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University of Kentucky: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
The University of Kentucky's 2026-2027 catalog says applicants from non-English-speaking countries must provide an official literal English translation of their school records, and it does not say who has to make it. University of Kentucky accepts certified translations from professional services such as eVerbary. A WES evaluation is recommended but not required, and transfer applicants also need English-translated course descriptions of their college work.
Literal translation
Word for word, as the catalog asks.
WES recommended
Advised for undergraduates, not required.
Course descriptions
Transfer applicants translate them for every college course.
UK requirements at a glance
| What UK asks for | |
|---|---|
| Translation | Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must provide an official literal English translation of their official school records (catalog). No translator type is named. |
| What the International Center lists | Official transcripts in English, for both freshman and transfer applicants (International Center: admission requirements). |
| Evaluation | Recommended, not required: the catalog suggests a professional evaluation agency such as World Education Services (catalog). |
| Transfer applicants | Official transcripts plus English-translated course descriptions of all college-level work; syllabi and other course materials help UK set equivalencies (catalog). |
| Deadlines | Freshmen: priority December 1 for fall and October 15 for spring. Transfers: May 15 for fall and October 15 for spring (International Center: admission requirements). |
| Graduate School | Originals or copies certified as true copies by a notary public, with an official translation attached and grades listed in the original system (graduate catalog). |
| Graduate timing | Official transcripts are not required at admission; conditional admission must be cleared before you register for your second semester (Graduate School: the application process). |
| Does it accept eVerbary? | Yes. The undergraduate catalog asks for an official literal English translation without restricting who makes it (catalog), and the graduate catalog asks for an official translation attached to the records (graduate catalog); 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 UK's own page before you submit.
A literal translation, and course descriptions for transfer credit
UK's catalog uses the word "literal": the English version of your transcript should follow the original line by line, with every subject and mark as issued (catalog). The International Center's checklist simply says "official transcripts in English" (International Center), so the translation is what makes a foreign record usable there.
Transfer applicants carry an extra piece: English-translated course descriptions of all the college-level work they completed, and UK asks for syllabi and any other material that helps it decide course equivalencies (catalog). UK keeps a searchable database of international equivalencies it has already set (transfer equivalencies). If you later appeal an equivalency, the appeal goes to uktransfer@uky.edu with the syllabus for the semester you took the course (Transfer equivalencies). Translating the descriptions with the transcript keeps both in the same terms.
Graduate School: notarized copies, original grades, in-house review
The 2026-2027 graduate catalog asks for original documents or copies certified as true copies by a notary public, with an official translation attached when they are not in English, a record of all subjects and grades, and grades listed in the indigenous system, meaning your country's own scale (graduate catalog). A translation that keeps the original grades, without converting them, matches that rule.
The Graduate School reviews international transcripts in-house instead of asking for an outside evaluation, and the Gatton MBA page notes that it wants transcripts in both languages along with the diploma and degree certificate (Gatton MBA). Official transcripts can arrive at any time during the process and are not required at admission; a conditional admission must be cleared before you register for your second semester (Graduate School: the application process).
Documents applicants usually translate
- Secondary school transcripts and the leaving certificate or diploma
- University transcripts, for transfer and graduate applicants
- Course descriptions or syllabi for every college course you want credited
- Degree certificates and diplomas for the Graduate School
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 UK
Undergraduates apply through the UK International Application for Undergraduate Admission or the Common App and send official transcripts with their English translation to the Office of Undergraduate Admission (International Center: admission requirements, catalog).
Graduate applicants upload documents to the online application; after admission, official transcripts go to gradtranscripts@uky.edu or by mail to Graduate Admissions, 201 Ezra Gillis Building (Graduate School: the application process).
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 UK that means the optional WES evaluation, if you order one, comes from WES; we translate the transcripts and course descriptions.
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
University of Kentucky's own pages, read on October 13, 2026. Enrollment figure: Open Doors 2025 fact sheet for Kentucky (IIE), leading institutions in Kentucky in 2024/25: number 1, with 1,541 international students.
- Undergraduate catalog 2026-2027: undergraduate admission
- International Center: admission requirements
- Transfer equivalencies
- Graduate catalog 2026-2027: graduate admissions
- Graduate School: the application process
- Gatton MBA: international applicants
Frequently asked questions
Who can translate my documents for the University of Kentucky?
The catalog asks for an official literal English translation and does not restrict who makes it (catalog). A certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary meets that rule.
Do I need a WES evaluation?
It is recommended, not required, for undergraduates (catalog). The Graduate School evaluates international transcripts in-house (Gatton MBA: international applicants).
Do I need to translate course descriptions?
Yes, if you are transferring college credit: UK asks for English-translated course descriptions of all college-level work (catalog).
Should the translation convert my grades?
No. The graduate catalog asks for grades listed in the indigenous system, your country's own scale (graduate catalog).
When does the Graduate School need official transcripts?
Not at admission. They can be sent at any time, but a conditional admission must be cleared before you register for your second semester (Graduate School: the application process).
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 UK?
Upload a scan of your transcript or diploma and see the price and delivery time before you pay.