Academic & education document translation
Universities, credential evaluators and visa offices read your Vietnamese diplomas and transcripts through their English translation, so every grade band, degree name and institution must be rendered exactly. I am the translator who prepares the English version and signs a certificate of accuracy, the format US universities and evaluators such as WES and ECE expect. Grades are translated faithfully and never converted, because the evaluator does the conversion.
When you need a certified translation
University and graduate admissions
Foreign universities ask for an official English translation of your diploma and full transcript before they will assess your application. The translation has to match the original line for line so the admissions office can verify courses, credits and final classification.
Credential evaluation (WES, ECE, and similar)
WES, ECE and other evaluators require a complete, literal English translation alongside the Vietnamese original. They convert your grades to a US GPA themselves, so the translation must preserve the Vietnamese scale and grade bands exactly, with nothing rounded or interpreted.
Study and exchange visas
Embassies and immigration offices request certified English translations of academic records to confirm enrollment, completion or admission. A clean certified translation supports your study permit, F-1 or exchange application without raising questions about authenticity.
Which academic documents you need, by purpose
A typical set per goal; confirm with the receiving body.
| Purpose | Typical document set |
|---|---|
| WES / ECE credential evaluation | Degree certificate, full transcript, and sometimes the diploma supplement or course descriptions |
| Undergraduate admission | High school graduation certificate, high school transcript or national exam result, and any provisional certificate |
| Graduate admission | Bachelor degree certificate, full undergraduate transcript, and a research or thesis transcript if required |
| Study visa | Latest degree or graduation certificate, transcript, and an enrollment or admission letter where issued |
| Scholarship application | Degree certificate, full transcript, classification proof, and any honors or award certificates |
🎓 Why academic translation is exacting
Grades are translated, not converted: I render the Vietnamese 10-point scores and classifications exactly as printed and leave the GPA conversion to WES, ECE or the university. Degree names, majors and institution names are kept faithful to the original rather than mapped to a foreign equivalent the evaluator may reject. Names, dates, course titles and credit values stay consistent across the diploma, transcript and supplement so the documents reconcile against each other. The goal is a clean, literal English record the evaluator can read against the Vietnamese original without ambiguity.
Anatomy of a Vietnamese transcript / diploma
Mirroring the original layout lets an evaluator match every line back to the source at a glance, which is what credential bodies expect.
National header and emblem
Vietnamese degrees open with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam header and motto and the national emblem. These are rendered as text, with the seal or emblem noted in brackets so the page reads the same as the original.
Issuing institution and degree title
The university or college name, faculty, the type of degree (bachelor, engineer, master), the mode of study (full time, in service), and the diploma serial and registration numbers. Institution and degree names are kept faithful, not swapped for a US label.
Holder details
Full name in Vietnamese spelling, date and place of birth, gender, and student or candidate number. These must read identically to the passport and the matching transcript so the set ties together.
The grade table
The transcript core: each subject or module with its credits or units and the score on the 10 point scale, plus credit totals. Subjects, credits, and scores are reproduced exactly, never recalculated.
Classification line, GPA, seals and rector signature
The cumulative average, the degree classification band (Xuat sac, Gioi, Kha, Trung binh), and at the foot the dry seal, round seal, place and date of issue, and the rector or director signature. Every seal and signature is described in brackets so nothing on the page is lost.
Documents in this category
Common Vietnamese education documents I translate and certify for admissions, evaluation and study visas:
High School Graduation Diploma
The official high school graduation diploma (Bang tot nghiep THPT) issued by the provincial Department of Education, confirming completion of upper secondary education.
The diploma number, registry number and graduation classification must be copied exactly, and the issuing authority and signatures need precise titles so an admissions office can trace it.
Received by: foreign universities and colleges for undergraduate admission, and credential evaluators confirming secondary completion.
High School Academic Record
The high school academic record (Hoc ba), a multi-page booklet listing subject grades and conduct ratings for each year of upper secondary school.
Every subject, yearly score and conduct rating must be transcribed without converting the 10-point scale, and teacher remarks and stamps on each page have to be reflected, not skipped.
Received by: universities and evaluators reviewing full secondary coursework and grades.
Bachelor's Degree
The bachelor's degree certificate (Bang dai hoc / Bang cu nhan), the formal award document from a Vietnamese university.
The exact degree title, major and mode of study must be preserved, and the Vietnamese degree name should be rendered faithfully rather than swapped for a US equivalent the evaluator may not agree with.
Received by: graduate admissions offices, WES/ECE for degree-level evaluation, and immigration for skilled or study visas.
Academic Transcript (University)
The university academic transcript (Bang diem), listing every course, its credits and the grade earned across the program.
Course titles, credit values and the cumulative average (often on a 4.0 or 10-point scale) must be translated exactly as printed, with no GPA conversion, so the evaluator can recalculate it themselves.
Received by: credential evaluators (WES/ECE) and universities for course-by-course and degree-equivalency review.
Master's Degree
The master's degree certificate (Bang thac si), awarding a postgraduate qualification from a Vietnamese university.
The specialization, training mode and thesis-related wording must be accurate, and the degree name kept faithful, since evaluators map the Vietnamese award to a US master's level themselves.
Received by: PhD and professional-program admissions, and credential evaluators.
Doctoral Degree (PhD)
The doctoral degree certificate (Bang tien si), the highest academic award, confirming completion of a PhD program.
The exact field of study, the awarding institution and the dissertation reference must be rendered precisely, as any drift in the degree or field name can stall an evaluation or academic appointment.
Received by: universities, research institutions and credential evaluators for doctoral-level recognition.
Certificate (IELTS / TOEIC / Language / IT)
A certificate of qualification such as IELTS, TOEIC, a national language certificate, or an IT or professional certificate.
Scores, levels (for example CEFR bands), test dates and certificate numbers must be exact, and the issuing body's name kept verbatim so the receiving office can validate it against the issuer's records.
Received by: universities, scholarship boards and employers verifying language or technical proficiency.
Temporary Graduation Certificate
A temporary graduation certificate (Giay chung nhan tot nghiep tam thoi), issued before the formal diploma is printed to confirm a student has graduated.
It must be translated as a provisional document, keeping its validity wording and expiry intact, so the reader understands the final diploma is still pending and does not mistake it for the permanent award.
Received by: universities and visa offices that accept provisional proof of graduation pending the official diploma.
Student Enrollment Certificate
A student enrollment certificate (Giay xac nhan sinh vien), confirming current enrollment, program and year of study.
Enrollment dates, program and expected completion must be exact, and any conditional wording carried over, since this document is time-sensitive and often supports a visa or scholarship deadline.
Received by: immigration offices, scholarship sponsors and partner universities verifying active student status.
Diploma Supplement
A diploma supplement (Phu luc van bang), an annex that details the program structure, courses and grading attached to a degree.
The supplement repeats course and grade detail that must match the transcript precisely, so any inconsistency between the two documents has to be avoided through one consistent set of terms.
Received by: credential evaluators and universities needing program detail beyond the diploma.
College Diploma (Associate)
A college diploma (Bang cao dang), an associate-level award from a Vietnamese college, below a bachelor's degree.
The level must be rendered clearly as a college (associate) qualification, distinct from a university degree, so an evaluator does not over- or under-rate it; the major and mode of study stay faithful.
Received by: evaluators and admissions offices assessing pre-bachelor or associate-level study.
Vocational Certificate
A vocational certificate (Chung chi nghe), certifying completion of a trade or skills training program at a defined level.
The trade, skill level and training hours must be translated accurately, and the Vietnamese vocational level kept literal rather than forced into a foreign qualification framework.
Received by: immigration for skilled-worker routes, employers and training-credit evaluators.
Recommendation Letter
A recommendation letter (Thu gioi thieu) from a professor, supervisor or employer supporting an application.
Tone, titles and specific praise must carry over faithfully without embellishment, and the writer's name, position and contact details kept exact so the admissions office can verify the reference.
Received by: graduate admissions committees and scholarship panels.
Course Syllabus
A course syllabus or course description (De cuong mon hoc), outlining the content, objectives and credits of a subject.
Course titles must match the transcript exactly, and technical and discipline-specific terminology translated consistently, since evaluators use syllabi to confirm course equivalency for transfer credit.
Received by: universities granting transfer credit and evaluators confirming course content.
Course Completion Certificate
A course completion certificate (Giay chung nhan hoan thanh khoa hoc) confirming a student finished a short course or training program.
The course name, duration, provider and any result must be exact, and the document framed as completion (not a degree) so its weight is not overstated.
Received by: universities, employers and professional bodies recognizing continuing education.
Certificate of Merit
A certificate of merit (Bang khen / Giay khen) recognizing academic achievement, awards or distinction.
The awarding body, the reason for the award and any ranking must be rendered precisely, since these documents strengthen scholarship and admissions applications and are easy to overstate.
Received by: scholarship committees and admissions offices weighing extracurricular and academic merit.
🛡 Academic records are personal data and I keep every file confidential, sharing nothing with third parties. Each translation carries a signed certificate of accuracy stating it is a true and complete rendering of the Vietnamese original, which is the standard universities and evaluators accept.
Vietnamese academic terms, rendered for evaluators
Common terms on Vietnamese diplomas and transcripts, with the English an evaluator expects:
| Vietnamese | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Học lực | Academic performance | The overall study rating for a year or term, distinct from conduct. |
| Xếp loại tốt nghiệp | Graduation classification | The final award band, kept as the Vietnamese band, not converted. |
| Giỏi | Distinction / Excellent (grade band) | A grade band, not the word 'good'; label it as a band so it is not misread. |
| Khá | Credit / Good (grade band) | The band below Gioi; render consistently across documents. |
| Trung bình | Average / Satisfactory (grade band) | Means the band, not 'medium'; keep as a band label. |
| Tín chỉ | Credit | The course credit unit; keep the numeric value exactly as printed. |
| Bằng tốt nghiệp | Diploma / graduation certificate | The award document itself, distinct from the transcript. |
| Bảng điểm | Academic transcript | The list of courses and grades; not 'score board'. |
| Hệ chính quy | Full-time (regular) program | The mode of study; distinguishes it from part-time or distance learning. |
| Trung bình chung | Cumulative grade average (GPA) | Reported on the original Vietnamese scale; not converted to a 4.0 GPA. |
| Hiệu trưởng | Principal (schools) / Rector (universities) | Use Rector for universities, Principal for schools. |
| Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo | Ministry of Education and Training | The standard English name; keep it verbatim on every document. |
Vietnamese grading scale reference
How the Vietnamese 10 point scale and classifications read, kept as bands and never converted to a GPA.
| Vietnamese score / band | How it is rendered |
|---|---|
| 9.0 - 10 | Xuat sac (Excellent), top band |
| 8.0 - 8.9 | Gioi (Distinction / Very good) |
| 7.0 - 7.9 | Kha (Good / Credit) |
| 5.0 - 6.9 | Trung binh (Average / Satisfactory) |
| Below 5.0 | Yeu / Kem (Below average / Fail) |
| Degree: Xuat sac / Gioi | Top honors classification of the degree |
| Degree: Trung binh kha / Trung binh | Pass classification of the degree |
Literal vs correct: where academic translation matters
Small wording choices change how an evaluator reads your record:
Xếp loại tốt nghiệp: Giỏi
✗ Literal: Graduation classification: Good
✓ Correct: Graduation classification: Distinction (second band, equivalent term Gioi)
Gioi is a grade band, not the adjective 'good'; an evaluator needs the band identified, translated and not converted.
Điểm trung bình chung: 8.2/10
✗ Literal: GPA: 3.3
✓ Correct: Cumulative average: 8.2 out of 10
Converting 8.2/10 into a 4.0 GPA is the evaluator's job; the translation must keep the original Vietnamese scale so WES or ECE can recalculate it.
Bằng Cử nhân
✗ Literal: B.A. degree
✓ Correct: Bachelor's degree (Cu nhan)
Pinning it to a specific US degree like B.A. can conflict with the major and the evaluator's own mapping; a faithful 'Bachelor's degree' with the Vietnamese term is safer.
How grades, honors and names are handled
The translator reproduces what the document says; converting or equating values is the evaluator's job, not the translator's.
Grades translated, not converted
Scores on the Vietnamese 10 point scale stay as they are. They are never turned into a 4.0 GPA or a letter grade, because that conversion is a judgment reserved for WES, ECE, or the admissions office.
Classifications kept as bands
Degree honors such as Xuat sac, Gioi, and Kha are translated to their plain meaning (Excellent, Very good, Good) and kept as bands, not replaced with cum laude or a US honor.
Institution and degree names
University, faculty, and degree titles are kept faithful to the Vietnamese original and are not mapped to a US equivalent such as renaming a Vietnamese engineer degree a Bachelor of Science.
Seals, signatures and honors notes
Every seal, stamp, and signature is described in brackets exactly where it sits, and any handwritten honors note or annotation is transcribed so the evaluator sees the full original record.
Have a Vietnamese document like these to certify? Send it for an exact quote and turnaround.
✉ Demander un devisHow I handle an academic document
Read the originals together
I review the diploma, transcript and any supplement as a set so names, dates, course titles and degree wording stay consistent across every page.
Translate, do not convert
I render grades, scales and classifications exactly as printed in Vietnamese and leave any GPA conversion to the evaluator or university.
Reflect seals and signatures
I note every stamp, seal and signature in the translation so the certified version mirrors the layout and authority of the original.
Certify and deliver
I attach a signed certificate of accuracy confirming the translation is true and complete, and deliver a clean PDF formatted for upload to universities or evaluators.
🛡 Quality safeguards for academic documents
Before delivery, academic documents get:
- ✓Names identical across diploma, transcript, and passport.
- ✓Grade scale and bands preserved exactly, with no GPA conversion.
- ✓Course and subject titles matched to the syllabus and consistent across pages.
- ✓Every seal, stamp, and signature rendered and placed where it appears.
- ✓Degree classification on the diploma matched to the cumulative result on the transcript.
Where academic translations go wrong
Converting grades instead of translating them
Turning an 8.2/10 into a 3.3 GPA does the evaluator's job for them and can get the document questioned; the original scale must be preserved.
Inconsistent name spelling
If the name on the transcript does not match the diploma or passport, the document chain breaks and the file can be rejected for identity mismatch.
Dropped seals and stamps
Leaving out the official seal, stamp or signature notes makes the translation look incomplete and undermines its authenticity.
Wrong degree-name equivalent
Forcing the Vietnamese award into a specific US degree the evaluator does not recognize can downgrade or invalidate the credential.
Course titles that do not match the syllabus
When the transcript and the course description use different English titles, evaluators cannot confirm course equivalency for transfer credit.
FAQ
Do I need to translate both my diploma and my transcript for WES or ECE?
Yes. WES, ECE and similar evaluators require a complete English translation of every academic document you submit, typically the degree certificate and the full transcript, alongside the Vietnamese originals. I translate them as a consistent set so names, dates and course titles reconcile.
Do you convert my Vietnamese grades into a US GPA?
No. I translate grades exactly as printed on the original scale, for example 8.2 out of 10 or the band Gioi, and leave the GPA conversion to the evaluator or university. Converting grades myself would be doing their job and can get the document questioned.
How fast can you turn around a diploma and transcript?
A single diploma or short transcript is usually ready within one to two business days. Multi-year transcripts, supplements and full evaluation packages take a little longer; send me the documents and I will confirm an exact timeline and price.
Will universities and evaluators accept your translation?
Yes. US universities and evaluators such as WES and ECE accept a translation prepared by a competent translator with a signed certificate of accuracy. I am that translator and I provide the certification they expect, with the Vietnamese original kept faithful throughout.
Is a certified translation the same as a notarized one?
No. I provide a certified translation, meaning a signed certificate of accuracy from the translator, which is what US universities and evaluators require. If a specific authority asks for notarization or legalization on top of that, I can arrange it with a partner; I do not notarize my own work.
What each evaluator and authority accepts
Different receiving bodies want the translation paired with the original in slightly different ways, so confirm the exact requirement before you order.
| Document | Validity | Accepted form |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma plus full transcript | No expiry | WES and ECE: certified English translation alongside a verified copy of the original, sometimes sent by the school direct |
| Degree and transcript for US universities | No expiry | Most admissions offices accept a certified translation with the original; some require the evaluation report on top |
| Documents for a study visa or embassy | Tied to application window | Certified English translation of the original; some posts ask for the translator certificate of accuracy attached |
| Provisional graduation certificate | Time limited, until the formal diploma issues | Accepted as interim proof; should be replaced by the certified diploma once available |
| Certificate of enrollment or student status | Time sensitive, usually current term only | Accepted for scholarship and visa proof of study; translate close to the deadline so the date is still current |
Which certification you need, by purpose
Match the type of certification to who is receiving the document so you do not pay for a notary you do not need.
| Use case | What you need |
|---|---|
| Credential evaluation (WES, ECE) | Certified English translation with the original alongside; a translator certificate of accuracy is enough, notarization is usually not required |
| University admission (US, Canada) | Certified translation plus the original; the admissions office, not the translator, decides on any further evaluation |
| Study visa or embassy | Certified translation; some consulates ask for the certificate of accuracy or a notarized copy of the source, which a notary, not the translator, handles |
| Scholarship application | Certified translation of degree and transcript; scholarship boards may also want the official evaluation report |
| Employer or licensing body | Certified translation; a credential evaluation is often requested separately and is done by the evaluator, not the translator |
Tell me the court, embassy or agency receiving it, and I will match the exact certified format.
✉ Demander un devisRelated guides
📑 Traduction certifiée USCIS : les règles 2026
Un guide clair de la traduction certifiée USCIS en 2026 : la règle 8 CFR, les quatre éléments obligatoires de l'attestation, pourquoi la notarisation est inutile et le dépôt numérique.
🥫 8 conservateurs alimentaires liés à l'hypertension
Une étude 2026 de l'European Heart Journal sur 112 395 adultes relie des conservateurs alimentaires courants à plus d'hypertension et de maladies cardiaques.
🤖 Traduction IA et traduction humaine : sait-on les distinguer ?
Une etude de juin 2026 distingue traduction IA et traduction humaine avec un F1 de 0,90. Voici ce qui trahit la machine, et la ou l'humain gagne.
🩺 Traduction médicale par IA : le vietnamien exige l'humain
La traduction médicale par IA semble fluide, mais une étude JAMA 2026 a relevé des erreurs cliniquement graves dans 41% des sections vietnamiennes.
⏱ Typical response within 10 minutes