Our solicitor can verify, certify, apostille & legalise
All UK recognised degree-awarding universities or colleges
471
recognised UK
institutions
About the Author
KH is a practising solicitor based in London, admitted in England & Wales and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He is registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. KH has worked as legal counsel and in-house solicitor across leading firms and corporations. He personally oversees every case at Ginkgo Advisory, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and end-to-end quality control.
KH Lam, LLB, LLM
Legal Consultant of Ginkgo Advisory
Ginkgo Advisory provides Regent’s College London degree verification and apostille services for graduates using their qualifications overseas.
Our service can include:
- HEDD degree verification;
- awarding-body checks;
- enhanced solicitor certification;
- authenticity confirmation;
- FCDO apostille;
- a 2-working-day express apostille option; and
- embassy legalisation where required.
Regent’s College London issued recognised awards before gaining university status in 2013. Regent’s University London now verifies qualifications issued under the former College name.
Who verifies the qualification?
Regent’s University London verifies Regent’s College London qualifications through HEDD.
HEDD can check:
- current or former student status;
- the qualification awarded;
- the grade or classification; and
- attendance dates.
The current HEDD enquiry fee is £14.
University contact: ask@regents.ac.uk
Strict consent requirements
Regent’s only accepts the official HEDD consent form.
The form must:
- name Regent’s University London;
- carry the candidate’s handwritten signature;
- be dated within the previous three months; and
- be uploaded as a PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF file.
Therefore, typed or outdated consent may delay or prevent verification.
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;
- valid signed consent; and
- the intended country of use.
Exact information improves the chance of a successful record match.
Check the awarding body
Regent’s College hosted several schools and delivered courses under different validating arrangements before receiving its own taught degree-awarding powers in 2012. It became Regent’s University London in June 2013.
Therefore, an older certificate may name:
- Regent’s College London;
- Regent’s University London;
- the Open University;
- the University of Wales;
- Webster University;
- Bournemouth University;
- City University of London; or
- another validating institution.
The institution named as the awarding body may control replacement certificates and some academic records. Regent’s directs graduates of partner-validated courses to the relevant partner institution.
Transcripts and replacement certificates
Regent’s can provide transcripts for courses within its own records.
The University currently provides transcripts without charge. As a guide, requests may take:
- around two weeks for graduation before 2008; or
- around one week for graduation after 2008.
Replacement certificates are available for eligible Regent’s-validated courses.
Most replacement certificates currently cost £50. Regent’s does not provide digital certificate copies, and production may take up to eight weeks.
Where another institution validated the course, the graduate may need to contact that awarding institution instead.
Enhanced solicitor certification
A basic certified true copy 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:
- obtain HEDD verification;
- identify the correct awarding body;
- review the original certificate;
- compare the academic transcript;
- check the graduate’s identity;
- confirm the award details; and
- 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:
HEDD verification → solicitor certification → FCDO apostille
The FCDO checks whether the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal matches its official records. Qualification certificates and certified copies may be legalised after suitable certification by a UK solicitor or notary.
An apostille does not independently verify the academic record.
Ginkgo Advisory offers a 2-working-day express FCDO apostille option for eligible and correctly prepared documents.
However, this period covers the FCDO stage only. It does not include:
- HEDD processing;
- transcript or certificate production;
- awarding-body enquiries;
- solicitor verification;
- embassy legalisation; or
- delivery.
Both paper apostilles and e-Apostilles are available. An e-Apostille requires an eligible PDF electronically signed by a UK solicitor or notary.
Embassy legalisation
Some destinations require embassy or consular legalisation after the FCDO stage.
The receiving authority may request:
- the original certificate;
- a solicitor-certified copy;
- HEDD verification;
- an official transcript;
- an awarding-body letter;
- a certified translation; or
- specific certification wording.
Therefore, we check the destination requirements before preparing the documents.
Our process
- Review the certificate and identify the awarding body.
- Obtain a hand-signed HEDD consent form dated within three months.
- Submit the HEDD verification request.
- Obtain additional Regent’s or awarding-body documents where useful.
- Complete enhanced solicitor certification where supported.
- Arrange the FCDO apostille.
- Complete embassy legalisation where required.
- Return the completed documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Regent’s College London qualification still valid?
Yes. The later change to Regent’s University London does not invalidate a recognised qualification issued under the former name.
What did Regent’s College London become?
It gained university status and became Regent’s University London in June 2013.
Who verifies the qualification?
Regent’s University London verifies it through HEDD.
How much does HEDD verification cost?
The current fee is £14.
Can I digitally sign the consent form?
The published HEDD requirement specifies a hand-signed form dated within the previous three months.
Can I obtain a transcript?
Yes, where Regent’s holds the academic record. Transcripts are currently available without charge.
Can I obtain a replacement certificate?
Possibly. Most eligible Regent’s replacement certificates currently cost £50 and may take up to eight weeks.
What if another university awarded my qualification?
The awarding institution shown on the certificate may control the replacement-document route. Regent’s lists separate contacts for several former validation partners.
Does an apostille verify the degree?
No. It authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal rather than the underlying academic record.
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.
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