Certified True Copy of a University Degree: What an Australian Notary Can Issue
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Universities will not usually release a second original testamur, and you will rarely get it back once it is submitted overseas. The certified true copy exists to solve exactly this: it lets you keep the original and send something a foreign institution will accept.
Testamur, transcript, and why the difference matters
The testamur is the ceremonial certificate — the large document with the seal that says the degree was conferred. One is issued, and replacements are usually refused or heavily restricted.
The academic transcript lists subjects and results. Universities will issue further sealed copies, usually for a fee.
Overseas authorities often ask for both, and they frequently have different requirements. A transcript may be acceptable as a fresh sealed copy direct from the university, while the testamur needs a notarised copy because you cannot get another.
Ask which document is required before booking. People routinely notarise the wrong one.
What the notary does
The notary sights your original testamur, takes a copy, and attaches a certificate stating that the copy is a true and complete copy of the document produced to them. The certificate is signed, sealed and bound to the copy.
What the notary is not doing is confirming that the degree was awarded, that the university is accredited, or that you attended. If the receiving authority needs verification of the award itself, that is a different process — usually direct verification with the institution, or a credential evaluation service.
Confusing the two wastes time. "Notarised" and "verified" are different requests.
The two meet at one point. If the copy is going to DFAT for an apostille, DFAT requires the notary's certificate to state that the original record has been verified with the university, and the notary coordinates that verification. A plain true-copy certificate does not satisfy DFAT for a university document. Tell the notary where the copy is going before the appointment.
Bring the original
The original testamur, not a photocopy, not a scan, not a framed copy behind glass. If yours is framed, remove it beforehand — a notary cannot properly sight and copy a document under glass, and you will not want it unframed in a hurry at the appointment.
If the original is lost, contact the university first. Most will issue a statement of award or replacement documentation, which can then be notarised. That is usually faster than it sounds and is the only route available.
Large documents
Testamurs are often A3 or larger, sometimes with embossing, foil or a seal that does not photocopy well.
- Ask the notary in advance whether they can copy oversize documents — not every office can.
- Embossed seals may need to be noted in the certificate wording because they do not reproduce.
- Colour copying is worth requesting where the original uses colour, since a monochrome copy of a colour document occasionally draws queries.
Translation
If the degree is in a language other than the destination's, a certified translation is usually required and is typically bound with the notarised copy.
Where the degree is in English and the destination is not English-speaking, translation is usually still required. Confirm whether the destination wants it before or after the apostille, because the order affects what gets translated — some want the notarial certificate translated too.
The chain for overseas use
- Original testamur
- Either university verification of the original, or a notarised copy whose certificate records that the university verified the original
- DFAT apostille, or DFAT authentication plus embassy legalisation
- Certified translation, in the order the destination specifies
DFAT attaches its certificate to whatever you lodge. Lodge the original and the apostille is fixed to your only testamur; that is why most people choose the notarised copy for a degree, and reserve the original route for transcripts, which the university will reissue.
Bundle everything you need at step 2. Additional certified copies at the same appointment are far cheaper than returning, and if you are applying to several institutions you will need several.
Frequently asked questions
Can the university certify it instead? Sometimes, and it is worth asking. Some universities issue certified copies under their own seal, which some authorities accept. For an apostille, DFAT's route is the university verifying the original, after which DFAT can legalise the original directly. Ask the university how it handles verification requests.
Can a JP certify my degree for an overseas employer? For use in Australia, yes. For overseas, no — see the notary versus JP distinction. This is a frequent and expensive mistake for people applying for work abroad.
My degree has my maiden name. Add a notarised statutory declaration confirming both names refer to you, and authenticate it alongside. Raise it at the appointment rather than afterwards.
How many copies should I get? One per receiving institution, plus one spare. Each usually requires its own apostille, so confirm the count before paying for authentication.
