School and College Transcripts for Bahrain

School and University Transcripts for Families and Professionals in Bahrain

Transcripts follow two very different groups to Bahrain: children moving into Bahraini or international schools, and adults applying to universities, for equivalency or for professional licences. In both cases Bahraini reviewers want to see the actual record of study, not just a final certificate, and many will only accept it authenticated.

Children changing schools

Families relocating to Bahrain usually enroll children in private or international schools, which place students by grade and curriculum. Schools typically ask for the last two or three years of report cards or transcripts, a transfer or leaving letter, and sometimes the student’s records of immunization. For entry into certain grades, or into the Bahraini public system, education authorities may need to evaluate the U.S. schooling, which is easier with authenticated transcripts showing courses and grades by year. Ask the school what format it needs before you leave the U.S., because obtaining records from abroad takes longer.

University admission and equivalency

Students applying to Bahraini universities with a U.S. high school diploma, or graduates applying for postgraduate study, submit transcripts for admission and, where required, for equivalency of the U.S. qualification. Bahraini reviewers look at the subjects studied, credit hours, grades and graduation date, so include the school’s grading scale or key, which explains letter grades and GPA. Fully online or unaccredited programs may receive closer scrutiny.

Professional licensing

Health professionals licensed by the National Health Regulatory Authority, engineers registering with the engineering council and teachers are often asked for transcripts in addition to degrees, sometimes to verify specific coursework or clinical training. Request transcripts from every institution where you earned credits that count toward the licence.

Getting an apostille-ready transcript

Many U.S. schools now send transcripts electronically or in sealed envelopes. Neither can be apostilled as it is. Ask the registrar or school office for a paper transcript signed by an official before a U.S. notary, or a notarized registrar certification attached to it, and say it is for use abroad with an apostille. The Secretary of State of the notary’s state then adds the apostille. For K–12 records, the school district office can often arrange the notarization. Bahrain has accepted apostilles since December 31, 2013, so there is no U.S. Department of State or embassy step.