University of San Francisco: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about USF

USF requirements in detail

Undergraduates: certified translation, copies first

USF lets international first-year applicants apply with unofficial transcripts, as PDFs that clearly show your full name, your school, your courses and your grades, plus a certified translation of any transcript not in English (International first-year admission).

Your counselor can also email transcripts and the school report to appservices@usfca.edu.

The transcript policy sets who translates: the official English translated transcript must be prepared by the issuing institution or a certified public translator.

The final transcript comes after you enroll.

It must show the graduation date and come directly from the high school, in a sealed envelope to the Office of Admission, 2130 Fulton Street, through an e-transcript service such as Parchment or SCOIR, or by school email with a signature.

Fall entrants who miss October 31 get a hold that blocks spring registration.

If your school issues only one original transcript or degree certificate, USF asks you to contact Enrollment Operations at appservices@usfca.edu (First-year transcript policy).

Transfers: course descriptions and a NACES evaluation

International transfer applicants send transcripts and course descriptions from every college attended, with a certified translation if the transcript is not in English (International transfer admission).

For credit, USF requires an official course-by-course evaluation of all non-US post-secondary work from WES, ECE, The Evaluation Company (which offers a discounted custom USF application) or another NACES member.

The application can be reviewed without it, but no credit is awarded until it arrives, and enrolling students send an updated evaluation for any coursework not included.

Each agency has its own translation rule.

WES asks for a word-for-word translation by a professional translator and does not accept self-translations (WES); ECE accepts any complete, literal translation and sells an $85 waiver under which it translates for its report only (ECE); The Evaluation Company takes outside translations only from ATA-certified translators (TEC), which eVerbary can assign on request through a free quote.

Graduate schools set their own wording

The School of Management asks for transcripts and proof of degree in the original language and in English; if your university does not issue English transcripts, it wants a notarized English translation or an evaluation by a credentials service (School of Management: international graduate applicants).

Notarization can be added at checkout for $34.90 per order.

The College of Arts and Sciences asks for transcripts and proof of degree in the original language and in English translation, and accepts three-year bachelor's degrees for review (College of Arts and Sciences: international graduate students).

Nursing and Health Professions wants copies uploaded in the original language and in English translation, and names WES, ECE, ERES and IERF as agencies through which a translation can be obtained (School of Nursing and Health Professions: international students).

The School of Education asks for an official sealed transcript, in English translation and in the original language, only if you are admitted; copies are enough to apply (School of Education: international students).

Graduate schools ask you not to mail documents at the application stage.

Documents applicants usually translate

• Secondary school transcripts and the graduation certificate
• College or university transcripts
• Course descriptions, for transfer applicants
• Degree conferral certificates or proof of enrollment, for graduate applicants

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 USF

• Undergraduates upload unofficial transcripts and the certified translation with the application, or have the counselor email them to appservices@usfca.edu (International first-year admission); transfer evaluations come from the agency to the same address or by mail (International transfer admission).

• Graduate applicants upload copies of transcripts, translations and degree documents in the online application of their school and do not mail anything unless asked (Nursing, Education).

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. 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.

Frequently asked questions