Preston Polytechnic Degree Verification and Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory provides Preston Polytechnic degree verification and apostille services for graduates using their qualifications overseas.

Our service can include:

• HEDD degree verification;
• CNAA award checks where relevant;
• enhanced solicitor certification;
• authenticity confirmation;
• FCDO apostille;
• a 2-working-day express apostille option; and
• embassy legalisation where required.

Preston Polytechnic operated from 1973 to 1984. It then became Lancashire Polytechnic, followed by the University of Central Lancashire in 1992. The institution now uses the name University of Lancashire.

Who verifies the qualification?

The University of Lancashire verifies Preston Polytechnic records through HEDD.

HEDD is the University’s exclusive third-party degree-verification route. It can confirm:

• current or former student status;
• the qualification awarded;
• the grade or classification; and
• attendance dates.

The current HEDD enquiry fee is £14.

The candidate must provide a signed consent form as a:

• PDF;
• JPG;
• PNG; or
• TIF file.

HEDD serves third-party enquirers. Therefore, a graduate seeking evidence for personal use should normally request a transcript, statement or other official document from the University.

Information required

We normally request:

• the front and back of the certificate;
• any available transcript;
• the graduate’s passport;
• full name used during study;
• date of birth;
• student number, if known;
• course and qualification titles;
• award year and classification;
• attendance dates;
• signed candidate consent; and
• the intended country of use.

Historic searches work best when names, course titles and dates match the original records exactly.

Check whether CNAA awarded the degree

Many polytechnic degrees issued before 1992 were awarded by the Council for National Academic Awards, known as CNAA.

Therefore, we check whether the certificate names:

• Preston Polytechnic;
• CNAA;
• the Council for National Academic Awards;
• BTEC or another examination body; or
• another validating institution.

The University of Lancashire may verify the student and study record through HEDD. However, where CNAA appears as the awarding body, The Open University can provide separate confirmation from the CNAA archive.

The Open University currently offers:

• a certificate-style pro forma;
• a verification letter; or
• email verification.

The service costs £60 and can take up to seven working days. It requires the graduate’s signed authorisation. However, The Open University does not hold transcript information for CNAA awards.

Transcripts and official statements

The University of Lancashire can issue transcripts where sufficient historic information remains.

A transcript may show:

• modules studied;
• credit values;
• grades;
• the overall result; and
• the final award.

However, transcripts are not available for every student who attended before 1999. If the University cannot produce a transcript, it may issue a Statement of Achievement or Attendance instead.

A Statement of Achievement or Attendance currently costs £30. It can confirm:

• attendance dates;
• the programme studied;
• the result obtained, where applicable;
• the campus; and
• the medium of instruction.

The University normally dispatches these documents within 10 working days, although processing may take 10 to 15 working days during busy periods.

Contact: AwardsOffice@lancashire.ac.uk

Replacement certificates

The University’s standard replacement-certificate service only covers awards made since July 1992.

Therefore, a Preston Polytechnic graduate should not order the standard £50 replacement certificate without first contacting the Awards Office.

Where CNAA awarded the degree, The Open University may provide a certificate-style pro forma instead of an exact replica of the original certificate.

Enhanced solicitor certification

A basic certified true copy only confirms that the copy matches the document presented to the solicitor.

Enhanced solicitor certification can also use independent academic evidence. Depending on the case, our solicitor may:

1. obtain HEDD or CNAA verification;
2. identify the correct awarding body;
3. review the original certificate;
4. compare a transcript, statement or verification letter;
5. check the graduate’s identity; and
6. certify the document using wording supported by the evidence.

We only confirm authenticity where reliable verification supports that conclusion.

FCDO apostille

After verification and solicitor certification, the document can normally proceed to the FCDO for an apostille.

The usual route is:

academic verification → solicitor certification → FCDO apostille

The Legalisation Office checks whether the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal matches its records. It does not independently verify the academic qualification.

Ginkgo Advisory offers a 2-working-day express FCDO apostille option for eligible documents.

However, this period covers the FCDO stage only. It does not include:

• HEDD processing;
• CNAA verification;
• historic record searches;
• transcript production;
• solicitor enquiries;
• embassy legalisation; or
• delivery.

Paper apostilles and e-Apostilles are available, subject to document eligibility and acceptance by the receiving authority.

Embassy legalisation

Some destinations require embassy or consular legalisation after the FCDO stage.

The overseas authority may request:

• the original certificate;
• a solicitor-certified copy;
• HEDD or CNAA verification;
• a transcript or official statement;
• a certified translation; or
• specific certification wording.

For a non-Hague destination, further embassy and destination-country processing may be necessary.

Our process

1. Review the certificate and identify the awarding body.
2. Obtain the graduate’s signed consent.
3. Request HEDD, CNAA or other appropriate verification.
4. Compare the result with the certificate and identification.
5. Complete enhanced solicitor certification where supported.
6. Arrange the FCDO apostille.
7. Complete embassy legalisation where required.
8. Return the completed documents.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Preston Polytechnic qualification still valid?

Yes. Later institutional name changes do not invalidate a recognised Preston Polytechnic qualification.

What did Preston Polytechnic become?

It became Lancashire Polytechnic in 1984 and the University of Central Lancashire in 1992. The institution now operates as the University of Lancashire.

Can HEDD verify the qualification?

Yes. HEDD lists the University of Lancashire as the current verifier and charges £14.

Who verifies a CNAA degree?

The Open University maintains the CNAA award archive. It currently charges £60 for verification.

Can I obtain a historic transcript?

Possibly. Availability depends on the records retained. Where a transcript is unavailable, the University may provide a Statement of Achievement or Attendance.

Can I obtain a replacement certificate?

The University’s standard replacement service only covers awards made since July 1992. A CNAA graduate may instead obtain a pro forma from The Open University.

Does an apostille verify the qualification?

No. It authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal.

Can Ginkgo Advisory arrange a 2-working-day apostille?

Yes, once verification and solicitor certification are complete and the document is ready for FCDO submission.