Specialist academic service from TP Transcription Limited
Human transcription for university research and academic projects
University Transcriptions provides secure, UK-based human transcription for research interviews, focus groups, lectures, conferences and other academic recordings. We work with individual researchers, doctoral students, university departments and research organisations on one-off files and larger projects.
Arriving from TP Transcription? You are in the right place. University Transcriptions is operated by TP Transcription Limited and is the group’s specialist service for universities, researchers and academic projects. You will receive the same established company support, with information and options tailored to academic research.
Academic recordings we transcribe
We can prepare transcripts from audio or video recordings, following an agreed style, format and set of project instructions. Common academic assignments include:
Research interviews
One-to-one and multi-person interviews, including longitudinal studies and projects involving repeated interviews.
Focus groups and workshops
Multi-speaker recordings with named, numbered or role-based speaker labels where the speakers can be distinguished.
Lectures, seminars and conferences
Recordings of presentations, discussions, question-and-answer sessions and academic events.
Qualitative and specialist research
Material containing regional accents, technical terminology, sensitive topics or project-specific formatting requirements.
Conversation analysis
Jefferson transcription is available where a project requires detailed notation of speech, pauses, overlap and delivery.
Multilingual projects
Original-language transcription and translation can be discussed for recordings or documents in languages other than English.
If your recording type is not listed, send us a short description. We will confirm whether we can help and what information is needed to prepare a quotation.
A human transcription service
Our academic transcription service is completed by human transcribers. This is particularly useful where recordings contain several speakers, overlapping speech, regional or international accents, specialist vocabulary or sensitive personal accounts.
A human transcriber listens to the original recording, applies the project instructions and prepares a readable document for its intended research use. If your ethics approval or procurement specification requires a fully human workflow, tell us when requesting the quotation so that the requirement is recorded for the project.
Choose the transcription detail your research requires
The most suitable style depends on how the transcript will be analysed. We can discuss:
Intelligent verbatim
A clear transcript that retains the speaker’s meaning while removing unnecessary fillers, repetitions and false starts where appropriate. This is commonly requested for research interviews intended for thematic analysis.
Strict verbatim
A closer record of the spoken delivery, including fillers, repetitions and false starts where required by the research method.
Jefferson transcription
Detailed conversation-analysis notation using an agreed set of Jefferson symbols. Requirements and timescales should be discussed before work begins.
Project-specific presentation
Speaker labels, timestamps, participant codes, anonymisation instructions, terminology lists and university templates can be incorporated by agreement.
Read our guide to transcription editing levels before requesting a quote if you are unsure which option is appropriate.
Secure transcription for research data
University Transcriptions is operated by TP Transcription Limited. Our published information-security arrangements include:
- UKAS-accredited ISO 27001:2022 information-security management;
- Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification;
- secure UK-based file upload and storage facilities;
- documented access, retention and deletion controls;
- confidentiality and data-protection requirements for personnel;
- Data Processing Agreements available for research projects; and
- project-specific security and vetting requirements available by agreement.
We can provide information to assist with research ethics applications, data-management plans, data protection impact assessments, supplier questionnaires and information-security reviews. Your university or research organisation remains responsible for deciding whether the proposed arrangements meet its requirements.
View company policies and templates or read our research ethics application wording guide.
How the academic transcription process works
- Tell us about the project
Provide the recording length, number of speakers, required style, timescale and any security or formatting requirements. - Receive a quotation
We review the information and confirm the proposed service, price and turnaround time. - Upload securely
Once the necessary university approvals and agreements are in place, send the recordings through the secure upload facility. - Receive the transcripts
The completed documents are returned using the agreed delivery method and format.
What to include with your quotation request
Providing clear information at the outset helps us recommend the right service and prepare an accurate quotation. Please include:
- the number and approximate length of the recordings;
- the number of speakers;
- the source language and required output language;
- your preferred turnaround time;
- the required verbatim or editing level;
- speaker-labelling and timestamp requirements;
- any anonymisation or participant-code instructions;
- the required document format or university template;
- subject-specific terminology or supporting information; and
- any Data Processing Agreement, security questionnaire or purchase-order requirements.
If the audio is difficult to hear, contains several overlapping speakers or uses specialist terminology, you can provide a short sample for assessment.
One interview or a larger research project
We accept one-off assignments as well as projects involving substantial quantities of recorded material. For larger or recurring projects, we can discuss consistent templates, allocation arrangements, expected volumes, staged delivery, turnaround requirements and project contacts.
University clients can pay through the arrangements agreed for the order. Purchase orders and direct invoicing are available where applicable. We do not require payment before the transcription has been completed and returned.
Frequently asked questions
Is University Transcriptions part of TP Transcription?
Yes. University Transcriptions is operated by TP Transcription Limited. This website provides information and services specifically for universities, researchers, students and academic projects.
Do you provide university degree or examination transcripts?
No. An academic transcription service converts recorded speech into written text. Official records of qualifications, modules or examination results must be requested from the relevant university or awarding institution.
Is the transcription completed by people?
Yes. University Transcriptions provides human transcription. If a fully human workflow is a condition of the project’s ethics approval or procurement specification, include this in your quotation request and service instructions.
Can you transcribe research interviews and focus groups?
Yes. We transcribe one-to-one interviews, multi-person interviews, focus groups and workshops. The quotation will take account of the number of speakers, audio quality, required detail and turnaround time.
Can you follow our university template and anonymisation instructions?
Yes, where the requirements are agreed before work begins. Provide the final template, participant-code format, list of identifiers to remove and any terminology guidance with the project instructions.
Can you provide information for an ethics or security review?
Yes. We can provide information about the service and current security arrangements, together with relevant policies and agreement templates. Contact us before uploading sensitive material if your project requires supplier approval.
How much does academic transcription cost?
The price depends on factors including the recording length, number of speakers, audio quality, transcription style and turnaround time. See our current academic transcription prices or request a personalised quotation for the project.
How do I send the recordings?
After the quotation, instructions and any required university approvals are in place, recordings can be sent through our secure upload facility. Contact us first if the project has specific transfer or storage restrictions.
Request an academic transcription quote
Tell us about your recordings, research requirements and timescale. We can quote for a single interview, a series of focus groups or a larger academic project.
Request a personalised quote
Ask about security or project requirements