Translation of academic degrees and titles – between fidelity and comprehensibility

Translating academic degrees and titles is one of the more demanding tasks in a translator’s work. The difficulty results primarily from systemic differences between countries and the lack of full equivalents in the target language. In the era of academic mobility and international careers, accurate translation has real impact on credibility of documents and perception of competences. So how does a professional translator manage the situation?

What are academic degrees and titles in Poland?

In the Polish system, we distinguish:

• professional titles (e.g. licencjat, magister),
• academic degrees (doktor, doktor habilitowany)
• and academic title of a professor.

This distinction is significant, as each of these categories serves a different function within the education system and official documents. Therefore, it requires a different approach in translation, which will be discussed in more detail below.

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What are the types of academic degrees in the UK?

In the UK, there are two main levels of higher education qualifications: undergraduate and postgraduate. Undergraduate degrees include Bachelor’s degrees (e.g. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science – Level 6 qualifications), which are typically the first level of higher education. Postgraduate degrees include Master’s degrees (e.g. Master of Arts and Master of Science – Level 7 qualifications), which provide advanced specialist knowledge, and Doctoral degrees (e.g. PhD – Level 8 qualifications), which represent the highest level of academic qualification.

If you are interested in levels of academic degrees in the UK, you can find more information on the following page: https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels

The most important principle: do not translate literally

When translating academic degrees and titles, one of the most frequently repeated rules applies:

Academic degrees and titles should not be automatically translated into their “equivalents” in another education system.

Why? Because literal translation of academic degrees would imply equivalence of qualifications, which is beyond translator’s scope of competence. Instead, the following approach shall be applied:

• retaining the original form (for instance „magister”),
• optionally adding an explanation in brackets or a footnote.

The problem of untranslatability

The greatest difficulties arise with degrees specific to a given country. A good example is “doktor habilitowany”. Translating academic titles of this kind into English can be challenging, as Anglo-Saxon systems do not have an equivalent for it. Literal translations such as “habilitated doctor” are considered unnatural and misleading.

In such cases, a descriptive strategy is used, or the abbreviation “dr hab.” is retained with an explanation.

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Context matters

There is no single universal solution – the translation method depends on the purpose of the document.

• Official and certified documents should ensure maximum fidelity and preservation of the original form.
• CV or scientific profile allow more communicative forms, e.g. “Master’s degree (magister)”.
• Academic publications often use simplified forms adapted to an international audience.

The key question is: who is the target audience and what information is most important to them?

Most frequent mistakes of translators vs best practices

Scientific translation is an area in which the same problems repeatedly occur in practice:

• excessive literalness and artificially created calques,
• “adapting” titles to the Anglo-Saxon system,
• lack of consistency within a document,
• ignoring differences between university structures and academic terminology.

To avoid mistakes, professional translators follow several proven principles:

1. Retain the original wording where no full equivalent exists.
2. Add explanations instead of interpretations.
3. Consult official guidelines and the practices of the target institution.
4. Ensure terminological consistency within the text.

If you are looking for a translator who provides academic translation services and is capable of translating academic degrees and titles, the Office of the Sworn Translator of the English Language Jacek Kasprzyk is particularly worth recommending. He is a sworn translator with many years of experience in translation, an English philology graduate and a lawyer. A professional characterised by great attention to detail and high level of linguistic accuracy in both, Polish and English.

Summary and recommendation

In the era of mobility and opportunities to expand academic careers, professional academic translation to English and from English to Polish is becoming an essential element of international academic contacts.

Translating academic degrees and titles is not only a matter of language, but also of understanding educational systems and professional responsibility. The best translation is one that neither distorts reality nor becomes incomprehensible to the recipient. It is precisely the balance between these two goals that determines the quality of translation.