Translation of diplomas, supplements and education documents

No, and no serious recognition centre expects a translator to do so. Converting grades is the job of the assessing body, and a grade converted by the translator makes the document unreliable. We keep the grades exactly as they appear in the supplement and add a note to the translation on the original grading system: for example, that grades are on a 100-point scale with 51 as the pass mark, or on a 5-point scale where 5 is the highest. If the supplement already explains the scale, we translate that explanation as it is and add nothing.

Before, almost always. Foreign universities and recognition centres ask for an apostille on the original, which confirms that the Georgian diploma is genuine, and the translation must cover that apostille too. Educational documents are handed in at the Public Service Hall, but the apostille is issued by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement after it checks authenticity, usually within 10 working days, so we start this step first. A diploma from the Soviet period or from an institution that has since closed may need prior confirmation, which we clarify before you order.

Some universities and evaluation services accept a translation only directly from the translation provider, so that the applicant cannot alter the document. In that case we place the notarised translation in an envelope sealed with the bureau's stamp, stamp and sign across the envelope and, as you choose, either hand it to you unopened or send it straight to the recipient by express post with a tracking number. For electronic submission we send the scan from the bureau's official email address, so that the source can be verified.

As a rule, the grade sheet or report card for the last school year, a letter from the school stating the class and period of study and, if the stage has been completed, the school-leaving certificate. Schools often ask for a vaccination certificate and birth certificate as well. We translate the grade sheet as a table, with the official subject names and a note on the grading system, so that the receiving school can place the child in the right class. Private schools are usually satisfied with the bureau's stamp; state schools and education authorities ask for a notarised translation, sometimes with an apostille.

No. A translation only ensures that the recipient can read the content of the Georgian document accurately. Equivalence is determined by the competent body of the receiving country: in Europe often the national centre of the ENIC-NARIC network, for further study the university itself, and for regulated professions the professional regulator. Where needed, the Georgian side confirms the document's authenticity, for example with an apostille or a letter from the competent education authority. We check which body is competent in your case against the recipient's official information and tell you before you order which documents it asks for.

For an English-speaking recipient, often not: an official bilingual supplement is a document issued by the university, and many universities and recognition centres accept it without translation, although it may still need an apostille. A translation is needed when the recipient works in another language, such as German or Italian, or when the diploma is in Georgian only. In that case we translate the subject names in line with the university's official English version, so that documents submitted in two languages do not contradict each other.