NYU Translation Requirements
School-by-School Guide | Steinhardt · Gallatin · SPS · Tisch · Undergraduate
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.”
Translate for New York University (NYU)
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NYU Translation Requirements: What All Schools Expect
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 requires your certified translation to include:
- Complete, word-for-word translation of every element on the 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 or certified translator
Official Callouts
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 Translation and Evaluation Requirements by School
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.
Standard Requirements
- Word-for-word rendering — no summaries or 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
NYU credential evaluation requirements by school
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.
How to Submit Your Translation to NYU
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.
Identify which NYU school you are applying to
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?
Get your certified English translation
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.
Start credential evaluation if your school requires it
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 documents through the NYU application portal
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.
Submit official documents after admission
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.
Timeline
- Our certified translation: about 24 hours for standard academic records
- WES evaluation: typically 2–4 weeks
- ECE evaluation: typically 5 business days
- Gallatin deadline: evaluation must arrive with application — start early
- Application deadlines vary by school — check program-specific dates
Pro Tip
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.
Why NYU Flags Translated Documents — and How to Avoid It
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.
1Missing credential evaluation for schools that require it at application
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.
2Self-translated transcripts for graduate programs
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.
3Wrong WES product for Steinhardt credit transfer
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.
4Grade conversion in the translation
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.
Translation Cost for NYU Application
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.
Certified Translation
Starting Rate
Typical Total (Most NYU-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.
- • The same translation covers NYU and every evaluator — no retranslation needed.
- • Review current translation pricing at /pricing before placing the order.
Common Questions About NYU Translation Requirements
Does NYU accept certified translation?
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.
Does NYU require WES evaluation?
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.
Can I translate my own documents for NYU?
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.
What is the difference between WES Basic and WES ICAP for NYU?
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.
Does NYU pay for credential evaluation for undergraduates?
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.
Can I use the same translation for NYU and WES?
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.
When does NYU need the credential evaluation — at application or after admission?
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.
Related Pages
Evaluators accepted by NYU schools
Other university guides
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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.