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The George Washington University: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
GW undergraduate admissions asks applicants whose transcripts are not in English to submit both the original documents and certified English translations, and it does not say who must make them. The George Washington University accepts certified translations from professional services such as eVerbary. Graduate schools set their own rules, and two of them require Iranian transcripts to be translated through Iran's Ministry of Justice; the NACES evaluation the Bulletin asks of transfer applicants comes from an agency, not from us.
Original plus translation
Both are submitted, for first-year and transfer applicants.
Grades 9 to 12
Records for all four years, or the equivalent.
Iran: Ministry of Justice
Columbian College and Engineering graduate rule.
GW requirements at a glance
| What GW asks for | |
|---|---|
| Translation | Certified English translations, submitted with the original documents (international applicants). The Bulletin adds that records must be in the language the institution keeps them in (source). |
| Who may translate | Not stated in the undergraduate rule (source). |
| How transcripts arrive | Directly from the school; a transcript emailed to gwadm@gwu.edu counts only if it comes from the sender's school email address (source). |
| Records kept | Records become GW's property and are not returned; certified copies of diplomas and state exam certificates are also required (Bulletin). |
| Transfer applicants | Originals plus certified translations (source); the Bulletin also requires a NACES evaluation, WES or ECE recommended (source). |
| Graduate: Columbian College | Original document plus official translation, sealed by the issuing institution; a WES or NACES evaluation may replace the transcript (source). |
| Graduate: Engineering | An official literal English translation with the original-language transcript in a sealed envelope (source). |
| Does it accept eVerbary? | Yes. GW asks for "certified English translations" alongside the originals and does not limit who makes them (international applicants, transfer applicants), so a certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary meets it. Policy checked on October 13, 2026. |
Checked on October 13, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on GW's own page before you submit.
Graduate schools: literal translations and country rules
GW has no single graduate transcript rule; each school publishes its own. Columbian College of Arts and Sciences wants documents that are official, original (no photocopies or scans) and translated into English, with both the original and the official translation, and lists rules by country: for Brazil, the Historico Escolar and diploma with official English translations; for Saudi Arabia and South Korea, transcripts in both languages; for Bologna-process countries, a Diploma Supplement in English (source).
The School of Engineering and Applied Science asks for an "official literal English translated copy" of any transcript not issued in English, sent with the original in a sealed envelope; Indian marksheets must be official or attested copies in English, and Chinese records must be verified by CSSD (source).
Both schools treat Iran differently. Columbian College asks for translations authorized by the Ministry of Justice, and Engineering for a translator registered with the Iranian Ministry of Justice (Columbian, Engineering). We cannot meet that rule. For every other country, a certified literal translation from a professional service is the kind these pages describe.
Where GW's pages differ
The Bulletin says all international transcripts of transfer applicants must be evaluated by a professional evaluation agency recognized by NACES, with WES and ECE recommended. The admissions transfer page and international page ask for the originals and certified English translations and do not mention an evaluation. The fall transfer deadline also reads April 1 on the admissions page and April 15 in the Bulletin. We have not resolved these differences; ask your admissions counselor before you order an evaluation.
Documents applicants usually translate
- Secondary school transcripts for grades 9 to 12, or the equivalent
- National or state exam results and certificates
- Certified copies of diplomas from every school, college and university attended
- University transcripts and degree certificates, for transfer and graduate applicants
- Diploma Supplement, where your university issues one
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 GW
Undergraduate applicants apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application and follow their documents in the GW portal; the school sends the transcript, and the certified translation goes with the original (source).
Graduate applicants follow their school's own rules: Columbian College takes sealed originals by mail or in person and evaluations at askccas@gwu.edu (source); Engineering takes secure electronic records or sealed envelopes (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 GW that means we translate your transcripts, diplomas and exam certificates; we cannot provide a translation registered with Iran's Ministry of Justice, and a NACES evaluation comes from an agency such as WES or ECE.
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
The George Washington University's own pages, read on October 13, 2026. Enrollment figure: Open Doors 2025 fact sheet for District of Columbia (IIE), leading institutions in District of Columbia in 2024/25: number 1, with 4,563 international students.
- International applicants (Undergraduate Admissions)
- Transfer applicants
- University Bulletin: undergraduate admissions
- Columbian College: official transcript requirements
- School of Engineering: official transcript policy
Frequently asked questions
Who can translate my transcripts for GW?
GW asks for certified English translations and does not say who must make them (source). A certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary meets that wording.
Do I still send the original transcript?
Yes. GW wants both the original documents and the certified translations (source).
Do transfer applicants need a WES evaluation?
The Bulletin says international transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES agency, recommending WES and ECE; the admissions pages do not mention it (Bulletin, transfer page). Ask your counselor.
I studied in Iran. What does GW need?
For Columbian College and Engineering graduate programs, the translation must be authorized by or made by a translator registered with Iran's Ministry of Justice (source).
Will GW return my documents?
No. The Bulletin says submitted records become the property of the University (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 GW?
Upload a scan of your transcript or diploma and see the price and delivery time before you pay.