English to French Degree Certificate Translation for Study Abroad

What an Indian Degree Certificate Contains

A degree certificate issued by an Indian university, such as Kannur University, is a formal, sealed document that confirms a student has completed a programme of study. The layout tends to be standardised across institutions governed by the University Grants Commission’s list of recognised universities, though presentation can vary slightly by state.

Key fields on an Indian degree certificate

Most Indian degree certificates carry the university’s name and crest at the top, followed by the phrase “Degree Certificate” or “Provisional Certificate”. The core body states that the candidate, listed as [NAME], has been awarded a specific qualification. The programme title, such as Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), is mentioned together with the month and year of the final examination. The certificate ends with the date of award, the registrar’s signature, and the university seal.

Additional details often include a Roll Number and sometimes the registration number. Where the certificate is issued in English, these fields appear in Roman script, making them directly readable for the AI before translation into French.

How parts like class, division, and programme name appear

The class or division earned is printed prominently, for example, First Class or Second Class. Some universities use the phrase “Passed in First Division” or simply “First Class with Distinction”. The programme name is spelled out in full (Bachelor of Business Administration) alongside its abbreviation. When translated into French, these terms need to be rendered accurately: “Licence en administration des affaires (BBA)” for the programme and “Première classe” or “Mention Très Bien” for the class, depending on the destination’s expectation. The AI translation preserves the hierarchy, placing the candidate’s name first, followed by the qualification and the class, exactly as the original does.

Common English Terms on an Indian Degree Certificate

Below are terms that appear on Indian degree certificates, paired with their standard French equivalents for study‑abroad use. The translations aim to match the terminology expected by French universities and Campus France.

English term on certificate	French translation
Bachelor of Business Administration	Licence en administration des affaires (BBA)
Bachelor of Arts	Licence ès lettres
Master of Science	Master en sciences (MSc)
Degree Certificate	Diplôme
University	Université
Roll Number	Numéro d’inscription
Date of Award	Date d’obtention
First Class	Première classe / Mention Très Bien
Second Class	Deuxième classe
Registrar	Secrétaire général / Directeur des services académiques

Why Translate a Degree Certificate for Study Abroad

When you apply to a French higher‑education institution or lodge a student visa application, the French authorities normally require all supporting academic documents to be in French. Campus France, the official agency that processes student files for France, expects degree certificates and transcripts to be submitted either in French or accompanied by a sworn translation by a court‑approved translator. A translated copy lets the admissions office assess your prior education without delay and, in many cases, determines whether your qualification meets the entry criteria for a Licence or Master programme.

Even for pre‑admission discussions or when assembling a draft application file, having an instant French version of the certificate helps you understand exactly what information the French side will see. It can also be used for internal reviews with education consultants or to cross‑check the terminology before commissioning a formal sworn translation.

AI Translation vs. Sworn/Certified French Translation: Which One Do You Need?

The choice between an AI‑generated translation and a sworn French translation turns entirely on who the intended recipient is and what the receiving authority instructions say. Both have their place, and they complement each other well when you plan ahead.

When an AI translation is sufficient

An AI translation is enough when you need a quick, accurate rendering of your degree certificate for non‑official purposes. This includes preparing your application dossier before the official submission, sending a draft to a prospective supervisor who can read French, sharing the document with an education consultant for review, or simply understanding the certificate content yourself while you compile your file. Because the AI translation is produced in minutes, you can iterate and verify the terminology before committing to the sworn version.

When only a sworn/certified translator will be accepted

French public universities, the Consulate General of France, and Campus France almost always require a traduction assermentée, a translation done by a translator sworn before a French Court of Appeal or a local court recognised by the French authorities. This sworn translation bears the translator’s seal, signature, and registration number, giving it legal weight. The same applies when a document must be attached to an official student visa application at the French embassy or consulate. In these scenarios, an AI translation cannot replace the sworn document.

What Lekhak’s AI Translation Produces

When you upload a scanned Indian degree certificate to Lekhak, the platform extracts all visible text using optical character recognition and then translates the English source into French through its AI pipeline. The result is a clean DOCX file that reproduces the original certificate’s layout, the candidate’s name (shown as [NAME]), the programme title, the class or division, the date of award, and the university’s name are all placed in the same order as the original. Logos, crests, and decorative elements are not cloned, but every piece of text that carries meaning is carried over and rendered in French.

The DOCX does not include a translator’s declaration, affidavit, or notary stamp. Lekhak does not employ human certified translators, so the output is a plain translated document without any legal certification. From our experience translating similar academic credentials, this instant file works well as a supporting draft that you can review, share with an advisor, or hand to a sworn translator later, saving them time and you money on the formal version.

Notarisation, Apostille, and Embassy Attestation for France

Attestation and apostille are separate from translation. They authenticate the original certificate itself, and they are often required alongside the sworn translation when you submit your student visa application. France and India are both signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a single apostille suffices without further embassy legalisation.

MEA apostille for Hague Convention countries

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India is the designated authority to issue the apostille. Before the MEA step, the original degree certificate must typically be attested by the State Home Department or a designated branch of the state government where the university is located. Once the MEA apostille sticker is affixed, the certificate is recognised in France for official use. The MEA apostille procedure is clear in its requirements, but processing times depend entirely on the state authorities and the MEA branch; Lekhak does not offer attestation or apostille services.

Arranging attestation separately through the appropriate authority

Because the apostille is a legalisation of the original, not a translation, you must pursue this chain independently. The typical route is to present the degree certificate to the relevant state attestation department, obtain their stamp, and then submit the document to the MEA for apostille via the RPO or a designated outsourced centre. This is a separate process from obtaining a translation; Lekhak does not coordinate, arrange, or provide attestation in any form. Users who need the apostille should contact the state authorities and the MEA directly.

How to Get a Duplicate Indian Degree Certificate

If your original certificate is lost or damaged, you must apply to the issuing university’s registrar. Most universities require a written application, an FIR (if the certificate is lost), proof of identity, and a fee. The process can take several weeks. Once the duplicate certificate is issued, it carries the same legal value as the original and can be sent for translation. Lekhak’s AI can then produce a French DOCX from the new document, provided it is legible and in English. Getting a duplicate early avoids last‑minute anxiety during the visa season.

FAQs: English to French Degree Certificate Translation

Why do I need a French translation of my Indian degree certificate?

French universities, Campus France, and the consulate all require academic documents to be submitted in French. A translation allows them to assess your qualification against their own system without depending on English alone.

Can I use Lekhak’s AI translation for my Campus France application?

For the official Campus France dossier, a sworn translation by a court‑approved translator is necessary. You can use the AI translation to prepare your file, verify terminology, or review the document beforehand, but the final upload usually demands the sworn version.

Is a sworn translator required for a French student visa?

Yes, the French consular authorities typically ask for a sworn translation of degree certificates when they form part of the visa application. An AI‑produced document does not meet that legal threshold.

What does a sworn translator do that AI cannot?

A sworn translator (traducteur assermenté) is officially recognised by a French court and can affix a seal, signature, and registration number to the translation, giving it legal validity. AI cannot replicate this certification.

How long does Lekhak’s AI translation take?

The translation of a single‑page degree certificate is typically produced within a few minutes after upload. The user receives a finished DOCX file that is ready for review immediately.

Does Lekhak provide a translator’s certificate with the translation?

No, Lekhak does not include a translator’s certificate, sworn statement, or notary stamp. The platform relies entirely on AI and has no human translators on staff, so the output is a plain translated document without legal certification.

Can I get my degree certificate apostilled through Lekhak?

No, Lekhak does not offer apostille, attestation, or notarisation services. You must arrange the state attestation and MEA apostille directly with the appropriate authorities.

What information from my degree certificate gets translated?

The AI extracts and translates the candidate’s name, programme title, class or division, date of award, university name, and any supplementary text. Logos and decorative seals are not reproduced, but all academic details appear in French in the same layout order.

How accurate is the AI translation for academic terminology?

Lekhak’s AI pipeline has been trained on a large corpus of multilingual documents, including academic certificates. From past translations of degree certificates, the AI consistently renders programmes, classes, and roles into standard French equivalents used in higher education, though occasional minor adjustments may be needed for very rare terms.

Do I need to get the original certificate translated again after getting a duplicate?

If the duplicate certificate contains the same information as the original, you can use the AI translation generated from the original scan. However, if the duplicate has a different issue date or any slight variation, you should obtain a fresh translation to match the document you intend to submit.

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