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Southeast Missouri State University: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
Southeast Missouri State University requires an official English translation of every document not in English, made by a translation agency, stamped by a qualified translator and laid out in the same format as the original; translations by friends, family or other students are refused. Southeast Missouri State University accepts certified translations from professional services such as eVerbary. SEMO admits most first-year and graduate applicants on unofficial PDF copies, but transfer applicants also need translated course descriptions, and an evaluation is needed only in specific cases, which we do not provide.
Agency translation
Made by a translation agency and stamped by a qualified translator.
Same format
The translation must mirror the layout of the original document.
No notaries
A notary attestation does not make a transcript copy official.
SEMO requirements at a glance
| What SEMO asks for | |
|---|---|
| Translation | Required for every document issued in another language. The policy says "official"; the transcript rule says "Certified English Translation" (source). |
| Who may translate | A translation agency, with the stamp of a qualified translator. Translations by other students, friends or family members are not accepted. SEMO names two services but says many others are available (source). |
| Format | The translation must follow the same format as the original document (source). |
| Evaluation | Not required in general. SEMO accepts NACES members or AICE-endorsed agencies, with Scholaro and TEC (formerly SpanTran) as preferred partners, when you dispute its GPA calculation or your school is one it considers non-accredited (source). |
| What counts as official | Originals, or copies stamped or signed by a school official, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Ministry of Education or another government authority, in an envelope sealed with the school's stamp; notary attestations are not accepted (source). |
| Unofficial first | First-year and first-time graduate applicants are admitted, and get the I-20, on unofficial copies; transfer applicants need official transcripts before a decision (source). |
| Deadlines | Fall: July 1 (July 15 for web-only applicants or those with a valid US visa). Spring: November 1 (November 15). Some graduate programs close earlier (source, graduate admissions). |
| Bank documents | Financial documents not in English need the same agency translation (source). |
| Does it accept eVerbary? | Yes. SEMO's translation standards ask for translations "provided by a translation agency and stamped by a qualified translator," and say you are not required to use the agencies it lists (international admissions policies); 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 SEMO's own page before you submit.
SEMO's translation standard, line by line
SEMO's international admissions policies give the translation rule its own heading. Every document issued in another language needs an official English translation. The translation has to come from a translation agency and carry a qualified translator's stamp, and it has to follow the same format as the original. Translations made by other students, friends or family members are refused (translation standards).
For a transcript, the format rule means each subject, mark, stamp and signature should appear in the English version where it appears on the original. We lay out translations that way and keep the grading scale exactly as printed.
SEMO lists US Translation Company and International Education Evaluation, Inc. as recommendations, then says you do not have to use either of them and that many translation services exist. It also says an official NACES or AICE evaluation report can serve as the English translation of transcripts, which is useful only if you were ordering an evaluation anyway (source).
First-year, graduate and transfer: different timing
First-year and graduate applicants upload PDF copies in the online application; SEMO treats them as unofficial and decides on admission and the I-20 from them (first-year page, graduate page). Official transcripts follow. Until they arrive and are reviewed, scholarships are not applied and you cannot enroll for a second term (source). For freshmen and graduate applicants only, an official NACES or AICE report sent by the agency can stand in for official transcripts.
Transfer applicants work the other way round. SEMO needs official transcripts from the institution before deciding, will not take an external evaluation instead of transcripts, and asks for official course descriptions or syllabi translated into English. Without them, it says, your earlier courses will likely count only as electives (transfer page). Transfer credit is usually evaluated two to four weeks after acceptance.
Where SEMO's pages differ
For transfer students, the transfer page and the policies page say official transcripts must be received directly from the educational institution. The same policies page also says sealed physical transcripts may be mailed by the applicant or by the issuing body, or brought in person on arrival. We have not resolved that difference. If you are transferring, ask the Office of International Education and Services (international@semo.edu) how your transcripts should travel before you mail them.
Documents applicants usually translate
- Secondary school transcripts and the diploma or leaving certificate
- University transcripts and degree certificates
- Official course descriptions or syllabi, for transfer credit
- Bank statements, bank letters and sponsor documents for the financial documentation
- O-level, A-level or WAEC results when they are not issued in English
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 SEMO
Upload each document as a PDF in its own field of the online application; uploading a second file into the same field replaces the first (source).
Official paper transcripts go to the Office of International Education and Services in Cape Girardeau; SEMO scans and then destroys physical copies, so do not send your only copy. Electronic transcripts count as official only when the school's registrar or controller of exams emails them from a verified university address to international@semo.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 SEMO that means we translate your records, course descriptions and bank documents; an evaluation, when SEMO asks for one, comes from a NACES or AICE agency, and official transcripts must reach SEMO from your school or in its sealed envelope.
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
Southeast Missouri State 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 17, with 1,728 students.
- International admissions policies and guidelines (translation standards, transcripts, deadlines)
- International first-year admission
- International transfer admission
- International graduate admission
- Graduate admissions and deadlines
Frequently asked questions
Can a friend or relative translate my documents for SEMO?
No. SEMO does not accept translations provided by other students, friends or family members; the translation must come from a translation agency and be stamped by a qualified translator (source).
Do I have to use the translation services SEMO recommends?
No. SEMO lists two services but says you are not required to use them and that many translation services are available (source). A certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary meets its standard.
Can a notary make my transcript copies official?
No. SEMO accepts copies stamped or signed by a school official, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Ministry of Education or another government authority, and says notary attestations are not accepted (source).
Do transfer students need course descriptions in English?
Yes. SEMO asks for official course descriptions or syllabi translated into English; without them, previous courses will likely receive only elective credit (source).
Can I apply with unofficial copies?
First-year and first-time graduate applicants can: SEMO decides and issues the I-20 on unofficial copies, then needs official documents before scholarships apply and before a second term. Transfer applicants need official transcripts first (source).
Do my bank statements need a translation?
Yes. Financial documentation not in English needs a certified English translation from a translation agency, stamped by a qualified translator (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 SEMO?
Upload a scan of your transcript or diploma and see the price and delivery time before you pay.