If you decide to apply abroad for higher studies, a job, or an internship, you will have to delve into an extensive process of paper preparation. Among these papers comes an important document which is an academic transcript or a transcript of records.
A transcript of records plays a pivotal role in proving that you have successfully passed and achieved a certain degree of education and that you are skilled in a certain subject or field. Usually, academic institutions and employers require academic transcripts to evaluate applicants’ knowledge and qualifications to decide whether they really fit the opportunities that they are applying for.
In this blog post, we will discuss the definition of an academic transcript, its types, and its importance.
What Is an Academic Transcript?
An academic transcript, a transcript of records, or an academic record is a document that contains all the modules or subjects that you have studied in each year along with the grades and marks that you got for each course or module and the credit value and level of each module.
The following are some of the most important details you should also make sure that your academic transcript covers:
- Name of the student
- Name of the educational institutions and their addresses
- List of the courses you have studied
- Your marks or grades in all the courses
- Details of your academic and non-academic achievements
- Your academic statement
You may also require your institution to add the following:
- The cumulative grade
- The average grade of your class
In short, it is a comprehensive record of a student’s academic achievements that should be signed and stamped by the previous university or any academic institution to be used as an official letter-headed paper.
Academic transcripts can help institutions and employers to measure students’ performance and achievements during their studying in a particular institution. It can also help students on a personal level since they will be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses and make, accordingly, informed decisions about their future endeavors. For example, they can determine the areas in which they need more training and which careers will be suitable for their knowledge and skills.
What Are the Types of Academic Transcripts?
An academic transcript can be official or unofficial.
Official Academic Transcripts
This type should be an official document that is signed and stamped by the educational institution. It lists all the student’s academic achievements, courses, and the marks that they obtained. Institutions cannot release academic transcripts immediately. They take a longer time to finish the signed documents. However, students may use the unofficial copies until they receive the finally verified academic transcripts.
Unofficial Academic Transcripts
It is a digital copy or a photocopy of the original academic transcript that students can use temporarily until the institution releases the final signed document. It contains all the details about students’ academic performance and achievements needed as well.
Why Is It Important to Get an Academic Transcript?
An academic transcript acts as a detailed report that provides institutions or employers with a thorough idea about your academic performance or achievements.
When you are applying for a scholarship abroad, a job opportunity, or even an internship, your degree or diploma certificate will not be enough since it does not provide details about the courses you studied and the marks and credits you got at your previous institution. Thus, you have to get a signed academic transcript that contains all the information about your previous academic journey.
The following are some of the most common cases that require presenting an academic transcript:
- Applying for higher studies abroad
- Finalizing visa applications
- Applying for job vacancies or internships
- Transferring colleges
- Credit transfer
Academic transcripts are also necessary for self-assessment and personal development. By checking their academic transcripts, students can learn more about their competencies and skills, and; hence, work on the areas that need more development.
To summarize, an academic transcript serves as proof of education and qualification. It is a valuable tool for individuals to showcase their academic achievements and make informed decisions about their future academic pursuits.
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