An application file, several documents to translate
Applying to a university abroad — in the United States via the Common App, in the UK, in Australia or in Canada — generally requires several school documents translated into English: report cards (often from the French equivalent of 10th to 12th grade), Baccalauréat transcripts, diplomas, and sometimes undergraduate transcripts for further studies. A single file often includes several report cards and diplomas to translate at once.
2026–2027 calendar: the dates to plan for
For entry in autumn 2027, the application season runs from October 2026 to January 2027. Here are the main deadlines — always confirm them on the website of each institution you are applying to:
| Deadline | Applications concerned |
|---|---|
| 15 October 2026 | UK (UCAS): Oxford, Cambridge and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science (6pm UK time) |
| November 2026 | US: early decision (binding) and early action (non-binding), with November 1 the most common early decision deadline |
| Early January 2027 | US: regular decision, most often around January 1 at selective universities |
| 13 January 2027 | UK (UCAS): equal consideration deadline for most other undergraduate courses — all applications received by then are considered on an equal basis (6pm UK time) |
The UK dates are listed on the official UCAS dates and deadlines page. In the US, each university sets its own dates; according to the College Board's BigFuture FAQ, most institutions use November 1 for early decision, while others set mid-November or even December 1.
Tip: order your translation several weeks before the deadline. You need time to obtain the originals from the lycée, have the whole file translated, and then submit it in the way each university requires. Report cards for the first term of terminale, often requested later in the process, can then be translated with the same terminology as the rest of the file.
The complete file: which documents to translate?
For an application after the Baccalauréat, a typical file includes:
- report cards for all three years of lycée (seconde, première and terminale — Years 11 to 13 in the UK, 10th to 12th grade in the US); some US universities also ask for troisième, the equivalent of 9th grade;
- the Baccalauréat transcript and diploma or, if the exam has not yet been taken, the transcript of the épreuves anticipées, the early exams sat at the end of première (French and, since the 2026 session, mathematics);
- the certificate of enrolment or letter issued by the school.
These documents are best translated together, as a single order: the same subject names, the same rendering of teachers' comments and honours (mentions), the same presentation of the 20-point grading scale from one document to the next. The translation is written in American or British English depending on the destination country. See also my page on diploma and transcript translation.
Why a certified translation?
For report cards, transcripts and diplomas, admissions offices most often ask for a certified translation, signed and sealed by a sworn translator: it attests that the translation is accurate and complete, so your results can be assessed with confidence.
Some institutions occasionally ask for a standard, uncertified translation. But a certified translation is accepted anywhere a standard one would be, while the reverse is not true: if in doubt, it is the safest choice. Just mention the institution you are applying to when requesting a quote.
British or American English?
The choice of English variant is not neutral: an application to a US university (spelling, school-system terminology) benefits from being written in American English, while a UK application calls for British English. Specify the destination of your file when requesting a quote — it is a detail admissions offices notice.
Should each document be translated separately?
No — a file with several report cards and diplomas can be translated and delivered as a coherent set, with consistent terminology across documents (grades, the French 20-point scale, subject names). This is essential for readability by an admissions committee unfamiliar with the French school system.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to translate a full file (report cards + Baccalauréat)?
Depending on volume, between 24 hours and a few business days. All the documents in a file are translated and delivered together.
Can I send photos of my report cards?
Yes, clear photos or scans are sufficient to produce the translation, regardless of the number of documents.
Need to translate an application file?
Free quote within 1 hour — certified translation, US or UK English
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