NYU requires certified English translations of non-English academic documents. Most graduate programs also require course-by-course credential evaluation from WES, ECE, or another NACES member. Requirements vary by NYU school — Steinhardt prefers WES, Gallatin requires WES ICAP or ECE at application.
Reviewed by Elena Sokolova
Senior Academic Credential Translation Strategist
“NYU is the most fragmented university I work with. Steinhardt wants WES, Gallatin wants WES ICAP or ECE at application, SPS has its own threshold, and Tisch only triggers evaluation for certain countries. The translation is the easy part — knowing which evaluator your school wants and when they want it is what catches applicants off guard.”
Across all NYU schools, international applicants with non-English academic documents must provide certified English translations. For graduate programs, NYU specifies that translations may come from your university, a certified translator, or a NACES member — but the applicant cannot translate their own documents. For undergraduate applicants, the rules are slightly more flexible: translations from a school official or an accredited translation agency in the country of the institution are acceptable.
Beyond the translation itself, most NYU graduate programs require a course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization. NYU generally recommends NACES members, but specific schools have preferences — Steinhardt prefers WES, Gallatin requires WES ICAP or ECE submitted with the application, and SPS requires evaluation if more than half of your academic program was at a foreign institution.
An important detail for enrolled undergraduate students: NYU automatically partners with ECE for credential authentication of international high school records. NYU creates the ECE account for you and covers the cost. This happens after enrollment, not during the application — so it does not affect what you submit with your initial application.
NYU translation standard
NYU requires certified English translations from a professional translator, certified translator, or NACES member. Graduate applicants cannot self-translate.
School-specific evaluation requirements
Most NYU graduate schools require course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES member. Check the school-specific table below for your program.
Undergraduate ECE partnership
After enrollment, NYU automatically creates an ECE account for international undergraduate students needing credential authentication — at no cost to the student.
NYU is more fragmented than most universities when it comes to international admissions requirements. Each school within NYU — Steinhardt, Gallatin, SPS, Tisch, and the general graduate and undergraduate admissions — sets its own rules for credential evaluation. Some require the evaluation at the time of application. Others accept it after admission. Some specify WES. Others accept any NACES member.
The practical impact is that you need to check your specific school before starting the application process. The translation is the same across all schools — certified, word-for-word, with a Certificate of Accuracy — but the evaluation requirement varies and failing to include it when your school expects it can delay or disqualify your application.
The good news: one certified translation works across all NYU schools and every evaluator they accept. Whether you submit to the NYU portal directly, route through WES, or send through ECE, the same translation file satisfies everyone.
Each NYU school sets its own evaluation requirements. This table shows what your program requires beyond the base certified translation.
| NYU School | Credential evaluation | Timing & notes |
|---|---|---|
| NYU Undergraduate (general) | Not required at application. After enrollment, NYU creates an ECE account for authentication (free). | Upload unofficial transcripts + translation with application. Official transcripts after admission. |
| NYU Steinhardt (grad) | WES Course-by-Course preferred. WES ICAP required if transferring credits. | Submit evaluation with application. Specify NYU Steinhardt as WES recipient. |
| NYU Gallatin (grad) | WES Course-by-Course ICAP or ECE required. | Must be submitted at the time of application — not after admission. |
| NYU SPS (grad) | Course-by-course evaluation required if >50% coursework at foreign university. | Any NACES member accepted. Submit with application materials. |
| NYU Tisch (grad) | Required for Australia, India, or non-equivalent bachelor's degree. | Any NACES member accepted. Check if your country triggers the requirement. |
| NYU Graduate (general) | Course-by-course evaluation required for degrees outside U.S. or Canada. | NACES member recommended. Waived if degree from accredited U.S./Canadian institution. |
All paths start with the same certified translation. If your school requires WES or ECE evaluation, submit the same translation to the evaluator — no separate version needed.
The submission process depends on your NYU school and whether you are at the application or admission stage. Most schools accept uploaded documents through the application portal initially, with official documents required after admission.
Check the school-specific table above. The critical questions are: does your school require credential evaluation, and is it needed at the time of application or after admission?
Have your academic documents translated by a professional translator. NYU graduate programs do not accept self-translation. The translation must be complete, word-for-word, and include a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
If your NYU school requires WES, ECE, or another NACES-member evaluation, begin that process early. Gallatin requires evaluation at the time of application — not after. Steinhardt prefers WES. Submit the same certified translation to the evaluator.
Upload unofficial transcripts with the certified English translation. Most schools accept unofficial documents at the application stage. Specify the correct NYU school as the evaluation recipient if using WES or ECE.
If admitted, have your institution send official transcripts directly to NYU. The certified translation you submitted with the application remains valid — you do not need a new translation at this stage.
If you are applying to NYU Gallatin, start the WES ICAP or ECE evaluation at least 4 weeks before the application deadline. Gallatin requires the evaluation at the time of application — not after admission. The translation takes 24 hours, but the evaluation takes weeks.
NYU document rejections typically involve missing credential evaluation, self-translation, or timing errors. The most consequential issue is not knowing your specific school requires evaluation at application — not after.
What happens
NYU school cannot process the application as complete. Gallatin, in particular, treats a missing evaluation as an incomplete application.
Why it happens
Applicants assume they only need a translation, or they plan to submit the evaluation after admission — but their school requires it upfront.
How we prevent it
This page clarifies which schools require evaluation at application vs after admission. We include school-specific guidance with every NYU-bound delivery.
What happens
NYU graduate admissions rejects the translation and requests a professional version.
Why it happens
Graduate applicants translate their own documents to save money. NYU graduate programs explicitly require translations from a professional or certified translator.
How we prevent it
Every translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy identifying the translator as an independent professional.
What happens
Steinhardt accepts the evaluation for admission but cannot process credit transfer because the WES Basic evaluation was submitted instead of ICAP.
Why it happens
Applicants order the less expensive WES Basic Course-by-Course instead of the ICAP Course-by-Course evaluation.
How we prevent it
This page specifies that Steinhardt requires WES ICAP if you intend to transfer credits. We include this guidance in our delivery notes for Steinhardt-bound translations.
What happens
NYU evaluators cannot assess the original academic record because the translator has already converted grades.
Why it happens
Translators convert percentages to U.S. letter grades or GPA, which is the evaluator's role.
How we prevent it
We preserve original grading scales exactly. NYU and its evaluators provide the U.S. equivalency interpretation.
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Spanish → English · Mexican Acta de Divorcio
→ USCIS — Marriage-Based Filing
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A.V.
Spanish → English · Mexican Acta de Nacimiento
→ US Agency — Accepted
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Ukrainian → English · Medical Consultation Report
→ USCIS — Medical Records
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Jacques L.
French → English · Quebec Copy of Act of Birth
→ U.S. Immigration Filing
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German → English · Marriage Record (Familienbuch)
→ USCIS — I-130 Filing
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Spanish → English · Birth + Marriage Certificate
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The total cost depends on whether your NYU school requires credential evaluation. The translation is the starting point and is needed regardless of which school you are applying to.
Our certified translation
True flat rate — no word-count multipliers, no per-page surprises.
Typical for this case
$49.90–$149.70
Most NYU-bound academic sets: 2 to 6 pages
Pay only after you review the quote
Beyond translation
Fees New York University (NYU) charges directly, outside our translation rate.
These fees go directly to New York University (NYU) — we don't collect or mark them up.
Typical end-to-end scenarios
Yes. All NYU schools accept and require certified English translations for non-English academic documents. For graduate programs, the translation must come from a professional translator, certified translator, or NACES member. Self-translation is not accepted for graduate applicants. Undergraduate applicants may submit translations from a school official or accredited agency.
Many NYU graduate programs require WES or another NACES-member evaluation, but the specifics vary by school. NYU Steinhardt prefers WES Course-by-Course. NYU Gallatin requires WES ICAP or ECE at the time of application. NYU SPS requires evaluation if more than 50% of coursework was at a foreign institution. Check your specific school before applying.
Not for graduate programs. NYU graduate schools require translations from a professional translator, certified translator, or NACES member. For undergraduate applications, translations from a school official or an accredited agency in the country of the institution are acceptable. In either case, a professional certified translation satisfies both levels.
WES Basic Course-by-Course provides a U.S. equivalency evaluation. WES ICAP (International Credential Advantage Package) includes the evaluation plus verified copies sent to institutions. NYU Gallatin requires WES ICAP. NYU Steinhardt requires ICAP if you intend to transfer credits. If in doubt, order WES ICAP — it satisfies both requirements.
For enrolled undergraduate students who attended high school outside the U.S., NYU partners with ECE and creates an account automatically at no cost to the student. This happens after enrollment, not during the application. During the application stage, you submit your own translated transcripts without external evaluation.
Yes. A certified translation formatted for NYU admissions also satisfies WES, ECE, and every other NACES-member evaluator that NYU schools accept. Upload the same file to the NYU portal and submit it to the evaluator — no separate translation needed.
It depends on the school. NYU Gallatin requires WES ICAP or ECE evaluation at the time of application — a missing evaluation means an incomplete application. Steinhardt and most other graduate schools accept the evaluation with the application or shortly after. Check your specific school deadline.
We format translations for NYU admissions and every evaluator NYU schools accept: WES, ECE, SpanTran. One translation covers your NYU application and any credential evaluation.
We are not affiliated with New York University. We provide certified translation that meets NYU admissions standards.
