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To enrol at a foreign university, the core package is your school-leaving certificate or diploma together with its transcript (record of grades), a Ministry of Education and Science (MES) apostille on the educational documents, a translation that meets the specific university's requirements, plus a motivation letter and CV. A language certificate and a proof-of-enrolment letter are often added. Only the MES apostilles educational documents, and the diploma and transcript count separately, so the fee is paid twice.
The core document checklist
Assemble the package early — during peak season (May–August) queues grow. The minimum set:
— school-leaving certificate or diploma + transcript of grades; — MES apostille on the educational documents; — a translation to the university's requirements (a Ukrainian notarised translation, or a sworn translation in the destination country); — a motivation letter and CV; — sometimes: a language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, ÖSD, ECL, etc.) and a proof-of-enrolment letter if you have not yet graduated.
Always check the exact list on your chosen programme's website: translation and certification requirements differ from country to country and even from one university to another.
The MES apostille: why you pay twice
Only the Ministry of Education and Science apostilles diplomas, school-leaving certificates and other educational documents. The fee starts from UAH 670 for an individual (UAH 1,160 for a legal entity), with a turnaround of 5 working days (up to 20 if a request to the issuing institution is required).
The key point: the diploma and its transcript are two separate documents. Each is apostilled individually, so the fee is paid twice (×2). The apostille is valid for Hague Convention countries. With Poland, the Czech Republic, Moldova and CIS states a legal-assistance treaty applies — no apostille is needed, a notarised translation is enough. For non-Hague countries, consular legalisation is required. State fees are paid separately from our services.
Translation to the university's requirements
Ukraine has no sworn translators — a sworn (court) translation is produced in the destination country: in Poland it's a tłumacz przysięgły, in Germany a vereidigter Übersetzer, in the Czech Republic a soudní překladatel. For submission within Ukraine, or wherever a Ukrainian document is accepted, you need a notarised translation: the notary certifies the authenticity of the translator's signature, not the content of the text.
Surname and given name are transliterated under Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 55 — this matters so the name in the translation matches your international passport. A standard translation page is 1,800 characters with spaces (1,125 in a Polish sworn translation).
Where this leads: recognition and nostrification
Translation and apostille are only document preparation. For your diploma to carry weight abroad, it must be recognised (nostrified) in the receiving country under its own procedure.
For Canada and the US this is not nostrification but a credential evaluation through WES or ICAS: the client orders it personally on the WES website, while ENIC Ukraine (the state enterprise under the MES) verifies the education and forwards the package to WES. An MES apostille and a word-for-word translation are required; it comes as Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course. Etalon works remotely: we receive documents by Nova Poshta and handle the apostille and Kyiv submission under a power of attorney.
Preparing to study abroad — see how we help with diploma recognition and nostrification remotely.
Frequently asked questions
Does the diploma transcript need a separate apostille?
Yes. The diploma and the transcript are two separate documents, so the MES apostilles each one, and the fee from UAH 670 is paid twice.
Can a sworn translation be done in Ukraine?
No. Ukraine has no sworn translators. A sworn (court) translation is done in the destination country. In Ukraine only a notarised translation is available.
Is an apostille needed to study in Poland or the Czech Republic?
No. With Poland, the Czech Republic, Moldova and CIS states a legal-assistance treaty applies — no apostille is needed, a notarised translation is enough.
Is WES a nostrification?
No. WES and ICAS are credential evaluations for Canada and the US, not nostrification. You order it yourself on the WES website; an MES apostille and a word-for-word translation are required.
Gather the package early: certificate or diploma with transcript, MES apostille (×2), a translation to the university's requirements and the supporting documents. It saves weeks during the busy admissions season.
