International Students and Prospective Students in Berlin: Which Documents Need to Be Translated?
Berlin is one of Germany’s most popular destinations for international students. Every year, students from all over the world come to Berlin to study at universities, universities of applied sciences and other higher education institutions.
For international students, however, preparing for university involves more than simply finding a study programme and applying. Depending on your country of origin, university and degree programme, you may need to provide translated and certified documents during the application, enrolment or residence permit process.
In this guide, we explain which documents international students in Berlin may need to have translated and what you should check before ordering a translation.
Studying in Berlin as an International Student
If you are planning to study in Berlin, one of the first steps is to check whether your previous qualifications give you access to higher education in Germany.
The official requirements for studying in Germany explain how international qualifications are assessed, how to prove language skills and how to find and apply for a university place.
Depending on your educational background, you may be asked to provide documents such as:
- School-leaving certificates
- University diplomas
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Master’s degrees
- Academic transcripts
- Transcripts of Records
- Certificates of examination results
- Language certificates
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Internship or employment certificates
- Other official documents
The exact requirements vary depending on the university and the specific application procedure.
Which Documents Do International Students Usually Need to Translate?
There is no single list of documents that applies to every international student.
However, several types of documents are frequently requested by German universities and authorities.
School-Leaving Certificates
Your school-leaving certificate is often one of the most important documents when applying for an undergraduate programme in Germany.
The university may need to determine whether your qualification is equivalent to a German university entrance qualification.
If your certificate is not in German or another accepted language, you may be asked to provide a certified translation.
The official German government portal explains that international students need a recognised university entrance qualification and provides information on how to verify whether a foreign qualification is sufficient.
Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees
Students applying for a Master’s programme may need to provide their previous Bachelor’s degree and related academic documentation.
Similarly, students applying for doctoral programmes may have to provide their Master’s degree, academic transcripts and other university documents.
If these documents were issued in another language, the university may require a German translation.
Transcript of Records
A Transcript of Records contains information about courses completed, grades and academic credits.
It can be particularly important when applying for:
- Master’s programmes
- University transfers
- Recognition of previous studies
- Academic exchanges
- Scholarships
- Other academic procedures
If your transcript is not available in an accepted language, you may need a professional translation.
Do I Need a Certified Translation?
This is one of the most important questions for international students.
A normal translation and a certified translation are not necessarily the same thing.
For official procedures, universities or public authorities may require a translation produced and certified by a sworn or authorised translator.
Berlin Translate provides information about the difference between standard and certified translations in its guide to official and certified translations.
A certified translation may be required for documents such as:
- University diplomas
- Academic transcripts
- School certificates
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Legal documents
- Immigration documents
However, do not automatically order a certified translation for every document.
The requirements depend on the university, authority and specific procedure. It is always best to check the instructions provided by the institution before ordering your translation.
Translation of University Documents in Berlin
International students frequently need translations of academic documents when applying to universities in Berlin.
Typical documents include:
University diplomas
Proof of a completed degree.
Academic transcripts
Detailed records of courses, grades and credits.
Bachelor’s and Master’s certificates
Evidence of an academic qualification.
School-leaving certificates
Documents proving previous education and university entrance qualifications.
Certificates of examination results
Documents confirming examinations or academic achievements.
If you need several academic documents translated, it can be useful to send all of them together so that the translator can maintain consistent terminology throughout the documents.
Berlin Translate offers professional certified translation services in Berlin for official documents and academic records.
International Students and Residence Permits in Berlin
Document translation can also become important after admission to university.
Students from outside the EU may need a residence permit for studying in Germany.
The official Berlin immigration service explains that foreign students can receive a residence permit for full-time studies at a recognised university or comparable higher education institution. The application requires various supporting documents.
You can find the official information about the residence permit for full-time studies in Berlin on the Berlin Service Portal.
The federal government portal Make it in Germany also provides information about the visa for studying in Germany, including requirements concerning university admission, financial resources and language skills.
Depending on your individual situation, additional foreign documents may need to be translated.
Do You Need an Apostille or Legalisation?
Translation is sometimes only one part of the process.
Depending on the country where your document was issued and the purpose for which it will be used, you may also need:
- An apostille
- Legalisation
- A certified copy
- The original document
- A specific type of certification
These requirements can vary considerably.
An apostille, for example, is not the same thing as a certified translation. The apostille authenticates certain aspects of a public document, while the translation transfers the document’s content into another language.
Before ordering a translation, check the requirements of the university, authority or organisation receiving the document.
International Students Should Prepare Their Documents Early
One of the most common mistakes international students make is waiting until just before the application deadline to organise their documents.
Ideally, you should check the requirements several weeks in advance.
A useful checklist is:
- Which documents does the university require?
- Which language must the documents be submitted in?
- Is a certified translation required?
- Does the university accept translations into English, or must they be in German?
- Is an apostille required?
- Are original documents or certified copies required?
- What is the application deadline?
The official requirements for studying in Germany provide a useful starting point for international applicants.
Preparing your documents early can prevent unnecessary delays during the application process.
Professional Translation Services for International Students in Berlin
At Berlin Translate, we help international students, graduates and prospective students with the translation of academic and official documents.
Our services include:
- School certificate translations
- University diploma translations
- Bachelor’s and Master’s degree translations
- Transcript of Records translations
- Certified translations
- Birth certificate translations
- Marriage certificate translations
- Immigration document translations
- Official document translations
- Professional translations for universities and authorities
You can learn more about our certified translation services in Berlin or read our detailed guide to official translations and certified translations.
For academic and professional documents, we also explain the difference between standard and certified translations in our guide to standard vs. certified translation.
Get a Translation for Your University Application
Are you an international student or prospective student in Berlin and need to have your documents translated?
Send us your documents by email or through our enquiry form. We can review the documents and provide you with a free, non-binding quotation.
Whether you need a school certificate, university diploma, Transcript of Records or certified translation, Berlin Translate can help you prepare your documents for universities and authorities in Berlin and throughout Germany.
Berlin Translate – Translation Services for International Students
If you are preparing to study in Berlin, don’t wait until the last minute to organise your documents.
Request a translation quote from Berlin Translate and let us know which documents you need to have translated.
Important: Requirements can vary between universities, authorities and individual procedures. Always check the specific requirements of the institution receiving your documents before ordering a translation.