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Documents for studying abroad

An admissions office abroad usually asks for a diploma or school certificate with an apostille and a translation, an academic transcript with marks, and proof of the programme language. For applicants under eighteen and for programmes with accommodation, a birth certificate and medical certificates are often added.

Checked on 21 September 2026
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apostille or legalisation   translation

Needed almost always

  • The supplement is apostilled separately from the diploma: they are two documents Route
  • Needed when applying for an undergraduate programme straight after school Route
  • A passport is not apostilled; the university usually needs a copy of the photo page
  • usually valid for 2 years from the exam date An official exam result: neither an apostille nor a translation is affixed to it

Often requested

  • Asked for when transferring between programmes or applying for a master's Route
  • Written in the language of the application; no apostille or certified translation needed
  • The form and the number of letters depend on the programme
  • no more than 1–3 months old on the visa application date Consulates usually want it no more than one to three months old on the date of application
  • The form and the list of vaccinations are set by the university or the immigration service; there is no single standard

Sometimes needed

The thing most often missed is that the apostille on the diploma supplement — the list of subjects and hours — is separate from the apostille on the diploma itself: two documents, two state fees. The second common gap is a notarised power of attorney, needed if the documents are submitted by a parent or an agent rather than the applicant.

The final list and the translation requirement — an ordinary notarised translation or a sworn one in the country of study — are set by the particular university, not by the general list below. Check the programme's own page before collecting anything.

By country

Germany almost always requires a sworn translation by a translator accredited by a German court, plus a separate recognition procedure through uni-assist or the state authority. The United Kingdom accepts a diploma with an apostille together with a UK ENIC statement of comparability. France and Italy usually ask for a translation certified by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté, traduttore giurato) or by the consulate. China has accepted the apostille instead of consular legalisation since November 2023, but universities may separately require a notarised copy of the diploma. Where studying requires a visa, as in the United States and the United Kingdom, the criminal record certificate and medical documents become part of the visa file, not only of the application.

GermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalyChinaUnited States

Questions

Is an apostille needed on a school certificate if entry is through a foundation course?
As a rule yes: the foundation provider and the receiving university usually require the same set of documents as direct entry, including an apostille and a translation of the school certificate. Confirm the list with the programme coordinator before applying.
Can I submit an ordinary copy of the diploma instead of an apostilled original?
Some universities accept scans at the first stage for preliminary assessment, but enrolment almost always requires the apostilled original or a notarised copy bearing an apostille. The requirement depends on the admissions office.
In what order should the apostille and the translation be done?
Usually the apostille goes on the original educational document first, and the translation is then made from the document together with the apostille, so that the apostille text is translated too. Some countries, however, require a local sworn translator, who must work from the already apostilled original.
Is a translation needed if the programme is taught in English and the diploma is in Russian?
Yes. The language of instruction makes no difference: the admissions office and the immigration service normally require a translation into the official language of the country, or into English where the programme says so.
What if the surname on the diploma differs from the one in my passport?
You will need a further document proving the change of name — a marriage certificate or a change-of-name certificate — also apostilled and translated, otherwise the university cannot link the educational documents to you.
Checked on 21 September 2026

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