The Diploma Supplement It is one of the most important supplementary documents for international higher education degrees. Among other things, it describes the qualification earned, the level of the degree, the content of the program, the academic achievements, and the higher education system of the issuing country.
Quick Answer: Whether a Diploma Supplement needs to be translated into German depends on the specific application process. If the document is already officially available in German or English, an additional translation may not be necessary for many university application processes. However, when applying through uni-assist, you must always check the relevant country-specific guidelines. For a ZAB certificate evaluation, the translation requirement is determined by the personal preliminary check.
What is a Diploma Supplement?
The Diploma Supplement—also known in German as Supplement to the Diploma or a diploma supplement—is a document issued in addition to a college degree.
It is intended to help colleges and universities, government agencies, and employers better understand and evaluate a degree from a different higher education system.
The Diploma Supplement typically includes information on:
- the person who earned the degree,
- Type and name of the qualification,
- the issuing institution of higher education,
- Level of the college degree,
- Admission Requirements for the Program,
- Course Content and Structure,
- Academic achievements and results,
- Function or status of the transaction,
- Certification of the Diploma Supplement and
- the higher education system of the country in question.
Why is there a Diploma Supplement?
Higher education degrees vary significantly from country to country in terms of their names, duration, level of qualification, and program structure.
A degree with the same or a similar name may therefore have different requirements and content in two countries.
The Diploma Supplement is intended to make these differences more transparent.
In particular, it makes it easier for colleges and universities, employers, and other institutions to classify a foreign degree within their educational system.
Is the Diploma Supplement the same as the diploma?
No.
The diploma or university degree certifies that a specific academic degree has been earned.
The Diploma Supplement, on the other hand, is issued in addition to the higher education degree and contains additional information about that degree.
It does not replace the actual certificate of completion.
If an institution requires both the degree certificate and the Diploma Supplement, both documents must generally be submitted.
Is the Diploma Supplement a form of recognition of the degree?
No.
The Diploma Supplement promotes the international understanding and comparability of higher education degrees.
However, it does not automatically guarantee that a foreign degree will be recognized in Germany:
- is recognized,
- is considered equivalent to a specific German degree,
- is authorized to practice a regulated profession,
- leads to admission to a specific master's program, or
- leads to the recognition of certain academic achievements.
Such matters are decided by the respective universities, government agencies, or accreditation bodies.
What information does a Diploma Supplement contain?
The European Standard Model comprises eight information domains.
This includes the following information:
- to the holder of the qualification,
- regarding the qualification and the issuing institution,
- regarding the level of qualification,
- regarding course content and results achieved,
- regarding the function or status of the qualification,
- Regarding the certification of the Diploma Supplement,
- on the national higher education system and
- For more relevant information.
As a result, a Diploma Supplement provides significantly more context than a diploma alone.
Diploma Supplement and Transcript of Records—What's the Difference?
These two documents are often confused, but they serve different purposes.
Transcript of Records
The transcript of records is, above all, a detailed overview of courses and grades.
It typically documents:
- modules and courses completed,
- Grades,
- Credit points or ECTS,
- Semester and
- Additional individualized coursework.
Diploma Supplement
The Diploma Supplement describes the degree in a broader context.
For example, it explains:
- Type and level of qualification,
- Admission Requirements,
- Program Structure,
- Course Content,
- Status of the degree and
- the national higher education system.
A Diploma Supplement may also contain information on grades and credits. However, it should not automatically be considered a substitute for a Transcript of Records that has been specifically requested.
Does a Diploma Supplement have to be translated into German?
Not automatically.
Whether a translation is required depends, in particular, on the following:
- the language in which the document was officially issued,
- which languages the host institution accepts,
- the procedure for which the document is used,
- the country where the college degree was earned, and
- What specific document requirements apply?.
For example, a Diploma Supplement officially issued in English may be sufficient for a college or university if that institution accepts educational documents in English.
Other procedures may nevertheless require a German translation or, in addition, the version in the original language.
Does an English Diploma Supplement need to be translated into German?
Here, too, the answer is: not necessarily.
Many universities already issue diploma supplements in English or in multiple languages.
If the receiving agency accepts an officially issued English version, an additional German translation may not be necessary.
Before commissioning a translation, you should therefore check the following:
- Does the university accept documents in English?
- Are there any special country-specific notes?
- Does the version in the local language also need to be submitted?
- Is a German translation specifically required?
Diploma Supplement for uni-assist
At uni-assist, the Diploma Supplement may be one of the required university documents.
However, the documents required depend on the country of origin, the university, and the specific educational path.
For various countries, uni-assist explicitly states the following regarding a completed college degree, for example:
- the diploma or degree certificate and
- the Diploma Supplement.
For this reason, international applicants should always check the current country-specific information provided by uni-assist.
What translation rules does uni-assist follow?
According to uni-assist’s general standards, relevant educational documents should generally:
- in the original language and
- plus a German or English translation
must be submitted if no officially issued German or English version that meets the requirements is available.
However, the country-specific information is important.
For certain countries of origin, uni-assist may, for example, require that the version in the local language be submitted even if an English version is already available.
Therefore, an English version should not automatically be considered a sufficient substitute for the document in its original language.
Who is authorized to translate a Diploma Supplement for uni-assist?
According to the general uni-assist standards, translations are accepted in particular from:
- Individuals or institutions authorized to provide certified or court-approved translations, or
- an authorized department at the issuing school or college.
According to the general uni-assist standards, a simple translation provided by a translation agency without the appropriate authorization is not sufficient.
In addition, country-specific guidelines may include special rules for translations from certain countries.
Is the Diploma Supplement alone sufficient for uni-assist?
As a general rule, one should not assume that to be the case.
The Diploma Supplement is issued in addition to the college degree.
If, for example, uni-assist requires a degree certificate and a Diploma Supplement for the respective country of origin, both documents must be submitted.
Depending on the application process, additional documents may also be required, such as:
- Transcript of Records,
- Language certificates,
- High school diplomas,
- Certificates of Enrollment or
- Additional country-specific documentation.
Diploma Supplement for a Master's Application
When applying to master's programs, the Diploma Supplement may be helpful or required because it contains additional information about the applicant's previous higher education.
A college or university can use this data to derive information about, for example:
- Bachelor's degree level,
- Standard duration of study,
- Program Structure,
- Course content,
- results achieved and
- Status of the degree in the country of origin.
Whether the Diploma Supplement is actually required depends on the specific institution and the particular master's program.
Can the Diploma Supplement replace the Transcript of Records when applying for a master's program?
Not automatically.
For many master's program applications, the university wants to review in detail which specific modules were completed and what credits or grades were earned.
A transcript of records may be required for this purpose, even if a Diploma Supplement is also available.
If the university explicitly requires both documents, both should be submitted in full.
Diploma Supplement for Transferring to Another Institution of Higher Education
When transferring to another institution of higher education, the Diploma Supplement can provide additional information about your previous studies.
However, this information may not be sufficient for the actual recognition of individual academic achievements.
The relevant university may also require:
- Transcript of Records,
- Module descriptions,
- Curricula,
- Examination Regulations,
- Information on the amount of work involved or
- Additional documentation of the courses completed.
Before undertaking a large-scale translation project, you should therefore determine which documents are actually needed.
Diploma Supplement for the ZAB
When the Central Office for Foreign Education evaluates a transcript, various university documents may be required.
The ZAB Preliminary Check or the online application will indicate which documents need to be uploaded in each specific case.
This also applies to the question of whether a Diploma Supplement is required.
Do I need a translation of the Diploma Supplement for the ZAB?
Not automatically.
During a personalized preliminary review, ZAB identifies which documents require an additional translation.
It is particularly important to note that ZAB evaluates college degrees based on documents in the original language or the official language.
A translation may also be required, but it never replaces the document in the original language.
Does the Diploma Supplement need to be certified or apostilled for the ZAB?
That, too, is not automatically required.
According to general information from the ZAB, in many cases a simple scan of the required documents—without certification or an apostille—is sufficient for the time being.
If different requirements apply in a specific case, they will be displayed in the preliminary check.
Diploma Supplement for Job Applications
The Diploma Supplement can also be helpful when applying for a job.
This helps an employer better understand:
- what college degree was earned,
- what level the degree is at,
- what the program covered and
- how the degree is classified within the education system of the country of origin.
However, when applying for a job with a private employer, there is not automatically a general requirement to have every Diploma Supplement certified and translated into German.
Whether a translation is advisable or necessary depends on the employer's requirements or those of the specific application process.
Diploma Supplement for Professional Recognition
In the process of recognizing foreign professional qualifications, detailed documentation regarding the content and duration of a training program or course of study may be required.
A Diploma Supplement can provide important additional information in such proceedings.
The competent accreditation body determines whether it is required, which pages are relevant, and whether a translation is required.
Furthermore, a translation of the Diploma Supplement does not replace the actual academic examination or accreditation.
What needs to be translated in a Diploma Supplement?
If a complete translation is required, all relevant parts of the document should generally be included.
These may include, for example:
- Name of the owner,
- Name of the university,
- Degree title,
- Field of study,
- Level of qualification,
- Admission Requirements,
- Duration of study,
- Course Content,
- Credits,
- Grades or results,
- Information about other academic or vocational qualifications,
- Information on the national higher education system,
- Stamp texts,
- Signature notes and
- Additional official information.
Do all eight sections need to be translated?
If a complete translation of the entire Diploma Supplement is required, the complete document should generally be used as the basis.
A Diploma Supplement may consist of several pages and often includes more detailed general information about the national higher education system.
Before omitting individual sections from a lengthy document, you should therefore ask the receiving institution whether only certain pages or sections are actually needed.
Trimming the document on your own may result in the submitted document being incomplete for the intended procedure.
Are musical notes converted when translating into German notation?
No, a translation should not be confused with a professional evaluation.
The translation reproduces the notes and grading instructions contained in the source document.
However, it does not independently determine which German grade corresponds to a foreign grade.
The evaluation or conversion is carried out by the relevant university, uni-assist, ZAB, or other institution in accordance with their respective rules.
Are foreign credits converted to ECTS?
Even the independent academic conversion of foreign credits into ECTS credits is not automatically included in a translation.
If ECTS credits are already listed in the source document, they will be reproduced accordingly.
If the document uses a different credit system, the existing information should be translated or converted appropriately, without independently determining academic equivalence.
Translate the Diploma Supplement into Arabic, Persian, or Cyrillic
For documents written in non-Latin scripts, it is also important to use a consistent spelling for names and university titles.
This applies, for example, to documents in:
- Arabic script,
- Persian script,
- Cyrillic script,
- Greek script,
- Chinese characters or
- other writing systems.
If the name is already written in Latin script in a passport, residence permit, or other official document, this spelling should be specified in the translation request whenever possible.
Have a multi-page Diploma Supplement translated
Diploma supplements can be extensive and span several pages.
To ensure a reliable translation request, all relevant pages should therefore always be submitted in their entirety and in a clearly legible format.
This also applies to:
- Attachments,
- Grade Explanations,
- Information about the higher education system,
- Stamp and certification pages, as well as
- Backsides that may be labeled.
Can I have only part of the Diploma Supplement translated?
It is up to the receiving institution to decide whether a partial translation is sufficient for a specific procedure.
If the complete Diploma Supplement is specifically required, you should not translate only part of it on your own.
For particularly lengthy documents, it may be helpful to first check with your university, employer, or the accreditation office to determine which sections are actually required.
Certified Translation of the Diploma Supplement
If a university, government agency, or other institution requires a certified translation, StartDE can arrange for a professional translation or—depending on the requirements—a certified translation.
University documents that are often relevant to both are:
- Bachelor's degree certificate,
- Master's degree certificate,
- Diploma,
- Transcript of Records,
- Diploma Supplement,
- Certificates of Enrollment and
- Additional academic credentials.
You can submit your request through our website Interpreting & Translation Services at StartDE place.
Express Translation of a Diploma Supplement
Translations may be needed on short notice for master's program applications, the uni-assist process, credit recognition requests, or application deadlines.
Depending on the specific order, StartDE may consider expedited processing.
Depending on the document, language pair, length, and availability, a The certified translation will be completed the same day.
Since diploma supplements often consist of several pages, the estimated processing time depends largely on the actual length of the document.
For a quick review, the following should be submitted directly:
- Complete scans of all pages,
- Source language,
- Desired target language,
- Purpose,
- any requirements of the receiving agency, and
- Desired completion date.
Receive a translation of the diploma supplement as a PDF
Once the translation is complete, a PDF version or a scan of the finished translation can be provided initially.
This can be particularly helpful for digital college applications or online application processes.
The receiving institution determines whether a PDF version is sufficient for the respective procedure or whether a physical copy is also required.
Physical copy via DHL
Upon request, a hard copy of the translation can also be provided via DHL be shipped.
In urgent cases, express delivery may also be an option, depending on the appropriate DHL service.
The actual delivery time depends on the shipping service and the destination address.
What documents does StartDE need for a translation request?
- Complete scan of the Diploma Supplement
- all relevant pages and attachments
- Certificate of completion, if applicable, for verification purposes
- Source language
- Desired target language
- Purpose
- where applicable, requirements from the university, uni-assist, ZAB, or the accreditation office
- Desired completion date
- For non-Latin scripts, the name as it appears on the passport, if applicable
Checklist: Do I need a translation of my Diploma Supplement?
- Which institution requires this document?
- Is the Diploma Supplement even necessary?
- In what language was it officially issued?
- Does the institution accept an English version?
- Do I also need to submit the version in the local language?
- Does uni-assist provide any specific country-specific information?
- Is a sworn or certified translation required?
- Is a transcript of records also required?
- Does the diploma also need to be submitted?
- Is the complete Diploma Supplement required?
Conclusion: Don't rush into having your Diploma Supplement translated
The Diploma Supplement is an important tool for ensuring the international comparability of higher education degrees. It supplements the degree certificate with information about the level, structure, content, outcomes, and higher education system.
However, it does not replace the actual college degree or automatically serve as a transcript of records, nor does it guarantee recognition of a degree.
Whether a German translation is required depends on the specific application process. Especially when applying through uni-assist, you should review the country-specific guidelines. With the ZAB, however, the individual document list in the preliminary check determines whether a translation is needed.
That is why it makes sense to first clarify which documents and languages the receiving agency actually requires and only then have the necessary documents translated.
Do you need a professional or certified translation of your Diploma Supplement? Please submit the complete document to StartDE along with the source language, target language, and intended use via our website Professional and Certified Translations at StartDE.
Frequently Asked Questions About Translating the Diploma Supplement
What is a Diploma Supplement?
The Diploma Supplement is a document issued in addition to the higher education diploma that provides information about the qualification, the level of study, the course content, academic achievements, and the higher education system. education.ec.europa.eu
Is a Diploma Supplement the same as a diploma?
No. It supplements the diploma; it does not replace it. europass.europa.eu
Is a Diploma Supplement the same as a Transcript of Records?
No. The transcript primarily lists individual courses, grades, and credits. The Diploma Supplement provides a more comprehensive description of the degree and its academic context.
Does an English Diploma Supplement need to be translated into German?
Not automatically. Whether the English version is accepted depends on the receiving institution. For uni-assist, you must also check the country-specific guidelines.
Do I need a Diploma Supplement for uni-assist?
That depends on the country of origin and the specific application process. For several countries, uni-assist explicitly requires the degree certificate and the Diploma Supplement upon completion of a college or university degree. uni-assist
Do I need a translation of the Diploma Supplement for the ZAB?
Not automatically. Whether the document and a translation are required is determined by the individual ZAB preliminary check. ZAB
Does a Diploma Supplement guarantee that my degree will be recognized?
No. It is intended to facilitate classification and ensure international clarity, but it does not guarantee recognition. europass.europa.eu
Can StartDE provide an express translation of a Diploma Supplement?
Depending on the document, language pair, length, and availability, a certified translation can be completed on the same day.
