What are Academic Transcript and How You Can Get It? (2024)

Academic Transcripts - If you are planning to study abroad, an important part of the whole application process is to get your required documents ready which include academic transcripts. An academic transcript is also known as an academic record, a transcript of records, a diploma supplement, a statement of learning, or a record of achievement and other related terms. Fortunately, most universities have similar document requirements from student applicants which include a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation and your resume. There are a common set of documents universities in most countries ask for.

An important document to include in your study abroad application is the academic transcript. This document is supposed to be proof of your education and is provided by the educational institutions that you have studied. In this article we will discuss more about academic transcripts meaning, their types, how to get academic transcripts and how you should include them in your application.

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What are Academic Transcripts?

Generally a transcript refers to the proof of your education. The meaning of academic transcripts is that they are proof documents which are a record of your academic performance. It is a proof of your education and contains the list of subjects that you have studied and the marks you have obtained in them. It can referred to as university transcripts if the candidate has graduated from a certain university.

The university academic transcript meaning is same as the academic-related transcripts and is used synonymously. Likewise, it includes the details of your course take, percentage or grades, subject data for your particular degree, this is referred as degree transcript. The students' achievement in the degree level at university or college is the degree transcript meaning.

What is a transcript certificate? A transcript certificate is a document which has the list of subjects you studied and the marks or grades you got in the university/ institution. In order to attend a college or university abroad, you will need to provide the admission committee with your academic transcripts as proof of your previous academic qualifications. One can get the academic transcripts from the institutions you have studied in. Make a request for them once you start your application process for admission to foreign universities.

What Are Other Names of Academic Transcripts?

These transcripts are known by different names and you should be familiar with the different terms to avoid confusion when you start the process of procuring them to include in your university applications. Here is the list of alternative terms used for academic transcripts:

• Academic certificates

• Academic record

• Cumulative record file (CRF)

• Mark sheet

• Mark list

• Permanent record

• Record of achievement

• Report card

• Transcript of records (TOR)

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• University Transcripts

• Degree Transcripts

What does an Academic Transcript contain?

The academic transcript will contain details of your academic performance with information about the subjects, marks obtained, and other information. It will also include important information such as:

• Your name

• Name of your educational institutions and their addresses

• Name of the university or educational board

• Name of the courses you have completed

• Scores obtained in all the courses in the form of grades or marks

• Details of your academic and non-academic achievements

• Your academic statement

• Remarks by your academic faculty

It may also include:

• Your cumulative grade

• Average grade of your class

Why do you need an Academic Transcript?

Academic transcripts are required by the admissions committee of universities as proof of your education. It helps the committee to infer how good your academic performance has been so far. In fact the academic transcript is a mandatory document to apply for admission to universities abroad.

Which Academic Transcript should you submit?

• If you are applying for undergraduate programs, then you should submit transcripts from your high school.

• If you are applying for a masters program then you should submit transcripts from the university where you did your graduation and other previous academic transcripts if required.

Most universities will specify the transcripts they require from applicants.

Important Pointers

• Always keep a soft copy of your transcripts so that you can upload them whenever required

• Go through the requirements of the universities you are applying for as some of them may ask for hard copies.

• Sometimes the academic transcripts could be directly mailed to the universities from the institute where you studied.

• The academic transcript must be in English

• It should be clear

• The transcript must contain accurate information and not have mistakes

• It should be an official document from the institution.

How is an academic transcript different from your marksheet, degree or diploma certificate?

Even though all these documents will contain a statement of your marks, they are different from each other and one cannot replace the other. The difference between academic transcript and consolidated marksheet is that the latter will contain the marksheets of all the courses that you have studied but a transcript will contain all the information in these marksheets. While a degree or diploma certificate is the final certificate you receive after completing a certain course, the academic transcripts are detailed descriptions of the marks in each course whether a degree or diploma that you have completed as part of your education.

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What are the Different Types of Academic Transcripts?

There are two types of academic transcripts- official and unofficial. The official transcript is from the institution and will have the stamp of the university and signature of the registrar. You will get them on request. Unofficial transcripts are provisional certificates which you cannot use for admission.

The transcript of records meaning is the same as the academic transcript that contains information about all the courses that you have attended, their duration, your grades in those courses, the credits you have gained and the exams you have passed. A ToR which is the short name for a transcript of records is simply an alternative term used for academic transcripts.

How to Apply for Academic Transcript?

In order to get your academic transcript, you must make an application to your college or university and submit documents along with it such as your identity proof and a copy of your marksheet.

How do I get an Academic Transcript if I am still in the final year?

If you have not yet completed the qualifying degree or the course that is required for admission, then you can request for a provisional certificate from the institution. This should contain detailed information of the grades or marks you have received so far. For instance if you are applying for a master’s degree and studying in the final year of your bachelor’s degree, you should submit a transcript that contains your marks or grades secured in the second year.

An academic transcript is an important document you must include with your application to universities in foreign countries. Ensure that your academic scripts are in the proper format when you send them to universities.

What is a Transcript of Records (ToR)?

Sometimes known as Transcript of Records, there is no difference between Academic Transcripts and Transcripts of Records.

Why is a Transcript of Records Needed?

A transcript of records is required to offer accurate information about the student's academic history. Transcripts also include facts about the grading scale, which varies for different countries. Transcripts are used by universities to convert students' academic results and process them for admission according to their criteria.

What is Consolidated Marksheet?

A consolidated marksheet is a record of all the grades achieved during the study. Usually Consolidated marksheets are given at the end of every semester and at the end of a course, along with degree completion certificate. A consolidated marksheet is also an important document asked by educational institutions as part of considering for admission.

Degree/Diploma Certificate vs Transcripts

Degree/Diploma Certificate: It is the final certificate given as a proof of educational qualification. Usually known as conferring a degree, this is given usually in graduation ceremonies.

Transcripts: This is the document that is given along with degree/diploma certificates, containing detailed information of all the subjects studied, grades obtained and attestations. Many a times transcripts also contain information of grading systems used along with various conversion factors.

What are the Contents in a Transcript?

An academic transcript must have information of all the subjects studied, credit information of each subject, along with grades achieved by a candidate in that particular subject. Information related to practical subjects held and their grades must also be present on a transcript. However, the overall grade may or may not be mentioned on it. Some transcripts issued by education institutions contain information about the strength of the class/number of students in a class to give an idea about the relative performance of a candidate. Average grades in that course may also find mention.

Which Transcript is Needed for Which Course?

Generally when applying to universities abroad, prospective students are asked to submit academic transcripts of latest qualification.

1. When applying to undergraduate courses abroad, academic trascripts of 12th/XII are required to be submitted.

2. When applying to graduate courses, transcripts of Bachelor degree will be asked by most universities abroad.

However, many universities ask for academic transcripts of all the quailfications attained. For graduate prospects, this means they have to submit 12th/XII mark sheets along with bachelor degree transcripts. Note that in some boards, pre university course is equivalent to 12th.

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