Western Washington University: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about Western

Western requirements in detail

Undergraduates: certified translation first, then the NACES report

Western considers a transcript official only when the school or Ministry of Education sends it directly to Admissions, and it accepts only transcripts issued within the last year (how to apply).

Secondary school credentials come with certified English translations when they are not in English.

If you attended a college or university outside the US, you also need an official course-by-course evaluation with a GPA from a NACES member; Western recommends WES and IEE and says your transcripts must be translated into English before an evaluation can be processed.

The two recommended agencies set their own translation rules: WES accepts a word-for-word translation by a professional translation service and not one by the applicant; IEE wants a certified translator, not the applicant or a notary.

Transfer applicants from abroad must have studied at a Ministry-recognized or accredited institution (Western Washington University: international students, how to apply).

Where Western's undergraduate page differs from itself

The same page gives two thresholds for when a transfer applicant must also send secondary school credentials: one paragraph says fewer than 40 transferable quarter (27 semester) credits, the official transcripts section says fewer than 45 quarter (30 semester) credits (Western Washington University: international students, how to apply).

If you are between the two, ask Admissions or include the translated secondary record.

Graduate School: WES or CertiFile, and an accredited agency

The Graduate School asks international applicants to upload unofficial transcripts and to provide, at the time of application, a WES evaluation or an Educational Perspectives CertiFile evaluation; it calls the evaluation non-negotiable and warns that some countries need 6 to 8 months (graduate international students).

WES ICAP and CertiFile include verified transcript copies, which can replace the separate official transcript after admission.

Its translation sentence is narrower than the undergraduate one: transcripts and diplomas must be translated by the institution, the Ministry of Education or an accredited agency (WWU Graduate School: international students).

The page does not define an accredited agency.

Educational Perspectives sells its own translations (EP translation services); if you plan to use an eVerbary translation for a graduate application, confirm with the Graduate School that it counts.

Documents applicants usually translate

• Secondary school transcripts and leaving certificate
• University transcripts, for the NACES course-by-course evaluation
• Degree certificates or diplomas
• Letter confirming English as the language of instruction, if you request a waiver

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 Western

• Apply with the WWU Application or the Common App; official records and the agency evaluation are sent directly to Western's Office of Admissions (Western Washington University: international students, how to apply).

  Your certified translation goes to the agency with your records, and for secondary school credentials to Admissions; eVerbary can email the translation directly to Admissions on request.

• Graduate applicants upload unofficial transcripts in ApplyWeb and arrange the WES or CertiFile evaluation at the same time (WWU Graduate School: international students).

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