University of Michigan Translation Requirements
Campus & School Guide | Ann Arbor · Dearborn · Flint | Rackham · Ross · Undergraduate
UMich requirements vary by campus and school. Rackham (Ann Arbor grad) does NOT accept WES — uses Scholaro GPA report. Ross Business requires WES. Dearborn requires WES ICAP. Flint evaluates internally. All campuses require certified English translation.
Reviewed by Elena Sokolova
Senior Academic Credential Translation Strategist
“UMich is the only university where I routinely see applicants pay for an evaluation they cannot use. Rackham does not accept WES. Ross requires WES. Same campus, opposite rules. The translation is the same everywhere — it is the evaluation path that catches people.”
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UMich Translation Requirements: What All Campuses Expect
Across all three UMich campuses — Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint — international applicants must provide official English translations of all non-English transcripts and academic records. Self-translation is not accepted at any campus. Official transcripts from every institution attended are required.
Beyond the translation, the credential evaluation requirement is where UMich becomes uniquely confusing. Unlike Columbia (where most grad schools agree on WES ICAP) or UCLA (which doesn't accept WES at all), UMich has opposite requirements within the same campus. Rackham Graduate School and Ross School of Business are on the same Ann Arbor campus, but Rackham rejects WES while Ross requires it.
The practical implication: if you are applying to multiple UMich programs, you may need a Scholaro report for Rackham AND a WES evaluation for Ross — even though they are at the same university. The certified translation is the one constant that works for every path.
UMich 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 — Scholaro or WES handles the conversion
- All seals, stamps, signatures, and institutional markings translated
- Signed Certificate of Accuracy from a professional translator
Official Callouts
Universal translation requirement
All UMich campuses require certified English translations. Self-translation is not accepted.
Rackham does NOT accept WES or ECE
Rackham uses Scholaro GPA reports for grade conversion. Only accepts electronic evaluations from Educational Perspectives (EP).
Ross requires WES
Ross School of Business requires WES: Basic Doc-by-Doc for MBA, ICAP CxC for One-Year Master's.
UMich Translation and Evaluation Requirements by Campus and School
UMich is the only university in our coverage where schools on the same campus have opposite credential evaluation requirements. Rackham (most Ann Arbor grad programs) does not accept WES. Ross (Ann Arbor business school) requires WES. Understanding this contradiction is critical to avoiding wasted time and money.
Rackham's alternative to WES is the Scholaro GPA Calculator — a free online tool that converts international grades to a U.S. 4.0 GPA scale. You generate a Scholaro GPA report for each degree from a non-U.S. institution and upload it alongside your transcript. This replaces the function that WES serves at other schools.
The Dearborn campus requires WES Course-by-Course ICAP — similar to Columbia SIPA or NYU Gallatin. The Flint campus evaluates credentials internally without any external evaluation — similar to UCLA's approach. If applying to School of Public Health through SOPHAS, WES ICAP CxC is required through the SOPHAS system.
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
UMich credential evaluation requirements by campus and school
UMich has the most internally contradictory requirements of any university. Check your specific campus and school.
| UMich Campus / School | Credential evaluation | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor — Undergraduate | No external evaluation required. | Submit official transcripts with certified English translation. |
| Ann Arbor — Rackham Graduate School | WES and ECE NOT accepted. Scholaro GPA report required. | Upload Scholaro GPA report for each non-U.S. degree. Only EP electronic evaluations accepted as alternative. |
| Ann Arbor — Ross School of Business | WES required. Basic Doc-by-Doc (MBA), ICAP CxC (One-Year Master's). | Select correct WES product for your Ross program. |
| Ann Arbor — School of Public Health (via SOPHAS) | WES ICAP Course-by-Course required through SOPHAS. | Submit WES evaluation through SOPHAS application system. |
| UMich Dearborn — Graduate Studies | WES Course-by-Course ICAP required. | Designate "University of Michigan-Dearborn – Graduate Studies" as WES recipient. |
| UMich Flint | Internal evaluation — no external evaluation needed. | Flint evaluates credentials internally. Submit translation only. |
One certified translation covers every UMich campus, every school, and every evaluator (Scholaro, WES, direct submission).
How to Submit Your Translation to UMich
The submission process depends entirely on your UMich campus and school. The certified translation is the starting point for all paths.
Identify your campus, school, and program
The evaluation requirement is determined by your specific destination: Ann Arbor Rackham, Ann Arbor Ross, Ann Arbor Public Health, Dearborn, or Flint. Check the table above for your program.
Get your certified English translation
All UMich campuses require official English translations. Self-translation is not accepted. The translation must be complete, word-for-word, and include a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
Generate a Scholaro GPA report
For Rackham programs: use the free Scholaro GPA Calculator (scholaro.com) to convert your grades to a 4.0 scale. Generate a report for each non-U.S. degree. Upload both the transcript translation and the Scholaro report.
Order WES evaluation
For Ross: WES Basic Doc-by-Doc (MBA) or WES ICAP CxC (One-Year Master's). For Dearborn: WES CxC ICAP. For Public Health: WES ICAP CxC through SOPHAS. Submit the same certified translation to WES.
No evaluation needed
Flint evaluates internally. Undergraduate Ann Arbor does not require external evaluation. Submit the certified translation directly through the application portal.
Upload documents through the application portal
Submit your translated documents through the appropriate application system for your campus. For Rackham, include the Scholaro report. For Ross or Dearborn, WES sends the evaluation directly.
Timeline
- Our certified translation: about 24 hours for standard academic records
- Scholaro GPA report: free, generated in minutes
- WES evaluation (Ross, Dearborn): typically 2–4 weeks
- Application deadlines vary by campus and program
Pro Tip
If applying to both Rackham and Ross at Ann Arbor, you need BOTH a Scholaro GPA report (for Rackham) AND a WES evaluation (for Ross). The certified translation is the same for both — but the evaluation paths are completely different. Start WES early if you need it for Ross.
Why UMich Flags Translated Documents — and How to Avoid It
UMich document issues most often stem from applying the wrong evaluation path. The Rackham/Ross contradiction catches more applicants than any other UMich-specific issue.
1Submitting WES evaluation to Rackham
What happens
Rackham does not process the WES evaluation. They require a Scholaro GPA report instead.
Why it happens
Applicants assume "UMich requires WES" because Ross and Dearborn do. Rackham explicitly rejects WES and ECE.
How we prevent it
This page clearly states that Rackham does not accept WES. We include campus-specific guidance with every UMich-bound delivery.
2Applying to Ross without WES
What happens
Ross cannot process the application without the WES evaluation.
Why it happens
Applicants learn that "Rackham doesn't accept WES" and assume the same applies to Ross. It doesn't — Ross requires WES.
How we prevent it
This page clarifies the Ross WES requirement and specifies the correct product for each Ross program.
3Wrong WES product for Ross
What happens
Ross MBA needed WES Basic Doc-by-Doc but received WES ICAP, or vice versa for One-Year Master's.
Why it happens
Applicants order one WES product without checking which Ross program they are targeting.
How we prevent it
This page specifies: WES Basic for MBA, WES ICAP CxC for One-Year Master's.
4Self-translated transcripts
What happens
UMich rejects the translation and requests a professional version.
Why it happens
All UMich campuses prohibit self-translation. The translation must come from a professional source.
How we prevent it
Every translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy identifying the translator as an independent professional.
Translation Cost for UMich Application
Total cost varies dramatically by UMich campus and school — from translation-only (Flint, undergraduate) to translation + WES ICAP (Dearborn, Ross One-Year Master's).
Certified Translation
Starting Rate
Typical Total (Most UMich-bound academic sets: 2 to 6 pages)
$59.90–$179.70
Pay only after you review the quote
Institution / WES Specific Fees
Typical Subtotals
- • WES fees are approximate and subject to change.
- • Scholaro GPA Calculator is free — significantly reduces cost for Rackham applicants.
- • Review current translation pricing at /pricing.
Common Questions About UMich Translation Requirements
Does UMich accept certified translation?
Yes. All three UMich campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint) accept and require certified English translations for non-English academic documents. Self-translation is not accepted at any campus.
Does UMich Rackham accept WES?
No. Rackham Graduate School explicitly does not accept WES or ECE evaluations. Instead, Rackham requires applicants to submit a Scholaro GPA report for each degree from a non-U.S. institution. The only external credential evaluation Rackham accepts is electronic evaluation from Educational Perspectives (EP).
Does UMich Ross require WES?
Yes. Ross School of Business requires WES evaluation: WES Basic Document-by-Document for the Full-Time MBA program, and WES ICAP Course-by-Course for One-Year Master's programs. This is the opposite of Rackham's policy on the same campus.
What is a Scholaro GPA report?
Scholaro is a free online GPA calculator (scholaro.com) that converts international grades to a U.S. 4.0 GPA scale. UMich Rackham requires a Scholaro GPA report for each non-U.S. degree, uploaded alongside your transcript and certified translation. It replaces the function that WES serves at other schools.
Does UMich Dearborn require credential evaluation?
Yes. UMich Dearborn Graduate Studies requires a WES Course-by-Course ICAP evaluation. Designate "University of Michigan-Dearborn – Graduate Studies" as the WES recipient.
Does UMich Flint require credential evaluation?
No. UMich Flint evaluates international credentials internally. No external evaluation from WES, ECE, or any other service is needed. Submit your certified translation directly.
Can I use the same translation for Rackham and Ross?
Yes. The certified translation is the same for every UMich campus and school. The difference is the evaluation path: Rackham uses Scholaro (free), Ross uses WES (paid). One translation covers both.
Related Pages
Credential evaluators referenced by UMich
Universities with similar patterns
Ready to apply to UMich?
One translation covers every UMich campus: Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. Works for Scholaro, WES, and direct submission. We help you figure out which path your program needs.
We are not affiliated with the University of Michigan. We provide certified translation that meets UMich admissions standards.