ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Diploma Translation Services in the UK: Certified Diploma & Transcript Translation
Get your diploma translated by ISO 17100 certified translators. Trusted translation from £30 per page, 150+ languages, same-day turnaround for UK ENIC, UKVI and universities.
- ISO 17100 Certified
- Same-day Turnaround
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What is a diploma translation?
A diploma translation is a word-for-word professional translation of an academic diploma, degree certificate or transcript from the source language into English, produced on translator letterhead with a signed statement of accuracy so universities, UK ENIC, UKVI and employers accept it for official use.
What is a certified diploma translation and when do you need one?
A certified diploma translation is a translation accompanied by a signed, dated statement from the translator or translation agency confirming accuracy and completeness.
How can I translate my diploma or degree certificate?
To translate your diploma, follow 5 steps: scan the original document (both sides), request a quote from an ISO 17100 translation agency, place your order and upload your documents, receive the certified translation on letterhead within 24 hours to 3 working days, and submit the PDF or hard copy to the receiving institution.
How much does it cost to translate a diploma or degree certificate?
Certified diploma translation in the UK costs from £30 per page (roughly 250 words), with academic transcripts averaging £45–£90 depending on length.
How long does it take to translate a diploma or degree certificate?
Standard turnaround for a single certified diploma page is 24 hours, a full academic transcript of 5,000 words takes 2–3 working days, and same-day rush handles up to 10,000 words at a 25–50% surcharge, following the ISO 17100 benchmark of 1,500–2,000 words per linguist per day.
What languages are available for diploma translation?
Diploma translation is available in 150+ language combinations, including the highest-demand pairs: Arabic, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Russian, Ukrainian, Farsi, Turkish, Greek and Hindi — into and out of English.
What we do
What is a diploma translation?
A diploma translation is a word-for-word professional translation of an academic diploma, degree certificate or transcript from the source language into English, produced on translator letterhead with a signed statement of accuracy so universities, UK ENIC, UKVI and employers accept it for official use.
How it works
How can I translate my diploma or degree certificate?
To translate your diploma, follow 5 steps: scan the original document (both sides), request a quote from an ISO 17100 translation agency, place your order and upload your documents, receive the certified translation on letterhead within 24 hours to 3 working days, and submit the PDF or hard copy to the receiving institution.
What’s included
How much does it cost to translate a diploma or degree certificate?
Certified diploma translation in the UK costs from £30 per page (roughly 250 words), with academic transcripts averaging £45–£90 depending on length.
Complete guide
Everything you need to know
Diploma translation is a word-for-word translation of an academic diploma, degree certificate or transcript into English, produced by an ISO 17100 translation agency on official letterhead with a signed statement of accuracy. Our London translation agency delivers certified diploma translation from £30 per page across 150+ language combinations, with same-day turnaround for UK ENIC, UKVI, UCAS, universities and employers. This page covers cost, process, format, turnaround and the receiving-institution matrix that dictates whether you need a certified, notarised, sworn or apostilled version — and it separates that from the CIOL Level 7 Diploma in Translation qualification, a distinct DipTrans meaning of the same search term.
What is a certified diploma translation and when do you need one?
A certified diploma translation is a translation accompanied by a signed, dated statement from the translator or translation agency confirming accuracy and completeness. UK ENIC, UKVI, UCAS, universities, the GMC, NMC and most UK employers require a certified translation when the original diploma is not in English. The certification is issued either by an ISO 17100-certified translation agency or by a CIOL/ITI-member translator — both formats carry the signed statement, translator credentials and contact details that receiving institutions demand.
Our Certified Translation Services deliver every diploma on translation-agency letterhead with the certification statement, translator credentials and contact details, produced under the ISO 17100 TEP workflow (translation, editing, proofreading). Because ISO 17100 requires a minimum of two qualified linguists to work on each document — one to translate and one to edit — the quality assurance built into every certified diploma translation is considerably higher than that of a single-pass machine or unreviewed human translation.
Who accepts a certified diploma translation in the UK?
UK ENIC, UKVI, UCAS, all UK universities, NHS trusts hiring International Medical Graduates, the GMC, the NMC, the SRA and most UK employers accept a certified translation from an ISO 17100 translation agency. UK ENIC specifically requires a certified English translation of any non-English diploma to be submitted alongside the original document; UKVI requires the certified translation to appear on translator letterhead and include the translator’s contact details.
| Receiving institution | Translation type required |
|---|---|
| UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) | Certified translation on letterhead, submitted with the original |
| UKVI (Home Office visa) | Certified translation on translator letterhead with contact details |
| UCAS undergraduate admissions | Certified translation |
| UK universities (postgraduate) | Certified translation + transcript |
| General Medical Council (GMC) | Certified translation for IMG registration |
| Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) | Certified translation |
| Solicitors Regulation Authority | Certified translation |
| UK employers (general) | Professional translation on letterhead |
| US professional licensing boards | Notarised translation |
| France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Brazil | Sworn translator |
When do you need a notarised or sworn translation instead?
Notarised translation is required when a foreign authority, a US professional licensing board, or a court asks for a notary public to witness the translator’s signature. Sworn translation is required by civil-law countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Portugal — the UK has no sworn-translator register, so notarisation is the closest UK equivalent. In both cases the underlying certified translation must still meet the same accuracy and completeness standards as a standard certified version; notarisation simply adds a layer of legal authentication on top. See our Notarised Translation Services for the notary public workflow.
Do I need a certified translation or just any translation when applying for jobs abroad?
Employer job applications typically accept any professional translation on translation-agency letterhead, but immigration, professional licensing and university enrolment require a certified translation. The receiving organisation’s rules govern the threshold, not the country. When in doubt, a certified translation is always accepted where a plain professional translation would be, so it is the safer default choice for any official submission.
How long does it take to translate a diploma or degree certificate?
Standard turnaround for a single certified diploma page is 24 hours. A full academic transcript of 5,000 words takes 2–3 working days, and a same-day rush service handles portfolios of up to 10,000 words within a single working day at a 25–50% surcharge on the standard per-page rate. These timelines reflect the ISO 17100 TEP benchmark, which sets a sustainable throughput of 1,500–2,000 translated and reviewed words per linguist per day, ensuring quality is never sacrificed for speed.
| Document size | Standard turnaround | Rush turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| 1 page (250 words) | 24 hours | 4 hours |
| Transcript (5,000 words) | 2–3 working days | 24 hours |
| Full portfolio (10,000 words) | 5 working days | Same day |
Turnaround starts from the moment payment and all source files are confirmed, not from initial enquiry. Certified PDFs are delivered by email, so there is no postal delay for digital submissions to UK ENIC, UKVI or a university admissions team. Hard copies, required by some institutions that insist on a wet-ink signature, are dispatched within one working day of the certified PDF being approved and typically arrive within 1–2 further working days via first-class post.
Can you expedite my diploma translation?
Yes — the same-day rush service delivers a certified single-page diploma within 4 working hours and a full transcript of up to 5,000 words within 24 hours, both at a 25–50% surcharge on the standard per-page rate. Rush orders go through the same ISO 17100 TEP workflow as standard orders; the accelerated timeline is achieved by prioritising the file and, where necessary, splitting the document across two qualified linguists who then reconcile their work before the final proofreading stage. Orders placed before 10:00 on a working day are eligible for same-day delivery.
What languages are available for diploma translation?
Diploma translation is available in 150+ language combinations, covering the full spectrum of languages in which academic qualifications are issued around the world. All combinations are translated into and out of English by subject-specialist linguists who hold qualifications in both translation and the relevant academic discipline, ensuring that degree-level terminology is rendered accurately regardless of the source language.
The 150+ combinations include Arabic, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Russian, Ukrainian, Farsi, Turkish, Greek and Hindi as the highest-demand pairs for UK credential evaluation and visa applications. Less common languages — including Amharic, Tigrinya, Nepali, Sinhala and Azerbaijani — are also covered, though rare-language pairs may carry a small premium and a slightly extended turnaround.
Which language combinations are most requested for UK diploma translation?
The 8 most-requested combinations for UK diploma translation are Arabic-to-English (covering Algerian, Egyptian and Iraqi diplomas), Romanian-to-English, Polish-to-English, Portuguese-to-English (both Brazilian and European), Spanish-to-English (Latin American and Castilian), French-to-English, Ukrainian-to-English and Mandarin-to-English. Each of these pairs reflects significant communities of international students, skilled-worker visa applicants and overseas-qualified professionals presenting credentials for evaluation by UK ENIC or professional licensing bodies in the UK.
| Language pair | Common origins | Dedicated page |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic → English | Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia | Arabic Translation Services |
| Portuguese → English | Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique | Portuguese Translation Services |
| Romanian → English | Romania, Moldova | Romanian Translation Services |
| Polish → English | Poland | — |
| Russian → English | Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus | — |
| French → English | France, Belgium, Switzerland, Cameroon | — |
| German → English | Germany, Austria, Switzerland | — |
| Mandarin → English | China, Taiwan, Singapore | — |
Do I need to translate my diploma if it’s already in Latin?
Latin-language diplomas from older European or US universities occupy a grey area: UK ENIC and UK universities generally require an English translation because Latin is not a working language of assessment. The receiving institution needs to read and evaluate the content of the award — not simply recognise the institution’s name — so a plain-English rendering of the Latin text is the safest course of action and is almost always requested when a Latin diploma is submitted without an accompanying translation.
My diploma is an official bilingual document — do I still need a separate translation?
A bilingual official diploma — for example a Belgian French–Dutch parchment or a Canadian English–French one — sometimes satisfies the receiving institution, but many UK universities and UK ENIC still require a certified translation on translator letterhead confirming the English portion is accurate and complete. The certified translation provides an independent verification of the content rather than relying solely on the document issuer’s own bilingual rendering, which is why the requirement persists even when English already appears on the face of the original.
Where can I find reliable diploma and transcript translation services in the UK?
Reliable UK diploma translation services share 4 credentials: ISO 17100 certification, membership of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), a published statement of accuracy format, and transparent per-page pricing from £30. The Chartered Institute of Linguists is the UK’s leading professional body for linguists and awards both the CertTrans and the Level 7 Diploma in Translation (DipTrans), which is set at master’s level and is widely regarded as the gold standard qualification for translators working on certified documents. Our London-based translation agency meets all four criteria and produces translations accepted by UK ENIC, UKVI, UK universities and professional licensing bodies.
Are online diploma translation services available?
Yes — online diploma translation services accept scanned documents through a secure upload portal, return the certified PDF within 24 hours by email, and post the hard copy on translation-agency letterhead within 1–2 working days for institutions that require a wet-ink signature. This is now the standard delivery model for certified document translation across the UK. The digital-first approach means applicants in any part of the UK — or overseas applicants submitting credentials to a UK institution — can obtain a fully certified translation without visiting a physical office or posting their original document.
How do I choose between a freelance translator and a translation agency?
A freelance translator holding the CIOL Level 7 Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) is qualified to produce certified work for a single language pair and is a sound choice for straightforward, single-document assignments. A translation agency covers 150+ language combinations, runs an ISO 17100 TEP workflow and offers a project manager, notarisation and apostille handling as one bundled service, making it the more practical option when multiple documents, multiple languages or tight deadlines are involved. The ISO 17100 standard also requires a second qualified linguist to edit every translation, providing a level of quality assurance that a sole freelancer working alone cannot replicate.
- Freelance translator — one language pair, direct communication, lower overhead; best for single documents in common languages.
- Translation agency — 150+ combinations, project manager, TEP workflow, notary and apostille bundling, ISO 17100 QA; best for multi-document or multi-language credential packages.
What does a translated diploma look like?
A translated diploma is delivered as a PDF (and optional hard copy) on translation-agency letterhead, with the translated text mirroring the layout of the original document. Every stamp and seal is marked in square brackets — for example [Stamp: University of Warsaw — Faculty of Law] — signatures are noted as [Signed] followed by the translated role title, and any embossed seals are noted as [Embossed seal]. A signed certification statement appears on the final page, confirming the translator’s credentials, the language pair, and that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of their professional knowledge. The mirrored layout matters because it allows a reviewer at UK ENIC, UKVI or a university admissions office to cross-reference the translated text against the original document element by element, which is precisely what evaluators are trained to do.
The hard copy is printed on headed paper, signed in ink and, where notarisation is required, accompanied by a notary public’s stamp and certificate. Both the PDF and the hard copy are acceptable for digital submissions to UK ENIC and UKVI, though some institutions specify which format they prefer in their application guidance.
What does the certification statement contain?
The certification statement contains 6 elements: translator or agency name, professional membership (CIOL, ITI) or ISO 17100 registration number, source and target language pair, a formal statement that the translation is accurate and complete to the translator’s best knowledge and belief, the date of completion, and a signature on company letterhead. This format satisfies the requirements of UK ENIC, UKVI and all UK universities, all of which require the translator’s contact details to be included so the receiving institution can verify the translation’s provenance if needed.
Do I need to translate documents for UK ENIC (formerly NARIC)?
Yes — UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) requires a certified English translation of any diploma or transcript not originally issued in English, submitted alongside the original-language document. Bilingual diplomas still require a certified translation confirming the English portion is complete. Our UK ENIC Translation Services package the translation to UK ENIC’s exact format.
How does UK ENIC assess a translated diploma?
UK ENIC evaluates the translated diploma against the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework, checks the receiving qualification’s equivalent UK level (for example RQF Level 6 for a bachelor’s degree), and issues a Statement of Comparability that UK employers and universities recognise. This improves employability for candidates applying to study or work in the UK.
What qualifications do I need to be a translator in the UK?
To become a professional translator in the UK you need 3 credentials: a language degree or equivalent proficiency, a recognised translation qualification such as the CIOL Qualifications Level 7 Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) set at master’s level or an MA in Translation Studies, and membership of the Chartered Institute of Linguists or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
There are no formal qualification requirements to sit the DipTrans exam, but candidates are expected to translate at professional level. A postgraduate diploma in translation (PG Dip) is a taught alternative route.
What is the CIOL Level 7 Diploma in Translation (DipTrans)?
The CIOL Qualifications Level 7 Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) is a postgraduate translation qualification set at master’s level and awarded by the Chartered Institute of Linguists. It is the gold standard for a freelance translator or a translator for companies and organisations, meeting the need for the highest-level professional qualification in the translation industry. It is regulated by Ofqual and taken in around 30 countries annually.
- 3-unit examination — General, Semi-specialised and Specialised papers; all three must be passed within 3 years.
- No taught course — DipTrans is an exam, not a course; preparation is via optional third-party providers.
- Online-only delivery — sat via the CIOLQ Virtual Centre or an approved Exam Venue.
- Language combinations — Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and more.
How does the DipTrans differ from an MA in Translation Studies?
The DipTrans is a 3-unit examination assessing professional translation skills at master’s level; an MA in Translation Studies is a taught postgraduate degree combining translation practice, theory, translation technology and a work placement. Both are recognised qualifications, but the DipTrans focuses on assessed competence and the MA focuses on academic study.
Why the two ‘diploma translation’ searches are different
The search term ‘diploma translation’ matches 2 distinct intents: buying a translation of an academic diploma (this page) and studying for the CIOL Level 7 Diploma in Translation qualification. Confirm which page you need before continuing.
- Want to get your diploma translated for UK ENIC, UKVI or a university? Stay on this page and request a quote.
- Want to study for the DipTrans qualification? Visit the CIOL Qualifications website for exam registration and syllabus.
Which country-specific requirements apply to diploma translation?
Country-specific rules govern whether a certified, notarised, sworn or apostilled diploma translation is required: the UK accepts certified translations by an ISO 17100 agency, the US often requires notarisation, civil-law countries require a sworn translator, Switzerland varies by canton, and China typically bundles translation with notarisation for 200–300 RMB per document.
Diploma translation for the UK job market
For the UK job market, employers accept a professional translation on agency letterhead for hiring, but visa sponsorship via UKVI, professional licensing (GMC, NMC, SRA) and university enrolment require a certified translation from an ISO 17100 agency.
Diploma translation for Switzerland
For Switzerland, requirements depend on the canton and employer: German-, French- or Italian-speaking cantons typically accept a certified translation into the canton’s official language, but some private employers accept an English-language translation without further certification.
Diploma translation for Algeria, the Middle East and Arabic originals
Algerian and other Arabic-issued diplomas require a certified English translation accompanying the Arabic original when submitted to UK universities, UK ENIC, or non-Arabic-speaking employers. Bilingual Arabic–French Algerian diplomas still require a certified English rendering for UK use.
Diploma translation for the JET Programme and Latin-language US diplomas
The JET Programme accepts diplomas in English or Japanese only, so US diplomas issued in Latin (a tradition at several Ivy League universities) require a certified English translation despite being from a US institution.