A German academic record can be readable in English and still need explanation. A grade of 1,3 needs its scale; a translated course title does not establish equivalence abroad. Check what the receiving employer, university or evaluator requests. You may already have an official English document. Otherwise, preserve the numbers, check subject names and distinguish a working translation from a certified submission.
Keep your academic record verifiable
- Leave every grade, credit value and date as printed. Add an explanation of the original scale separately. noll leaves numbers unchanged, including German decimal commas; it does not calculate a GPA.
- Compare your name, institution and qualification across the transcript, degree certificate and application form. Keep the original qualification title where needed so the receiver can identify the actual award.
- Include the original document and its grading legend when the receiver requests them. A translated table explains the record, but does not establish degree equivalence or replace institutional verification.
Abiturzeugnis, Notenspiegel or degree certificate?
An Abiturzeugnis records your school-leaving qualification, subjects and results. A university Notenspiegel, often called a Transcript of Records, lists modules, grades and credits. A degree certificate confirms the award; it may not contain the detailed results requested for admission. Check which documents the application checklist names.
The Diploma Supplement explains the qualification, programme and education system. Many universities already issue it in English, so check your graduation documents or ask the examinations office before translating it. It can help explain your degree, but does not automatically replace a transcript or certificate when those are requested.
German grades: lower numbers are better
The common university scale runs from 1.0, the best grade, to 5.0, a fail; 4.0 is the lowest passing grade. These are usual bands, but the institution’s own grading legend takes precedence. Abitur subject results often use 0–15 points, so keep those points and the printed scale rather than applying this table to them.
| Grade band | German label | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0–1.5 | sehr gut | Very good |
| 1.6–2.5 | gut | Good |
| 2.6–3.5 | befriedigend | Satisfactory |
| 3.6–4.0 | ausreichend | Sufficient; a pass |
| 5.0 | nicht ausreichend | Insufficient; a fail |
What the modified Bavarian formula does
German universities use the modified Bavarian formula to convert foreign grades into German grades, subject to their assessment rules. It is not a universal method for turning your German result into an overseas GPA.
German grade = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) / (Nmax − Nmin).
Nmax is the best possible grade in the foreign system, Nmin is its lowest passing grade, and Nd is the grade obtained. For a system with a best grade of 100, a lowest pass of 50 and a result of 80, the calculation is 1 + 3 × (100 − 80) / (100 − 50) = 1 + 60 / 50 = 2.2.
Read in reverse, this example helps explain what a German 2.2 represents relative to those endpoints. It does not establish an official equivalence abroad. Let the receiving institution choose its method, rounding and evidence.
Who accepts what?
The purpose of the submission determines the paperwork, not the file format. Use these typical requirements as a starting point, then check the receiving institution’s current rules before you pay for translation or certification.
| Receiver or purpose | What is usually needed | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Employer: job application | A checked plain translation is usually fine. | Ask whether the German original is also wanted. |
| University application, including uni-assist | Rules vary; many ask for certified copies. uni-assist requires certified translations for documents outside German or English. | Check accepted document languages and distinguish certified copies from certified translations. |
| Recognition or evaluation: anabin/ZAB, WES, UK ENIC | Usually official documents and/or certified or sworn translations, depending on the procedure. | anabin is a reference database; check the actual evaluator. WES may require institution-sent documents. |
| Visa and immigration: USCIS, IRCC | Every document not in English (or French, for IRCC) needs a full translation. USCIS accepts a translator's signed certification; IRCC needs a certified translator or a sworn affidavit. | Check who may certify and which supporting documents the specific application requires. |
Check course names before submitting
A translated subject label should identify what you studied without inventing a qualification. noll has no glossary or term lock, so review important names by hand.
- Translate Leistungskurs as advanced course. Compare specialist module names with the university’s English course catalogue where available.
- Keep the original degree title alongside an explanation where useful. Do not replace it with an overseas award unless the receiver confirms the equivalence.
- Use a digital PDF with selectable text or an editable original. noll returns a PDF for a PDF and a .docx for a Word file, and keeps the table layout; check entries against the original.
German to English
German packs meaning into long compound words and puts verbs at the end of the sentence, so a good German to English translation reorders sentences rather than translating word by word. English text is usually 10 to 20 % shorter, so the translated layout has room to spare.
How it works
- 1
Drop the file
Upload the digital original in a supported format. For PDFs, use selectable text; scanned PDFs are not supported. The source language is detected automatically.
- 2
Pick English
Choose English as the target. Sign in and check your available page allowance before starting the translation. You can add more target languages.
- 3
Download the same file type
Start the translation, then download the result in the source file type. Compare the layout, numbers, dates and important wording with the original before using it.
What happens to your file
noll is built for documents you would not paste into a free online translator. Files are processed in EU data centres and never used to train models. Automatic file deletion is scheduled 30 minutes after successful translation in the standard document workflow. The separate single-PDF purchase flow allows 2 hours after successful translation for checkout and download. Download promptly; see our data-handling information for details.
How your data is handledMachine translation, not a certified translation
noll provides a machine-translated draft for understanding and review. If an authority, court or university requires a certified or sworn translation, ask which qualifications and format it accepts. noll does not certify translations.
Pricing
The standard document workflow requires an account and an available translation page allowance. Translation is billed by the page. Check current plans and your allowance before starting.
See pricingFrequently asked questions
Is a machine-translated German transcript accepted?
A machine translation may be sufficient for an employer’s initial review. Universities, credential evaluators and immigration authorities set their own rules and may require certified translations or official documents. Check the current submission requirements; noll does not certify translations.
What is the difference between a certified copy and a certified translation?
A certified copy attests to the copy of the original document. A certified translation attests to the translation under the receiver’s rules. One does not replace the other. Ask which translator qualifications or certification statement the receiver accepts.
Can I translate a scanned Zeugnis?
Scanned PDFs are not supported by noll, which has no OCR. Request a digital original with selectable text from your school or university. A photo uploaded as JPG or PNG is an alternative through the image translation preview feature.
Does translating a transcript change the grades?
No. noll does not convert grades to another system. Compare grade numbers and their formatting with the source. Explain the original scale separately, for example “1,3; 1.0 is best, 4.0 is the lowest pass”. An official grade conversion must follow the receiving institution’s method.
Do I need to translate my Diploma Supplement?
Check first whether your university already issued an English Diploma Supplement. Many do. Send that version if the receiver accepts it, and check whether a separate transcript or degree certificate is also required.
Related translations
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