You finished school in Ukraine, you want to study in Germany, and now you’re staring at a checklist that says “submit a certified translation of your school certificate.” You google it, and within 20 minutes you’ve encountered Studienkolleg, Feststellungsprüfung, uni-assist, apostille, and beglaubigte Übersetzung - all before your first cup of coffee. Here’s a clear guide to getting your school certificate translation for a German university done right, with real prices and step-by-step instructions.
What exactly needs translating¶
First things first - let’s get the terminology straight, because “school certificate” covers two separate documents in the Ukrainian system, and you need both.
Atestat (атестат) - the main certificate itself. It’s a single page confirming you graduated from secondary school. Think of it as the “yes, this person finished school” document.
Dodatok (додаток) - the supplement or transcript. This is the multi-page insert listing every subject you studied and your grades. German universities care deeply about this one, because it’s how they evaluate your academic background and calculate your grade average.
You need certified translations of both documents. Not just the atestat - the dodatok too. Missing the transcript is one of the top reasons applications get sent back, and it costs you weeks.
If you also have language certificates (B1, B2), those go into your application package too - but they usually don’t need a separate translation since they’re already issued in the target language.
Who can translate it¶
Germany has strict rules about translation certification, and this is where many applicants trip up.
For university applications through uni-assist or directly, you need a beglaubigte Übersetzung - a sworn translation done by a vereidigter Übersetzer (sworn translator). This is a translator who took an oath before a German regional court and has an official stamp. Their signature carries legal weight - no notary needed on top.
Will a notarized translation from Ukraine work?¶
Sometimes. Some universities accept translations certified by a Ukrainian notary. But many don’t - and you won’t always find this information clearly on their website. If you’re unlucky, you’ll find out your translation was rejected 4 weeks into the processing time, and you’re back to square one.
The safe bet: order from a sworn translator registered in Germany. You can do this remotely - many sworn translators accept scans by email and send the certified translation by post.
If you want to understand the difference between notarized, sworn, and certified translations, check our detailed comparison.
Where to find a sworn translator¶
- justiz-dolmetscher.de - the official database of court translators in Germany. Search by language pair (“Ukrainisch” → “Deutsch”)
- bdue.de - Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators
Studienkolleg or direct admission - two paths¶
Here’s the catch that surprises most Ukrainian students: your 11-year school certificate (atestat) doesn’t automatically give you access to a German university. Germany’s school system runs 12-13 years, so there’s a gap. You have two options to bridge it.
Path 1: Studienkolleg (the most common route)¶
Studienkolleg is a one-year preparatory college that gets you ready for a German university. After completing it, you take the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) - a final exam that grants you university admission rights. Think of it as the bridge between your Ukrainian school and the German system.
Since 2012, Ukrainian school graduates with an atestat can enter Studienkolleg directly after finishing school. That’s good news - no extra steps before applying.
Language requirement for Studienkolleg: B1 German minimum. Some Studienkollegs ask for B2, but B1 is the baseline.
Studienkolleg programs are divided into courses depending on what you want to study at university:
- T-Kurs - for technical and math-heavy programs (engineering, physics, computer science)
- M-Kurs - for medicine and biology
- W-Kurs - for economics and social sciences
- G/S-Kurs - for humanities and languages
You apply to the Studienkolleg attached to (or associated with) the university where you want to study later.
Path 2: Start university in Ukraine first¶
If you’ve completed at least one year at an accredited Ukrainian university, you can apply directly to a German university without going through Studienkolleg. This path is faster if you’ve already started higher education in Ukraine.
Language requirement for direct admission: B2 German minimum, sometimes C1 depending on the program. Some English-taught programs accept IELTS/TOEFL instead.
Check whether your Ukrainian university is recognized by looking it up in the Anabin database. If it has an H+ rating, you’re in good shape. More on this in our guide to diploma recognition in Germany.
Special rules for Ukrainian students affected by the war¶
The KMK (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education) issued a resolution on February 3, 2025, with special rules for Ukrainian students whose state exams were cancelled in 2022-2024 due to the war. If you graduated during this period without standard final exams, check with the specific university or Studienkolleg - they may have adjusted admission requirements for your situation.
The uni-assist process¶
Most German universities don’t process international applications themselves. Instead, they outsource this to uni-assist (Arbeits- und Servicestelle für internationale Studienbewerbungen) - a centralized service that checks and evaluates foreign credentials.
How it works¶
- Create an account at uni-assist.de
- Select the university and program you’re applying to
- Upload digital copies of your documents (translated and original language versions)
- Pay the processing fee
- Send certified copies by post - this is crucial: uni-assist won’t accept scans alone for the final evaluation. You need to mail physical copies
- Wait for processing (4-6 weeks on average)
- uni-assist forwards your evaluated application to the university
Fees¶
| Application | Cost |
|---|---|
| First university application | 75 EUR |
| Each additional university | 30 EUR |
So if you’re applying to 4 universities, that’s 75 + (3 x 30) = 165 EUR total.
What to submit¶
Your document package for uni-assist needs to include:
- School certificate (atestat) - original language
- School transcript (dodatok) - original language
- Sworn translation of both documents into German
- Apostille on the originals
- Language certificate (B1/B2/C1 depending on the path)
- Passport copy
Everything must be sent as certified copies (beglaubigte Kopien) by post. A certified copy means a copy that a notary, Bürgeramt, or other authorized body has stamped as “true to the original.” Regular photocopies won’t do.
Timing matters¶
uni-assist processing takes 4-6 weeks. German universities have strict application deadlines - typically July 15 for the winter semester (starting October) and January 15 for the summer semester (starting April). Count backwards: if the deadline is July 15, your documents should arrive at uni-assist by early June at the latest.
Factor in time for getting the apostille (10-30 business days), the translation (3-10 business days), and postal delivery. Starting the process 3-4 months before the application deadline is a realistic timeline.
Apostille and legalization¶
Your school certificate needs an apostille before translation. The apostille confirms that the document is genuine and was issued by an authorized body. Without it, German institutions won’t accept your documents.
The correct order¶
- Get your original atestat and dodatok
- Get an apostille on each document (yes, each one separately)
- Translate the documents TOGETHER with the apostille
- Have the translation certified by a sworn translator
Getting this order wrong is a classic mistake. If you translate first and apostille later, the translator didn’t translate the apostille text - so you’ll need to translate again.
Where to get the apostille¶
In Ukraine, apostilles for educational documents are issued by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES). Not the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - specifically MES.
You can submit in person in Kyiv, by mail (Nova Poshta), or through a notary.
Timeline¶
- New-format documents: up to 10 business days
- Old-format documents: 20-30 business days
Cost¶
Since May 2025, apostille costs jumped significantly:
| Who pays | Cost per document |
|---|---|
| Individual | 670 UAH (~16 EUR) |
For both the atestat and dodatok, that’s 1,340 UAH (~32 EUR) in apostille fees.
How much does it cost¶
Here’s the part everyone really wants to know. The total cost depends heavily on where you get your translation done.
Option A: translate in Ukraine, then get a sworn translation in Germany¶
This is the “two-step” approach some people try to save money. They get a cheap notarized translation in Ukraine, then discover Germany won’t accept it and order a sworn translation. Don’t do this - it’s paying twice.
Option B: translate everything in Ukraine (budget option)¶
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Atestat translation | from 300 UAH (~7 EUR) |
| Dodatok (transcript) translation | from 350 UAH (~8 EUR) |
| Notarial certification | 300 UAH (~7 EUR) |
| Apostille (2 documents) | 1,340 UAH (~32 EUR) |
| Total | ~2,300 UAH (~54 EUR) |
This is the cheapest route, but comes with a risk: some German universities and uni-assist may reject a notarized translation from Ukraine and require a sworn translation done in Germany.
Option C: sworn translation in Germany (recommended)¶
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sworn translation (atestat, 1 page) | 35-50 EUR |
| Sworn translation (dodatok, 2-4 pages) | 70-160 EUR |
| Apostille (2 documents, done in Ukraine) | 1,340 UAH (~32 EUR) |
| Total | ~135-240 EUR |
Official JVEG rates (the law governing translator compensation in Germany): 1.80-2.30 EUR per standard line (55 characters). Most sworn translators set a minimum fee of 35-60 EUR per document.
The full picture including uni-assist¶
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Apostille (atestat + dodatok) | ~32 EUR |
| Sworn translation (both documents) | 105-210 EUR |
| uni-assist (first application) | 75 EUR |
| uni-assist (each additional, x3) | 90 EUR |
| Total for 4 universities | ~300-410 EUR |
Not cheap, but it’s an investment. And way cheaper than discovering your application was rejected because you saved 50 EUR on the translation.
Common mistakes that get applications rejected¶
Translating only the atestat without the dodatok. German universities need your transcript with grades - that’s the dodatok. The atestat alone just says “yes, they graduated.” Without the transcript, your application is incomplete.
Getting a regular translation instead of a sworn one. A notarized translation from Ukraine is sometimes accepted, but a sworn translation from a translator registered in Germany is the safe choice. Don’t gamble with your application.
Wrong apostille order. Apostille first, then translation. Getting the translation before the apostille means the translator didn’t translate the apostille text. You’ll have to redo and pay for the translation again.
Sending scans instead of certified copies to uni-assist. uni-assist requires certified paper copies sent by post. Digital uploads are just the first step - the physical copies must follow. People miss this and then wonder why their application is stuck.
Missing the deadline. uni-assist takes 4-6 weeks to process. Add apostille time, translation time, and postal delivery. If you start 3 weeks before the deadline, you’re already too late.
Name spelling inconsistencies. If your atestat says “Олександр” and the translator writes “Oleksandr” but your passport says “Alexander” - this can cause problems. Make sure the Latin spelling matches what’s in your passport. Ask the translator to check before they finalize.
Not checking the Anabin database. If you’re going the direct admission route (after a year of university in Ukraine), check Anabin first to see if your university is recognized. An unrecognized university means extra steps.
FAQ¶
How much does school certificate translation for a German university cost?¶
If you translate in Ukraine with notarization, it starts from about 950 UAH (~22 EUR) for the atestat and dodatok together. A sworn translation in Germany costs 105-210 EUR for both documents. Add apostille fees (about 32 EUR) and uni-assist (75 EUR for the first application). Total realistic budget: 200-320 EUR for one university application.
Can I study at a German university with a Ukrainian school certificate?¶
Not directly. Ukrainian school is 11 years, German is 12-13, so there’s a gap. You have two paths: attend Studienkolleg (a one-year prep course) and pass the Feststellungsprüfung, or complete at least one year at a Ukrainian university and then apply directly. Since 2012, Ukrainian school graduates can enter Studienkolleg right after finishing school.
Do I need a sworn translation or is a notarized translation enough?¶
For German universities and uni-assist, a sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung) from a translator registered in Germany is the safest option. Some institutions accept notarized translations from abroad, but many don’t - and you’ll only find out after weeks of processing. The difference between translation types comes down to who certifies it and where.
What’s the difference between Studienkolleg and direct university admission?¶
Studienkolleg is a one-year preparatory program for students whose school leaving certificate doesn’t meet German standards. You study foundation courses, then take the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) to get university access. Direct admission skips Studienkolleg entirely - but you need at least one completed year at a recognized university plus a B2 German certificate. Studienkolleg only requires B1.
How long does the entire process take from start to finish?¶
Realistically, 3-4 months minimum. Here’s the breakdown: apostille (10-30 business days), sworn translation (3-10 business days), shipping documents to uni-assist (1-2 weeks), uni-assist processing (4-6 weeks). Start at least 4 months before the university application deadline to give yourself a buffer for unexpected delays.