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Eastern Illinois University: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
Eastern Illinois University asks that every document issued in another language come with an English translation, which its undergraduate and graduate checklists call an official English translation, and it does not say who must make it. Eastern Illinois University accepts certified translations from professional services such as eVerbary. EIU reads foreign records itself for admission; an evaluation from an outside agency is needed only to receive transfer credit for university courses taken abroad, and we do not provide evaluations.
No evaluation to apply
EIU reads your records; minimum GPA 2.5 undergrad, 2.75 grad.
Copies first on MyEIU
Unofficial uploads count until the officials arrive.
Agency only for credit
Transfer credit needs an evaluation with course descriptions.
EIU requirements at a glance
| What EIU asks for | |
|---|---|
| Translation | All documents issued in a language other than English must come with an English translation (source); the checklists say an official English translation (undergraduate, graduate). |
| Who may translate | Not stated on EIU's international pages. |
| Form of the records | Transcripts or mark sheets must bear the seal and signature of the appropriate school official (source). |
| Admission review | By EIU itself: minimum 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduates and 2.75 for graduate applicants (undergraduate, graduate). |
| Evaluation | Only for transfer credit for courses taken abroad; the agency named depends on the page (see below) (transfer page). |
| Where to upload | Application and unofficial copies on the MyEIU portal; passport and financial documents through Terra Dotta (FAQ, checklist). |
| Official records and I-20 | Unofficial copies are used for the decision; official, final transcripts are required, and no I-20 is issued without them (source). |
| Deadline | May 15 for the Fall semester (source). |
| Does it accept eVerbary? | Yes. EIU's international checklists ask for transcripts "accompanied by an official English translation if necessary" without restricting who makes it (undergraduate checklist, graduate checklist), and a certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary is that kind of translation. Policy checked on October 13, 2026. |
Checked on October 13, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on EIU's own page before you submit.
EIU reads your records itself, from copies first
EIU does not send applicants to an evaluation agency to be admitted. Its Office of International Students and Scholars, which handles all international admissions including graduate ones (Graduate School), reads your transcripts or mark sheets and checks them against minimum GPAs of 2.5 for undergraduates and 2.75 for graduate applicants (undergraduate checklist, graduate checklist). That puts the weight on the translation: it is what the office reads, so every subject, mark and grading note must be there.
You can start with unofficial copies of transcripts, diplomas, mark sheets and certificates uploaded to MyEIU, with their translations; EIU uses them to make the academic decision until the officials arrive. The officials must carry the seal and signature of a school official, and EIU will not issue an I-20 without them (source). For secondary school, EIU's country list names the credential it expects from each system, for example the Huikao results with verification sent directly by China's CDGDC, the Higher Secondary or All-India Senior School Certificate for India, and WAEC results with index, serial and PIN numbers for West Africa.
Transfer credit is where an agency comes in
To turn university courses taken abroad into EIU credit, you need an evaluation. The international transfer page asks for one that includes course descriptions; you give it to your academic advisor, who forwards it to the college certification officer for an equivalency form that the Dean then signs off. The checklists allow syllabi or class plans as an alternative to an external evaluation (source).
Evaluation agencies set their own translation rules; WES, for example, asks for translations of documents not in English. See translation for WES. Course descriptions and syllabi are translated like any other page.
Where EIU's pages differ
The pages name different agencies for transfer credit. The international FAQ names only The Evaluation Company (TEC); the undergraduate and graduate checklists name WES or ECE "or an approved evaluation agency"; the transfer page names TEC, WES and Educational Perspectives. Separately, the Graduate School page says transcripts sent by the student cannot be accepted, while the international graduate checklist lets you upload unofficial copies for the decision. We have not resolved either difference; ask international@eiu.edu before paying for an evaluation.
Documents applicants usually translate
- Secondary transcripts or mark sheets, diplomas and leaving certificates
- National exam results, such as the Huikao or WAEC
- University transcripts or mark sheets, for transfer or graduate applicants
- Degree certificates
- Syllabi or course descriptions for transfer credit
- Bank statements supporting the financial affidavit
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 EIU
Upload unofficial copies of your records and their translations to the MyEIU portal with your application; passport and financial documents go through Terra Dotta (FAQ, checklist).
Official records, sealed and signed by the school, follow before the I-20 is issued. For graduate files the Graduate School accepts electronic transcripts sent by the school through Parchment, the Common App, eScript-Safe or as a PDF to gradadmissions@eiu.edu (source).
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 EIU that means we translate your records and syllabi; the evaluation for transfer credit comes from an agency such as TEC, WES or Educational Perspectives.
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
Eastern Illinois University's own pages, read on October 13, 2026. Enrollment figure: Open Doors 2025 (IIE), master's colleges and universities hosting the most international students in 2024/25: number 26, with 1,293 students.
- Undergraduate academic requirements by country (OISS)
- Undergraduate checklist for admission
- Graduate checklist for admission
- Transfer to EIU (international course transfer)
- International FAQ
- Graduate School: graduate admissions
Frequently asked questions
Who can translate my documents for Eastern Illinois University?
EIU asks for an official English translation and does not say who must make it (source). A certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary qualifies.
Do I need a WES evaluation to apply to EIU?
No. EIU reviews your records itself; an evaluation is needed only for transfer credit for courses taken abroad (source).
Can I upload copies before my school sends official transcripts?
Yes. Unofficial copies on MyEIU are used for the decision until official transcripts arrive; the I-20 needs the officials (source).
Which agency should I use for transfer credit?
The pages differ: TEC in the FAQ; WES, ECE or an approved agency in the checklists; TEC, WES or Educational Perspectives on the transfer page. Choose one that includes course descriptions (source).
When is the deadline for Fall?
May 15 (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 EIU?
Upload a scan of your transcript or diploma and see the price and delivery time before you pay.