A graduate of a Tbilisi university applying for a master's in Munich usually comes with one and the same question: "I have the diploma, what else do I need?" The answer is almost always the same: the supplement, the apostille and the translation, in exactly that order. The diploma only proves that a qualification was awarded to you; the supplement shows which courses you took, how many credits you earned and with what grades. A foreign university, recognition centre and employer read the supplement first and merely verify the diploma. That is why we translate these two documents as one package, with one terminology and simultaneous certification, in Tbilisi, on Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue.
Three generations of Georgian diplomas and what that means for the translation
Diplomas issued after the transition to the Bologna process (from 2005) follow the standard three-cycle system: bachelor, master, doctor, with ECTS credits and a 100-point grade in the supplement (A 91-100, B 81-90, C 71-80, D 61-70, E 51-60). The translation of such a supplement speaks a language European universities know and needs almost no additional explanation. Diplomas of 1990-2005 often certify the five-year qualification of a "certified specialist", which has no direct equivalent in the Bologna system; in the translation it is carried over unchanged, and the equivalent is established by the recognition centre. Soviet-era diplomas are in Russian, with a 5-point grade and often a handwritten insert; a specialist in both languages works on them, and for the apostille the Center requests confirmation from the archive, which has to be allowed for in the timing.
The apostille on a diploma: not the Public Service Hall but the Quality Center
This is the point where the most time is lost. Unlike civil status documents, the apostille on a diploma and its supplement is issued by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement. The procedure has two stages: first the Center verifies the authenticity of the document with the university, then it places the apostille. The standard term is a few working days, less under the expedited procedure, although for diplomas of liquidated or reorganised universities the archive request delays the process. The apostille is placed separately on the diploma and on the supplement. Only after that do we start translating: the apostille stamp is part of the document and must appear in the translation. If you do not yet have the diploma in hand, submission to the Center is possible by power of attorney, and we arrange that stage too.
What WES, ENIC-NARIC, uni-assist and the others require
The USA and Canada: WES
In the WES ICAP procedure the supplement or transcript must be sent by the university directly, in a sealed envelope or electronically; the translation is sent by the applicant. WES requires a literal, complete translation in the format of the original, without interpretation or grade conversion. That is exactly what we prepare: the table column by column, every course, credit and grade as in the original.
Germany: uni-assist and Anabin
For uni-assist, certified copies of the diploma and supplement and a translation into German or English are needed; many universities accept a Georgian notarized translation, some only the version of a German sworn translator. The status of Georgian universities (H+) and the correspondence of qualifications can be checked in advance in the Anabin database, and we do that before the order so that the name of the qualification in the translation matches the Anabin entry.
The rest of Europe and the United Kingdom
The centres of the ENIC-NARIC network (France Éducation international in France, Nuffic in the Netherlands, UK ENIC in Britain) and Italy's CIMEA ask for the diploma together with the supplement and the apostille, with the translation in English or the local language. For Italy some procedures still require a Dichiarazione di Valore from the consulate, which is issued precisely on the basis of our notarized translation. For those returning to Georgia, recognition of a foreign diploma is carried out by the same Quality Center; a separate page is devoted to that procedure: diploma recognition.
Translation details that decide recognition
Qualification and degree
"Bachelor of Business Administration" is Bachelor of Business Administration in English and not Bachelor in Business Management; "Master of Law" is Master of Laws (LL.M.), and "Doctor of Medicine" in the Georgian system is the qualification of a single-cycle programme, written in English as Doctor of Medicine (MD) and distinguished from an academic PhD by a note. Every qualification is rendered with the original wording of the diploma and its official English equivalent, which we verify against the universities' English-language supplements and the Quality Center's classifier.
Courses and credits
A supplement often lists 40-60 courses. Each title is translated with the term the foreign university uses in its own curriculum: "Fundamentals of Microeconomics" is Principles of Microeconomics, "Foreign Language (English) B2" is Foreign Language (English), Level B2. We keep a subject glossary for the main Tbilisi universities, so one graduate's diploma, supplement and academic transcript are translated identically, even if ordered at different times.
Grades
A grade is neither translated nor "converted": 87 stays 87, "excellent" stays as a transliteration with an explanation in brackets. If the supplement contains no description of the grading scale, we add a translator's note citing the official scale, so that WES or the university calculates the equivalent correctly itself.
Notarization and binding
Nobody can "spoil" a diploma by binding a translation to it, so the translation is never attached to the original: the notary first certifies the authenticity of the copies of the diploma and supplement against the original, then certifies the translator's signature and formalises both as one bound document with the number of sheets stated. The original is needed once, for a few minutes. If the original is abroad, a notarized copy can be made at a consulate or a local notary and the scan sent to us. For the authorities of Italy, Spain and Portugal a second apostille is placed on the bound notarized translation, this time at the Ministry of Justice. The general rules are summarised on the educational documents page.
What accompanies the diploma in the application package
Most universities ask for the school certificate alongside the diploma (especially for bachelor's and some master's programmes), a language certificate, recommendation letters, a motivation letter and a CV; for credit transfer, syllabi. Doctoral candidates add the academic degree diploma and a list of publications, current students a student status certificate. One translator assembles the whole package so that the name, the university's name and the courses are identical everywhere.
Turnaround
A diploma with a one- or two-page supplement is ready with notarization within one working day, a 4-6 page supplement within two days. If the university or WES finds an inaccuracy in the translation, we correct and re-certify it. Send us the scan through the website form or by email; you receive the finished package at the office, by courier or, where acceptable, as a PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the apostille placed on a diploma in Georgia?
At the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, not at the Public Service Hall. The Center first verifies the authenticity of the diploma with the issuing university, then places the apostille. A few working days as standard, less under the expedited procedure.
Can I translate only the diploma, without the supplement?
You can, but most foreign universities and recognition centres do not consider a diploma without the supplement. If the aim is continuing studies or recognition of the qualification, both are translated together.
Are grades converted into the foreign system?
No. The Georgian 100-point or old 5-point grade is carried over in its original form, with a description of the grading scale where needed. The equivalent is calculated by WES, ENIC-NARIC or the university itself.
How soon will it be ready?
A diploma with a one- or two-page supplement with notarization within one working day, a multi-page supplement within two days. Obtaining the apostille at the Center takes extra days.