directly to the admissions office of the university you are applying to. They can be sent electronically or by mail. It is important to check the specific requirements of the university, as some may have dedicated email addresses for transcript submissions.
Official transcripts should be submitted prior to the start of classes or by the end of the admit term. Some universities may have specific deadlines, such as July 15, so it is important to check the requirements of the university you are applying to.
