Harvard Translation Requirements
School-by-School Guide | College · GSAS · HBS · HGSE · Chan · Extension
Harvard University requires literal, word-for-word certified English translations of all non-English academic documents. Self-translation is not accepted. Some Harvard schools (HBS, HGSE, Chan) also require credential evaluation through WES, ECE, or SpanTran.
Reviewed by Elena Sokolova
Senior Academic Credential Translation Strategist
“The most expensive mistake for Harvard applicants is not the translation — it costs the same regardless. It is not knowing your school requires WES or ECE evaluation and discovering it two weeks before the deadline. Start with the translation, then check whether your specific school needs evaluation. The translation feeds into both paths.”
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Harvard Translation Requirements: What All Schools Expect
Across all Harvard schools, international applicants with non-English academic documents must provide certified English translations. Harvard requires translations to be literal, word-for-word, and complete versions of the original records — covering courses completed, grades received, duration of study, and any degree or diploma awarded.
Self-translation is not permitted at any Harvard school. The translation must be performed by a qualified professional translator or professional translation service. This means a family member, friend, or the applicant themselves cannot provide the translation, regardless of their language proficiency.
Harvard may evaluate foreign transcripts internally to determine U.S. equivalency, but several schools also require or recommend external credential evaluation through services like WES, ECE, or SpanTran. A certified translation is the prerequisite for both internal Harvard review and external evaluator submission — you will need it regardless of which path your school follows.
Harvard requires your certified translation to include:
- Literal, word-for-word translation of the entire original document
- Courses completed, grades received, duration of study, and degrees awarded
- Original grading scales preserved — no conversion to U.S. GPA
- All seals, stamps, signatures, and institutional markings translated
- Signed Certificate of Accuracy from a professional translator
Official Callouts
Harvard translation standard
Harvard requires literal, word-for-word, complete English translations of all non-English academic records. Self-translation is not permitted.
School-specific requirements
Each Harvard school has additional requirements beyond the base translation. Some require WES or ECE evaluation. Check the specific section for your program below.
Timing difference
Some Harvard schools accept unofficial translations at the application stage and require official translated documents only upon admission. Plan accordingly.
Harvard Translation Requirements by School
The biggest mistake international applicants make is assuming "Harvard translation requirements" means one thing. Each Harvard school has its own admissions process, and the translation and evaluation expectations differ significantly. Some schools handle evaluation internally. Others outsource it to specific evaluators and expect you to arrive with the evaluation already completed.
Understanding your specific school's requirements before you start the application prevents the most common delay: scrambling to get a credential evaluation done after you realize your school requires one, when you thought the translation alone would be enough.
The good news is that one certified translation works across all paths. Whether you upload directly to the Harvard portal, send through WES, route through ECE, or submit via SOPHAS, the same professionally formatted translation satisfies every receiver.
Standard Requirements
- Literal word-for-word rendering — no summaries, no paraphrasing
- Original document layout preserved — tables, columns, page order
- All seals, stamps, signatures, and institutional markings translated
- Original grading scale preserved (no conversion to U.S. GPA)
- Signed Certificate of Accuracy with translator credentials
Harvard translation requirements by school
Each Harvard school follows a different process for international academic documents. This table shows what your program requires beyond the base certified translation.
| Harvard School | Translation requirement | Credential evaluation required? |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard College (undergraduate) | Certified translation of grades 9–12 transcripts, uploaded with application | Not required. Harvard College evaluates credentials internally. |
| GSAS (Graduate Arts & Sciences) | Unofficial transcripts at application; official + certified translation only if admitted and accepted | Not required. GSAS evaluates credentials internally. |
| HBS (Business School) | Unofficial translation at application; official transcript + word-for-word translation sent through WES if admitted | Yes — WES evaluation required for admitted international students. |
| HGSE (Graduate School of Education) | Certified translation uploaded with application | Yes — WES, ECE, or SpanTran evaluation required if admitted. |
| Chan School of Public Health | Certified translation submitted through SOPHAS | Yes — WES iCAP (Course-by-Course) evaluation required via SOPHAS. |
| Harvard Extension School | Certified translation provided to credential evaluator | Yes — IEE or CED evaluation required for international degree equivalency. |
All paths start with the same certified translation. Get the translation first, then submit it through whichever channel your school requires.
How to Submit Your Translation to Harvard
The submission process depends on your Harvard school. Most schools accept uploaded translations through the application portal, but some require documents to route through external evaluators. Getting the sequence right avoids the most common delay: realizing you need a credential evaluation after you have already submitted the application.
Identify which Harvard school you are applying to
Each Harvard school follows a different process. Check the school-specific table above. The key question is whether your school requires credential evaluation (WES, ECE, SpanTran, IEE, or CED) in addition to a certified translation.
Get your certified English translation
All Harvard schools require certified translations of non-English academic records. The translation must be literal, word-for-word, and include a signed Certificate of Accuracy. Self-translation is not accepted. Have this ready before you start the application.
Submit through the correct channel for your school
Harvard College and GSAS: upload the certified translation with your application through the Harvard portal. HBS: upload an unofficial translation at application, then send official documents through WES if admitted. HGSE: upload with application, then submit to WES/ECE/SpanTran if admitted. Chan School: submit through SOPHAS with WES iCAP evaluation.
If credential evaluation is required, start that process early
WES, ECE, and SpanTran processing takes days to weeks. If your Harvard school requires evaluation, begin that process alongside your application — not after admission. The same certified translation you uploaded to Harvard also works for the evaluator.
Keep the translation for downstream use after enrollment
The same certified translation is useful beyond admissions: financial aid verification, TA applications, fellowship submissions, professional licensing, and employment. A properly formatted translation is a permanent document you will reuse throughout your Harvard career.
Timeline
- Our certified translation: about 24 hours for standard academic records
- WES evaluation: typically 2–4 weeks (if required by your school)
- ECE evaluation: typically 5 business days (if required)
- Application deadlines vary by school — check your program-specific dates
Pro Tip
Start with the certified translation regardless of which Harvard school you are applying to. Every school needs it, and it is the fastest step. If your school also requires credential evaluation, submit the same translation to the evaluator immediately — do not wait for admissions decisions.
Why Harvard Flags Translated Documents — and How to Avoid It
Harvard admissions rejections of translated documents usually involve completeness or formatting issues. The most consequential problem is not a bad translation — it is submitting the translation through the wrong channel or not realizing your school requires credential evaluation.
1Self-translated transcripts
What happens
Harvard admissions does not accept the translation and asks for a professional version.
Why it happens
Applicants translate their own documents to save money or time. Harvard explicitly prohibits self-translation for all schools.
How we prevent it
Every translation we deliver is performed by a professional translator and includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy identifying the translator as an independent professional.
2Summary translation instead of literal word-for-word
What happens
Harvard cannot verify the complete academic record against the original.
Why it happens
Translators paraphrase or summarize grades, course descriptions, or institutional notes instead of translating them verbatim.
How we prevent it
We provide literal, word-for-word translations of every element: course titles, grades, credit hours, institutional notes, and academic terminology — no summarizing.
3Missing credential evaluation for schools that require it
What happens
Harvard school cannot process the application because the evaluation component is missing.
Why it happens
Applicants know they need a translation but do not realize their specific school (HBS, HGSE, Chan, Extension) also requires evaluation through WES, ECE, or another agency.
How we prevent it
This page clarifies evaluation requirements by school. We also include guidance with every delivery that explains which Harvard schools require additional evaluation steps.
4Grade conversion in the translation
What happens
Harvard evaluators cannot assess the original academic record because the translator altered the grades.
Why it happens
Translators convert percentages to U.S. letter grades or GPA, which is the evaluator's job — not the translator's.
How we prevent it
We preserve original grading scales exactly. Harvard and its evaluators (WES, ECE) provide the U.S. equivalency interpretation.
Translation Cost for Harvard Application
The total cost of preparing documents for Harvard depends on whether your school requires credential evaluation in addition to certified translation. Either way, the translation is the starting point and the fastest step.
Certified Translation
Starting Rate
Typical Total (Most Harvard-bound academic sets: 2 to 6 pages)
$59.90–$179.70
Pay only after you review the quote
Institution / WES Specific Fees
Typical Subtotals
- • Evaluation fees are approximate and subject to change. Verify with the evaluator before ordering.
- • The same translation covers Harvard and every evaluator — no retranslation needed.
- • Review current translation pricing at /pricing before placing the order.
Common Questions About Harvard Translation Requirements
Does Harvard accept certified translation?
Yes. All Harvard schools accept and require certified English translations for non-English academic documents. The translation must be literal, word-for-word, complete, and performed by a qualified professional translator. Self-translation is explicitly not accepted at any Harvard school.
Does Harvard require WES evaluation?
It depends on the school. Harvard Business School (HBS) requires WES evaluation for admitted international students. Harvard Chan School of Public Health requires WES iCAP (Course-by-Course) via SOPHAS. Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) accepts WES, ECE, or SpanTran evaluation. Harvard College and GSAS typically do not require external credential evaluation — they evaluate credentials internally.
Can I translate my own documents for Harvard?
No. Harvard explicitly prohibits self-translation at all schools. The translation must come from a qualified professional translator or professional translation service. This rule applies to all programs: undergraduate, graduate, business, education, public health, and extension.
When do I need an official translation vs an unofficial one for Harvard?
It depends on your school and stage. Harvard GSAS accepts unofficial transcripts at the application stage and requires official documents with certified translation only after admission and acceptance. HBS accepts unofficial translations during the application and requires WES-evaluated official documents after admission. Harvard College and HGSE generally expect translated documents uploaded with the initial application. Check your specific school requirements.
Can I use the same translation for Harvard and WES?
Yes. A certified translation formatted for Harvard admissions also satisfies WES, ECE, SpanTran, and every other credential evaluator. You do not need separate translations for the Harvard application and the evaluator. One translation covers both.
What format does Harvard require for translated documents?
Harvard requires literal, word-for-word translations that show courses completed, grades received, duration of study, and degrees awarded. All seals, stamps, and institutional markings must be translated. Original grading scales must be preserved — do not convert to U.S. GPA. The translation must include a signed Certificate of Accuracy from a professional translator.
I am applying to multiple Harvard schools. Do I need separate translations?
No. One certified translation covers every Harvard school you are applying to, including the Harvard application portal upload and any required evaluator (WES, ECE, SpanTran). The translation format is the same across all programs.
Related Pages
Evaluators required by Harvard schools
WES translation requirements
Required by HBS and Chan School. WES formatting, sender routes, portal submission.
ECE translation requirements
Accepted by HGSE. ECE Translation Waiver, self-prepared translation rules.
SpanTran translation requirements
Accepted by HGSE. SpanTran in-house vs external translation.
Other university guides
Relevant documents
Ready to apply to Harvard?
We format translations for Harvard admissions and every evaluator Harvard schools require: WES, ECE, SpanTran. One translation covers your Harvard application and any credential evaluation — no retranslation needed.
We are not affiliated with Harvard University. We provide certified translation that meets Harvard admissions formatting and certification expectations.