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Duke University: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
Duke's undergraduate admissions office lets international students have transcripts translated by an official service, an EducationUSA adviser or a school official, and expects the original documents to be sent with the translations. Duke University accepts certified translations from professional services such as eVerbary. The Graduate School asks for the transcript in the original language and an English translation from a professional translation service, treats a translation by the student or a nonprofessional service as unofficial, and accepts a WES or ECE evaluation only alongside the transcript, never instead of it.
Official service
Or an EducationUSA adviser or school official, for undergraduates.
Professional service only
The Graduate School treats student translations as unofficial.
Originals too
Duke expects the original documents with the translations.
Duke requirements at a glance
| What Duke asks for | |
|---|---|
| Translation (undergraduate) | Needed for any transcript not in English; students may use an official service, an EducationUSA adviser or a school official (source). |
| Originals | Duke expects the original documents to be submitted with the translated ones; school forms and transcripts come directly from your school (source). |
| Undergraduate timing | Midyear grade report by February 15, or when first-term grades are available; admitted students send a final official transcript with the Final Report (checklist, apply). |
| Translation (graduate) | The transcript in the original language and an English translation from a professional translation service (source); the FAQ also allows a translation from the issuing school (FAQ). |
| Not accepted (graduate) | A translation by the student or a nonprofessional service makes the transcript unofficial; notarized transcripts are unofficial unless mailed by the institution with its seal (source). |
| Evaluation (graduate) | Optional. A WES, ECE or TEC evaluation can be added, but the institution's transcript is still required; ECE offers Duke applicants a 10% discount (source). |
| Transfer | A college transcript, the final high school transcript and a College Report; Duke does not give preliminary credit evaluations before you apply (source). |
| Graduate official transcripts | Only after you accept an offer, when the Graduate School contacts you; uploaded transcripts are unofficial (source). |
| Does it accept eVerbary? | Yes. Undergraduate Admissions accepts translations by "an official service" (apply page), and the Graduate School asks for an English translation "from a professional translation service" (transcripts); a certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary meets both. Policy checked on October 13, 2026. |
Checked on October 13, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on Duke's own page before you submit.
Undergraduates: three kinds of translator, and the original
Duke's undergraduate rule sits in the International Students section of its application instructions: if your transcripts need to be translated into English, you may use an official service, an EducationUSA adviser or a school official. Duke adds that it expects the original documents with the translated ones, so a translation never travels alone.
The transcript itself must come from your school: Duke wants School Report forms and transcripts submitted directly by the school, through the Common Application, and after admission a final official transcript with the Final Report. A translation from an official service is the piece you add; the counselor's submission is the piece the school adds. Duke does not require an English proficiency test, although it recommends one for non-native speakers (source).
The Graduate School: professional service, unofficial until admitted
For master's and PhD programs, the transcripts page asks you to upload a scanned unofficial transcript from each institution where you earned or will earn a degree, studied a semester or more, earned 12 or more credit hours, or took courses related to your field. If your school does not issue transcripts in English, you upload the original-language transcript and an English translation from a professional translation service. Screenshots from a student information system are not accepted in place of transcripts (FAQ).
The admissions FAQ defines what makes a transcript unofficial: opened by the student, not sent by the school, an uncertified photocopy, or translated by the student or a nonprofessional translation service. Notarization does not help: a notarized transcript is unofficial unless the institution mails it with its seal. Official transcripts are requested only after you accept an offer, and Duke may rescind the offer if they differ from what you uploaded (source).
A credential evaluation is optional. You may submit a WES, ECE or TEC report, but it does not replace the transcript from your institution, and ECE has a custom Duke application with a 10% discount (source).
Where Duke's graduate pages differ
The Graduate School's transcripts page asks for an English translation from a professional translation service, while its FAQ accepts a translation from either the school issuing the transcript or a professional translation service. We have not resolved this difference; a professional translation meets both pages.
Documents applicants usually translate
- Secondary school transcripts and leaving certificates, with the original
- University transcripts for every institution where you studied a semester or earned 12 or more credits
- Degree certificates and diplomas for graduate applications
- Final transcripts after admission
What an eVerbary translation includes
- A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
- Grades exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA.
- A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload.
- $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
Uploading the translation to Duke
Undergraduate applicants send the translation with the original; the school counselor submits the School Report and transcript through the Common Application (source).
Graduate applicants upload the original-language transcript and the professional translation as PDFs in the Academic History section of the online application; updated transcripts go by email to the Graduate School (source, FAQ).
What we do not do
eVerbary is a translation service, not a credential evaluation service: we do not issue evaluations, US equivalencies or GPA conversions, and we cannot send documents on behalf of the school that issued them. For Duke that means we translate; the transcript itself comes from your school, and an optional WES, ECE or TEC report comes from those agencies.
How to order
- Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
- Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
- Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and upload it with the copy of the original wherever the institution asks for it.
Sources
Duke University's own pages, read on October 13, 2026. Enrollment figure: Open Doors 2025 (IIE), doctoral universities hosting the most international students in 2024/25: number 29, with 7,439 students.
- Undergraduate Admissions: application instructions
- Undergraduate Admissions: checklist and deadlines
- Undergraduate Admissions: transfer
- Graduate School: transcripts
- Graduate School: admissions FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Who can translate my transcript for Duke undergraduate admission?
An official service, an EducationUSA adviser or a school official (source). A certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary qualifies; send the original with it.
Can I translate my own transcript for the Duke Graduate School?
No. A transcript translated by the student or a nonprofessional translation service is treated as unofficial (source).
Do I need a WES or ECE evaluation for Duke graduate admission?
No. It is optional, and if you send one you must still submit the transcript from your institution (source).
Should I notarize my transcript for Duke?
It does not make the transcript official: notarized transcripts are unofficial unless the institution mails them with its seal (source).
When do I send official transcripts to the Duke Graduate School?
Only after you accept an offer and the Graduate School contacts you (source).
Will eVerbary convert my grades to a US GPA?
No. The translation reproduces the grades and the grading scale exactly as they appear. A GPA conversion is credential evaluation, which the institution or an evaluation agency does.
Translating documents for Duke?
Upload a scan of your transcript or diploma and see the price and delivery time before you pay.