RADA Degree Verification and Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory provides Royal Academy of Dramatic Art degree verification and apostille services for graduates using their qualifications overseas.

Our service can include:

• King’s College London HEDD verification;
• enhanced solicitor certification;
• degree authenticity confirmation;
• FCDO apostille;
• a 2-working-day express apostille option; and
• embassy legalisation where required.

RADA teaches its specialist drama and theatre programmes. However, King’s College London is the degree-awarding body for RADA’s degree courses. Therefore, formal degree verification follows the King’s College London route.

Who verifies a RADA degree?

Third-party enquirers must verify an eligible RADA degree through HEDD under King’s College London.

HEDD can check:

• whether the candidate is a current or former student;
• the qualification awarded;
• the grade or classification; and
• attendance dates.

King’s uses HEDD as its verification service for employers and agencies. It does not normally confirm completed degrees directly by email or post. The current HEDD enquiry fee is £14.

Where HEDD cannot produce an automatic match, King’s aims to complete its manual review within five working days.

Candidate consent

The candidate must sign a consent form authorising the verification enquiry.

The enquirer can upload the consent as a:

• PDF;
• JPG;
• PNG; or
• TIF file.

We normally check that the consent identifies:

• the candidate;
• HEDD;
• the organisation making the enquiry;
• the academic information that may be released;
• the candidate’s signature; and
• the date.

Information required

We normally request:

• the front and back of the degree certificate;
• any available academic transcript;
• the graduate’s passport;
• full name used during study;
• any previous name;
• 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.

Using the information exactly as it appears on the certificate improves the chance of an automatic HEDD match.

Check the awarding body

A RADA graduate may describe the qualification as a RADA degree because RADA provided the teaching.

However, the certificate should identify King’s College London as the awarding body for the relevant degree programme.

Therefore, an overseas authority may need documents showing both:

• RADA as the teaching institution; and
• King’s College London as the degree-awarding university.

Short courses, workshops and certificates of attendance should not automatically be described as King’s degrees. Their verification route may remain with RADA rather than HEDD.

Transcripts and degree documents

King’s provides digital academic transcripts for eligible graduates.

A transcript may include:

• the graduate’s full name;
• course;
• enrolment date;
• final award date;
• module marks;
• final classification;
• an authorised signature; and
• a unique serial number.

Former students who need proof of their degree can submit a request through King’s former-student document service.

For eligible King’s awards from 2008 onwards:

• a replacement degree certificate currently costs £50 and may take up to 30 working days; and
• an authenticated digital certificate copy currently costs £10.

Availability may depend on the award date and the exact arrangements between RADA and King’s.

Enhanced solicitor certification

A standard certified true copy confirms that the copy matches the original document shown to the solicitor.

However, it does not by itself prove that King’s awarded the qualification.

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

1. obtain King’s HEDD verification;
2. review the original degree certificate;
3. compare the academic transcript;
4. confirm RADA as the teaching institution;
5. confirm King’s as the awarding body;
6. check the graduate’s identity; and
7. 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 Legalisation Office checks whether the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal matches its records. It does not independently verify the graduate’s 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;
• King’s manual verification;
• transcript or certificate production;
• solicitor verification enquiries;
• embassy legalisation; or
• delivery.

Both paper apostilles and e-Apostilles are available. The receiving authority must accept the selected format.

Embassy legalisation

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

The receiving authority may request:

• the original degree certificate;
• a solicitor-certified copy;
• HEDD verification;
• an official transcript;
• a confirmation letter;
• a certified translation; or
• specific certification wording.

For a non-Hague destination, further processing may include the destination country’s embassy in London and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Therefore, we check the destination requirements before preparing the documents.

Our process

1. Review the certificate and confirm the awarding body.
2. Obtain the candidate’s signed consent.
3. Submit the King’s HEDD verification request.
4. Review any transcript or supporting academic document.
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

Does RADA award its own degrees?

RADA provides the specialist teaching. However, King’s College London is the awarding body for RADA’s degree courses.

Who verifies a RADA degree?

King’s College London verifies the qualification through HEDD.

How much does HEDD verification cost?

The current enquiry fee is £14.

How long does verification take?

An automatic HEDD match may be quick. Where King’s must review the request manually, it aims for a five-working-day turnaround.

Can I obtain a transcript?

Eligible graduates can obtain an official digital transcript containing their course, award, module results and classification.

Can I obtain a replacement certificate?

For an eligible King’s award from 2008 onwards, a replacement certificate currently costs £50 and may take up to 30 working days.

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.

Contact Ginkgo Advisory

To request a quote, please send:

• the front and back of the degree certificate;
• any available transcript;
• the intended country of use; and
• the receiving authority’s instructions.