What Is an Academic Transcript? A Complete Guide

What Is Transcript Certificate?

An academic transcript is an official document issued by the previous institute. It usually contains information such as completed course along with subjects studied by a student and marks obtained in each of them. Moreover, this is one of the major academic documents that candidates needs to submit as an evidence for proving academic credentials. It is required to be submit by individuals while applying for higher studies in future. 
Furthermore, to understand it better, let’s explore what exactly university transcript certificate contains. So, here is a list:

• Name of the student
• Name of institution
• Name of the board
• Name of subjects
• Marks in each subject
• Roll No. of student
• Year of passing
• Date of birth of student
• Duration of the course
• Total marks in all subjects

This was a brief overview of university or college transcript that students must perceive. However, you might get confused if the institute you are applying to requires this paper from some other name. Thus, to remove this confusion, we have listed some common names by which this document can be labelled in the upcoming section.

Common Names of Transcripts

As you have got a hint that there are several names or terms by which an academic transcript certificate can be acknowledged, we have enlisted them here:

• Mark List
• Report Card
• Grade Card
• Statement of Learning
• Diploma Supplement
• Academic Certificates
• Mark Sheet
• Transcript of Records (ToR)
• Consolidated Mark Sheet
• Cumulative Record File (CRF)
• Permanent Record
• Record of Achievement
• University Transcript
• College Transcript
• School Transcript

These are some terms by which transcript marksheet can be referred to. Now, move ahead and unravel the time when a student will need the document.

When Do Students Need a Transcript of Records?

Students need a transcript marksheet in various academic and professional scenarios. Here are some key instances when these are typically required:

• Applying for further studies
• Transferring to another institute
• Study abroad programs
• Internships and job applications
• Scholarships and financial aid
• Permanent residency
• Personal record verification

These are some situation when students will be requiring the college transcript. However, to secure these, you need to follow some steps, that are mentioned in the upcoming section of the blog. 

How to Get an Academic Transcript?

The process to receive a transcript certificate is straightforward and simple. Here are the steps to follow for the application for transcript certificate to gain the document:

Contact the Institute

You can request the document from your previous institute by filling out the request form. 

Complete the Request Form

To receive the document, you need to submit the request form along with the necessary documents. The papers needed are enlisted:

• The application form
• Proof of payment
• Copies of ID 
• Application fee
• Transcript of records
• Statement of Purpose
• Backlog certificate
• English language proficiency test scores (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL)
• Entrance test scores
• Letters of Recommendation
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal essay
• Copy of passport
• Financial documents

Submit the Academic Transcript

Now you can submit your transcript certificate to your desired institute. Moreover, most organizations prefer official documents so it is crucial to follow-up with them after sending it. So, these are the steps that you need to follow to get an academic transcript for your further studies. Now, the upcoming segment of the blog will clear your doubt about the differences between official and unofficial certificates. 

Difference Between Official and Unofficial Transcript

Official or unofficial transcripts are not poles apart; rather, they just have a few differences. Thus, we have listed the pointers that differentiate them below:

So, you must have notices from the table that the major thing that differentiates an official and unofficial is the signature and the official stamp. Now, after getting along with everything about this document, it is time to go through the transcript certificate sample to perceive how it looks like. 

Sample of Academic Transcript Certificate

Reading about transcript certificates will give you theoretical knowledge, but to get the practical one, you need to have a picture of this in mind. So, here is the sample of the document:

So, this was a transcript certificate sample that will help you to understand the document better. 

An academic transcript certificate is an essential document that students needs to showcase while applying to study overseas. This is so because, the certificate will prove their educational background. However, even after going through this blog, you still have any doubt, consult experts at Gradding today and get them resolved.

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FAQ:

Is Consolidated Transcript and Academic Transcript Are Same?

The consolidated transcript is a permanent document that remains valid for a lifetime. It includes marks obtained per subject for all the semesters. On the contrary, An academic transcript is a temporary document that remains till the original degree is issued by the organization. 

How Long Does It Take to Receive My Academic Transcript?

Usually, an academic transcript is issued within 1 to 4 weeks after you have applied for it. However, most institutes do not provide the facility to apply for it online. 

Difference Between Provisional Transcripts and Consolidated Transcripts

The provisional transcript is a temporary document issued by the educational institute that serves as an interim record until the final one is released. On the other hand, Consolidated transcripts are the final records that contain student’s overall scores during their study period in a particular institute.

Can I Submit My Marksheet Instead of the Transcript?

No! To apply to universities overseas, students need to submit a formal document with an official stamp on it. However, the marksheet does not fulfill this criterion, so it cannot be submitted in place of an academic transcript.