Documents Verification & Attestations for Applying to Chinese Universities

Documents' verification and attestations are required in order to apply for admission in Chinese Universities.

Everyone now a days want to get higher education in universities abroad, at least not in his own country. There could be a lot of reasons for that including poor quality of education etc.

Applying for admission in a foreign university is not an easy task. Each university has a different procedure of admission. Students need to fill lengthy forms, sometimes they have to translate them if they are in other languages. But what all universities have the same in their admission procedure is to have your documents verified and attested from your responsible government authorities.

So starting off with document verification and attestations. This guide is for Pakistani students but if you are not a Pakistani, still you can follow the procedure and search for the responsible authorities in your country which deal in such matters. This article will guide you what documents you need, and how and where to get them attested.

1 - Matric and Intermediate Certificate:

Matric and Intermediate certificates are compulsory if you are going to apply in a university. Make sure you also fulfill the minimum criteria of grades. Certificate usually takes 2 – 3 years before it is issued to a student. However, you must get your certificates on urgent basis from the exam board office. You will be charged around 3 thousand Pakistani rupees to get a certificate on urgent basis. After you have got these certificates, it is time to get them attested.

Step 1: Attestation by Exam Boards:

You will to need submit your original certificate of matric and intermediate with two copies to the exam board also known as BISE (Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education) where you took the exam. If you studied under federal board, you will have to visit federal board office in your district. Depending on the board, you will have to pay between 1,500 to 3,000 rupees for each certificate at board office. It will charge extra if you do it on urgent basis. They will attest these documents and keep one copy of the certificate. Hence, giving you attested original certificates and one copy in a sealed envelope.

Step 2: Attestation by IBCC:

After receiving attested certificates from board office, you must not open the envelope and take them to Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) office as they are, for further attestation. You can either download the application form and post the envelope to IBCC office. Otherwise, you can visit IBCC office and get your documents attested by them. As of 2017, they charge around 400 rupees for original certificate and around 100 – 200 rupees for each copy. Be sure to get more than one attested copies as you will most probably apply in more than one university for admission. Here you can see complete details about Attestation from IBCC and their offices.

Step 3: Notarization:

All attested documents are required to be notarized for further authentication. You will have to visit licensed Notary Public to get these documents notarized. Here learn more about Notarization in Pakistan.

Step 4: Attestation by Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

The next step is to get these documents attested by the Ministry of foreign affairs. Whether this attestation is required or not depends on your study abroad destination and university. Some may not need this while for some it is compulsory that documents be attested by the ministry.

2 - Bachelors and Masters:

If you are applying for postgraduate program, you will also have to attest and submit transcript or degree of your Bachelors and/or Masters program.

Step 1: Attestation by HEC:

As all university degrees in Pakistan are issued by HEC so this is where you go to attest your transcripts. Now they have made it easy, you can fill out the online application on your eportal on HEC website and send your transcripts to their office. They will appoint you a date when you can receive your attested transcript(s).

Step 2: Notarization:

University transcripts are also to be notarized just like matric and inter certificates. It is only after both attestation and notarization that documents will be accepted by a foreign university.

Step 3: Attestation by Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Attestation of transcripts also depend on the requirements of the university. If they want the documents attested by ministry of foreign affairs then you must get transcript attested along with matric and inter certificates.

3 -   English Language Test Certificate:

A certificate of English language test i.e. IELTS and TOEFL is always necessary to get admission in a foreign university. I would suggest at least a month of practice even if your English is good. There is no need to attest this certificate. You may have to submit a copy of this certificate yourself or have the institution (British Council or AEO) send it to the university. Student is required to fill a form and pay a fees of around 3 thousand rupees to send one copy from the institution.

4 -   Recommendation or Reference Letter:

Recommendation or reference letter is also required by the foreign universities along with other academic documents. You must get your teachers or employer to write a good recommendation letter for you. Usually at least two reference letters are needed to submit. A reference letter shows others opinion about you and your study field.

5 -   Statement of Purpose:

Universities give a great importance to statement of purpose. They judge you based on statement of purpose. You are required to write about 2 – 3 pages about why they should select you. Be sure to write an extra ordinary statement of purpose in a formal language and have it proofread by a professional writer.

6-   CV or Cover Letter:

It is optional but still a good CV or cover letter adds point on your side. If you don’t have much to mention then I would suggest not to submit a CV. Have your CV or cover letter prepared by a professional that will put a good impact on reader.

7 -   Bank Statement:

After you have been short listed, university will ask you to submit a proper bank statement that shows enough funds to finance your living and study in a foreign country. Each country has their own conditions about the bank statement so be sure to read specific requirements.