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Everything you need to know about notarized syllabus translation

Michael Decker
Michael Decker

Studying abroad interests many Israelis, and it is especially convenient for people who have a foreign passport in addition to an Israeli one. In Europe, for instance, it is possible to get accepted into leading academic programs where the requirements are much lower and more accessible (even for the medical and engineering fields) and enjoy subsidized tuition, all while benefiting from the unique experience of studying in a new environment overseas.

How is it done? Of course each case is individual, but it is always necessary to present various documents that have undergone notarized translation. Usually it is required to present a translated matriculation examinations certificate, transcript, or certification of study, and sometimes also a certificate of good conduct that proves the absence of a criminal record.

Nonetheless, more and more leading institutions abroad require candidates to submit a full translated syllabus as an integral part of the application process. Because it is still a relatively rare requirement, it is important to make sure to obtain a high quality, accurate translation. Our team of experts has the tools and the professional knowledge to assist you in translating syllabi and we are obviously also glad to also help with locating, issuing and translating the rest of the documents required for the specific case of each of our clients.

Notarized syllabus translation

What is a syllabus?

The word syllabus comes to us from Latin and its literal meaning is “list”. The modern meaning of the word is the curriculum in a certain academic degree or track, mostly a description of the essence of the various courses. In most cases the syllabus is written by the lecturer of the course or a teaching assistant, who puts together the curriculum.

Besides detailing the course material, the syllabus also includes the requirements from the students, the exams and papers throughout the course and the contact information of the lecturer and the rest of the faculty members.

Why do academic institutions abroad even require these documents? Let’s try to understand.

Why have academic institutions abroad begun to require a translated syllabus?

Without a doubt, an academic institution’s requirement for a translated syllabus indicates the quality of the institution and its requirements of the students entering it. Thus, for example, the basic requirement for a certificate of good conduct is quite trivial and its purpose is to make sure that the applicants are honest; it is a basic prerequisite. Similarly, the requirement for a notarized translation of a transcript is quite basic, because it is a document that describes the applicants’ achievements in various academic frameworks, which usually directly indicates their suitability for the institution they are applying to.

A notarized syllabus translation is a slightly more in depth requirement, because its purpose is to examine not only the applicant’s degree of success in previous frameworks, but also the standard of the academic program and what the applicant’s success or lack thereof is based on. For instance, leading medical schools that accept doctors who wish to undergo a comprehensive specialization will need to know whether the applicant’s previous academic knowledge includes the various subjects crucial to success in the academic program that they offer. Let’s discuss the two main situations where academic institutions require a notarized syllabus translation.

What cases require a translated syllabus and curricula?

First it is worth noting that different institutions have different requirements, and obviously we are not familiar with all of them in depth. However, it can be said quite broadly that the requirement for a translated syllabus applies mainly to one of the two following situations:

  • Admission to undergraduate academic studies: this is undoubtedly the rarer situation, but definitely one that happens from time to time. In preparation for undergraduate studies abroad, applicants will be required to present a matriculation exams certificate (Bagrut) and in some cases also a translation of the curriculum for the various subjects in which they were tested in the matriculation exams.
  • Ongoing studies for a master’s degree or PhD abroad: this is the more common situation, in which educational institutions accept students for a master’s degree or PhD. In such cases syllabus translation is a more prevalent requirement, because unlike the matriculation exams which are based on a more or less fixed syllabus and apply to all high schools in Israel, academic curricula vary from institution to institution (for example, a communications student at Sapir College will not necessarily acquire the same knowledge as a communications student at IDC), so the university or college abroad may want to delve deeper into the syllabus.

How is a professional syllabus translation done?

Like other notarized documents, here too there are two different options for translation. The first option is for the notary to approve the translation personally, meaning that the notary authenticates the document in a procedure simply called “notarized translation”.

The second option, most common when documents are translated into languages that are less spoken in Israel, is a translation done by a third party. A notary public then authenticates a declaration by the translator that he or she is proficient in the languages of both the original document and the translated document. In this case what the applicant receives is a notarized authentication of a translator’s affidavit.

For more information on the various options and the differences between them, see this article on the subject. Of course, if anything is not entirely clear to you, we will be happy to provide guidance and advice and look into the various conditions and requirements for you.

Another important thing to remember is that the cost of notarized translation of documents is fixed and anchored in the Notary Law, and it is priced based on the word count. It is important to always take into account the cost of the translation work itself (whether it is done by the notary public or a third party).

A syllabus is by nature a long document that includes many pages, so it is very important to inquire in advance exactly which pages need to be translated in order to avoid unnecessary costs (for example, the information on how to contact the lecturer is probably less relevant in most cases).

Do not compromise on your syllabus translation

To sum things up — when you are required to provide a notarized translation of your syllabus, you must always remember that the academic institution expects to receive a detailed, clear and comprehensible document. Those who are tempted to reduce costs by obtaining an amateur translation may well pay a higher price with a significant delay in the admission process or even a complete rejection in some cases.

Our expert attorneys have extensive experience in submitting applications for studies abroad, including curricula translation. Contact us today and we will be glad to assist you with the admission process for studies at leading institutions abroad.

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