Persian to English Diploma Translation for University Admission Abroad

Understanding the Iranian High School Diploma: Structure and Key Terms

Iran’s secondary education system includes six years of primary school, three years of middle school, and three years of high school that lead to the diploma (دیپلم). For students planning to enter university, a further pre-university year (پیش دانشگاهی) is typically required. The high school diploma is issued by the Ministry of Education of Iran and records the student’s chosen branch of study, individual subject grades, and overall grade point average. Recognising the layout and key fields prepares you for translation and ensures you can verify that no important details are missed.

Typical Layout of an Iranian High School Diploma

An Iranian diploma is usually a single-page certificate with several clearly defined sections. The header carries the Ministry of Education logo and the school’s name, often including the city and province, for instance, a school in Shiraz, Fars Province. Below that, you find the student’s full name, date of birth, and sometimes a national ID number. The central block states the academic year, the branch (theoretical, vocational, etc.), and lists the individual subject marks alongside a final average (معدل). Dates of issue, signature of the school principal, and official stamps round out the document.

Common Persian Terms on a Diploma

Persian Script	Romanisation	English
دیپلم	Diplom	Diploma
پیش دانشگاهی	Pish-daneshgahi	Pre-university
رشته نظری	Reshteh-nazari	Theoretical branch
ادبیات و علوم انسانی	Adabiat va Oloom-e Ensani	Literature and Humanities
معدل	Mo’adel	Grade Point Average
وزارت آموزش و پرورش	Vezarat-e Amoozesh va Parvaresh	Ministry of Education
نام و نام خانوادگی	Nam va Nam-e Khanevadegi	Full Name
تاریخ تولد	Tarikh-e Tavalod	Date of Birth
تاریخ صدور	Tarikh-e Sodur	Date of Issue
شهر شیراز	Shahr-e Shiraz	City of Shiraz
استان فارس	Ostan-e Fars	Fars Province

Why You Might Need to Translate Your Iranian Diploma into English

Applying to an English-medium university overseas is the most common reason for translating an Iranian diploma. Admissions offices need to understand the qualification, the field of study, and the grades awarded. A clear English translation is the first step before a formal credential evaluation can be performed. Even when an official certified translation will be required later, an instant AI translation is invaluable during the research and application-drafting phase: it lets you see exactly what information your diploma contains, catch any discrepancies, and prepare supporting documents with confidence.

AI Translation vs. Certified Translation: Which One Fits Your Study Abroad Application?

AI translation produces a quick, readable English version of your diploma, ideal for internal review, completing self-reported grade forms, or giving an evaluator a first draft. However, most universities require a certified translation for formal admission, meaning a translation accompanied by a signed statement from a professional translator or translation agency attesting to its accuracy. Lekhak’s AI translation does not include a signed certificate of accuracy. If your university’s checklist asks for a “certified translation,” you will need to obtain that separately from a qualified provider. The AI translation can still serve as a reliable draft that you hand to the certified translator, saving time and reducing back-and-forth.

What Lekhak’s AI Diploma Translation Delivers

When you upload a scan of your Persian diploma, Lekhak’s AI extracts the text, translates it into English, and returns an editable .DOCX file that mirrors the original layout. Fields such as the student’s name, field of study, individual grades, and date of issue are placed in a structured format. The whole process completes in minutes, not days. Because the output is a standard Word document, you can adjust formatting, add missing details, or insert a scan of the original stamp if needed. There is no human translator involved, no courier delivery, and no waiting for office hours, just a file you can download immediately.

When You Need Notarisation, Apostille, or Embassy Attestation

If a university or immigration authority asks you to prove the authenticity of the original diploma itself, you enter the separate process of document legalisation. Because Iran is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, Iranian documents usually require legalisation by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the destination country’s embassy. These steps verify the signature and seal on the original certificate, they are not translation services. Lekhak does not arrange or provide notarisation, apostille, or embassy attestation; you will need to handle these procedures independently through the appropriate authorities.

How to Obtain a Duplicate Iranian Diploma if the Original Is Lost

If you no longer have your physical diploma, start by contacting the high school where you graduated. Most schools keep student records and can issue a duplicate or a certified copy. If the school has closed or you cannot reach it, the local Education Office in your province, for example, the Education Department of Fars Province if you attended school in Shiraz, can help retrieve your records. The Iranian Ministry of Education also maintains a central database and can issue replacement documents, though the process often requires proof of identity and may involve a small administrative fee. Check the Ministry’s official website for the most current application procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Lekhak’s AI translation for official university admission?

For initial application review or understanding your diploma, the translation is helpful. For formal submission, most universities require a certified translation from a sworn translator or accredited agency. Lekhak does not provide certified translations, so you will need to arrange that separately if required.

Does Lekhak offer certified or notarised translations?

No. Lekhak is an AI translation platform and does not issue certified, notarised, or sworn translations. If your institution demands a signed certificate of accuracy, you should use a certified translator or recognised translation service outside Lekhak.

How accurate is the AI translation of Persian diploma terms?

Lekhak’s AI is trained on a broad range of documents and accurately handles standard diploma fields like names, grades, and field of study. Low-quality scans or handwritten entries may cause occasional OCR errors; reviewing the output and editing it in the DOCX is recommended.

Will the translation retain images of stamps and signatures?

The translated DOCX preserves the document’s structure but does not embed scanned stamp or signature images as they appear on the original. Text descriptions such as “Round stamp of the Ministry of Education” may appear where stamps are detected, and you can manually insert a screenshot if needed.

What format do I receive the translation in?

You receive a downloadable .DOCX file that you can open in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any compatible word processor. The file mirrors the layout of your original diploma and is fully editable.

How long does it take to translate my Iranian diploma?

The AI translation typically completes within a few minutes after you upload the document. Larger batches may take slightly longer, but there is no multi-day waiting period. You can download the result as soon as it is ready.

Do I also need to translate the pre-university certificate (پیش دانشگاهی)?

If your record includes a separate pre-university certificate, universities often require its translation because it shows completion of the full secondary cycle. You can upload both the diploma and the pre-university certificate together to get a complete translation set.

What if my diploma has handwritten text or Persian calligraphy?

The OCR engine handles standard printed Persian well, but heavy calligraphy or cursive handwriting may be misread. For the best result, upload a high-resolution scan. After translation, you can edit the DOCX to correct any OCR misinterpretations.

Is my diploma data secure when I upload it?

Yes. Files are encrypted in transit and at rest. Lekhak does not share your documents with third parties, and transcripts are deleted after processing unless you choose to save them in your account. See the privacy policy for full details.

Can I edit the translated DOCX file afterward?

Absolutely. The .DOCX output is fully editable, so you can fine-tune formatting, correct OCR issues, or add missing information before using the translation for your application or sharing it with a certified translator.

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