Translating transcripts and degree certificates for Australia
Quick answer
Transcripts and degree certificates for Australian use are translated in full, keeping subject names, credit points and grades exactly as issued — never converted into an Australian grading scale. The graduate's name must match the passport, and the grading-key text printed on the reverse must also be translated. Turnaround varies with page count and language pair.
Academic records are among the most closely examined document sets, because institutions and assessors compare credit points and results line by line. The recurring faults are partial translation, a skipped grading key, and well-meant grade conversion. This article describes what a usable translation looks like.
What to prepare
- The official transcript from the institution, every page, front and reverse
- The degree certificate or a completion letter
- The passport data page for name spelling
- A name-change record if the academic name differs from the current one
- The receiving institution or body, plus the checklist you were given
How the process runs
- 1Collect every page — Scan the transcript front and reverse, including the grading key and any footnotes, because assessors rely on that text to interpret results.
- 2Confirm name and course titles — Provide the passport spelling and the institution's official English course title where one exists, so the translation matches the institution's own published wording.
- 3Translate while preserving the table — Keep subject order, credit points and grades as issued. Do not reorder rows and do not convert the marking system, so an assessor can compare the translation with the original line by line.
- 4Proofread and certify — Re-check credit points and grades, then attach a certification statement naming the translator, language pair and date before delivering in an accepted digital format.
Why grade conversion is not the translator's job
Converting results is the receiving institution's or assessor's decision. A translation that maps Thai grades onto an Australian scale adds information the original does not contain and can put the document in question. The correct approach keeps the original figures and translates the grading key the institution printed.
Where transcript files come unstuck
- Only the front side is translated, leaving the grading key out
- Withdrawn or credited subjects are omitted, so totals no longer reconcile
- The institution name differs from its official English name
- The graduate's name does not match the passport with no explanatory document
- Skewed or dark scans that make credit figures unreadable
When the institution must send records directly
Some Australian institutions require transcripts to arrive directly from the issuing institution. That is separate from translation. Run both tracks in parallel: arrange the direct despatch with your former institution, and prepare certified translations for the parts you lodge yourself.
Prefer not to manage it yourself?
We do more than translate: we sequence the work, say whether extra certification is needed, and tell you which records to request from your former institution so the bundle matches your checklist. Send the files by LINE @NAATI for an initial review before committing to the full set.
Things to watch
- Never convert grades or recalculate a GPA inside the translation
- Never skip the grading key or the notes at the end of the record
- Do not use copies cropped so tightly that the institution's seal is lost
- Requirements differ between institutions and assessing bodies — follow the checklist you were given
Frequently asked questions
Does every transcript page need translating?
Yes, including the reverse with the grading key, because assessors use it to interpret results. Partial translation leads to a request for the missing pages later.
Can a completion letter replace the degree certificate?
It depends on the receiving body. Some accept a completion letter while the certificate is pending; others require the certificate itself. Follow your checklist and prepare both if unsure.
My academic records show my former name — what now?
Translate them as issued and include a certified translation of the name-change record in the same bundle, so an officer can link the identities without asking.
Is further legalisation needed?
It depends on the purpose. Most study applications accept a certified translation, but records used with government bodies sometimes need additional certification. Send us the checklist so we can confirm the route.
How long does it take?
Turnaround varies with page count and the number of subjects; a multi-year transcript takes longer than a single-page record. Send the files by LINE to confirm delivery before work starts.
Let our team handle the whole set
We work as an adviser as well as a translation provider. Send your scans and the receiving body's checklist on LINE and we will review the set, map the order of every step, and tell you what still needs to be obtained before anything is lodged.
Ask us on LINE @NAATIRelated services
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Content reviewed August 2026. This article describes general process and is not legal or migration advice. Confirm current requirements with the receiving body.