Portuguese to English Academic Transcript Translation for Credential Evaluation

What a Portuguese Academic Transcript Contains

Academic transcripts from Portuguese-speaking institutions, whether in Portugal or Mozambique, follow a similar structure. They typically list the student’s name, institution, course of study, subjects completed, grades, credits awarded, and the overall classification (e.g., licenciatura). Documents from Mozambican military academies, such as the Marechal Samora Machel Military Academy, may also include sections on military training, physical preparation, and officer internships alongside academic results. The grading system in Mozambique often uses a 0–20 scale, while Portugal uses a 0–20 scale as well, with 10 as the minimum pass. Understanding these details is essential when preparing a translation for credential evaluation.

Common Portuguese Terms on Academic Transcripts

Portuguese Term	Romanisation	English Translation
histórico escolar	histórico escolar	academic transcript
licenciatura	licenciatura	licentiate degree (bachelor’s equivalent)
disciplina	disciplina	subject
nota	nota	grade
crédito	crédito	credit
ano letivo	ano letivo	academic year
instituição	instituição	institution
curso	curso	course
certificado	certificado	certificate
reconhecimento de grau	reconhecimento de grau	degree recognition

Why Translate Your Academic Transcript for Credential Evaluation

Organisations like World Education Services (WES), universities, and professional licensing boards require translated academic documents to verify your education. A Portuguese transcript used for admission to a foreign institution or for immigration purposes must be accompanied by an English translation that is faithful to the original. The translation must include all text, marks, seals, and signatures to allow evaluators to assess your academic history accurately. From our experience processing similar requests, credential evaluation agencies often reject translations that omit details or appear tampered with.

AI Translation vs Human-Certified Work: When Each Fits

AI translation from Lekhak provides a fast, draft-quality English version in minutes. This is ideal for personal understanding, internal review, or as a preliminary draft before submission to a certified translator. For final submission to credential evaluation agencies, most require a human-certified translation accompanied by a statement of accuracy from a professional translator. AI output does not replace that certificate. If your evaluation body demands certified work, you must arrange it separately through a qualified provider. Lekhak is the right choice when you need a quick, editable copy to review or to prepare for the certified step.

What Lekhak’s AI Translation Delivers

Lekhak produces a DOCX file in minutes after you upload your Portuguese transcript (PDF, image, or Word document). The translation preserves the layout, tables, and formatting of the original while converting all text to English. You receive an editable document that you can review, annotate, or share. Lekhak’s AI supports the full vocabulary you might encounter on an academic transcript, including subjects, grading terms, and institutional details. However, the output does not include a translator’s signed certificate, it is not a certified translation.

Understanding Notarisation, Apostille, and Embassy Attestation

For Mozambican transcripts used abroad, you may need additional authentication steps. The Hague Apostille Convention simplifies document validation for member countries. If the destination country is not a member, an embassy legalisation chain (state-level attestation followed by central government and embassy) applies. Lekhak does not provide notarisation, apostille, or attestation services. If your credential evaluation requires such authentication, you must arrange those steps through the appropriate authorities, in Mozambique, the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles this process.

How to Obtain a Duplicate Original Transcript from Mozambique

If you no longer have your original transcript, contact the issuing institution, for example, the Marechal Samora Machel Military Academy, or the Ministry of Education of Mozambique. Most institutions provide official duplicates for a fee and may require a formal request letter. Processing times vary; expect several weeks. You can then use Lekhak’s AI translation to convert the duplicate into English for personal reference or preliminary review before obtaining a certified translation for formal submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file formats does Lekhak accept for transcript translation?

PDF, DOCX, DOC, JPG, PNG, WebP, TXT, and Markdown. Upload a scan or digital copy, no need to retype.

How long does AI translation take?

Lekhak delivers the translated DOCX in minutes, not hours or days. The exact time depends on file size and page count.

Is the AI-translated transcript accepted by WES?

WES requires a certified translation prepared by a human translator. Lekhak’s AI output is a draft, it cannot replace a certified document for WES submission.

What is the difference between certified and AI translation?

A certified translation includes a signed statement of accuracy from a qualified translator. AI translation lacks this certificate and is not accepted for official evaluation.

Does Lekhak add watermarks or logos to the translation?

No. The output is a clean, editable DOCX without watermarks, permitting you to use it as a working draft.

Can I edit the translated DOCX?

Yes, the DOCX is fully editable in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any compatible software. You can adjust formatting or add notes.

How does Lekhak handle grades and grading scales?

The AI preserves the original numeric or letter grades exactly as they appear, translating only the surrounding text. Grading systems (0–20, etc.) are left unchanged.

What if my transcript has a seal or stamp?

Seals and stamps are not machine-readable. Lekhak’s AI translates text only; you may need to add a note describing the seal for evaluator review.

Is my document secure with Lekhak?

Files are processed with standard encryption and deleted after translation. Lekhak does not store your original or translated document permanently.

Can I get a refund if the translation is not accepted?

Lekhak does not guarantee acceptance by credential evaluation bodies. Review the pricing page for refund policies applicable to unused credits.