Royal Agricultural College Degree Verification and Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory provides Royal Agricultural College degree verification and apostille services for graduates using their qualifications overseas.

Our service can include:

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

The Royal Agricultural College was founded in 1845. It gained university status in 2013 and became the Royal Agricultural University, commonly called RAU. The University now verifies qualifications issued under the former College name.

Who verifies the qualification?

The Royal Agricultural University verifies Royal Agricultural College qualifications exclusively through HEDD for third-party enquiries.

A HEDD verification can confirm:

• the candidate’s name;
• the course and qualification;
• the year of award;
• the classification; and
• attendance dates.

The current HEDD enquiry fee is £14.

HEDD is intended for employers, agencies, embassies, solicitors and other authorised organisations. Graduates cannot use it to verify their own awards.

Strict consent requirements

RAU requires a consent form that:

• names the Royal Agricultural University;
• carries the candidate’s handwritten signature;
• is dated within the previous three months; and
• is uploaded as a PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF file.

A typed or outdated consent form may prevent verification.

Information required

We normally request:

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

RAU advises enquirers to enter the candidate’s details exactly as they appear on the degree certificate. This helps prevent verification delays.

Check the awarding body

A historic Royal Agricultural College document may be:

• a degree certificate;
• a diploma;
• an academic transcript;
• a professional qualification; or
• an award validated by another institution.

Therefore, we check the institution and awarding body printed on the document before beginning verification.

The correct awarding body may control:

• degree verification;
• replacement certificates;
• academic transcripts; and
• official award letters.

Transcripts and replacement certificates

Royal Agricultural College graduates can contact the Royal Agricultural University Registry about:

• replacement degree certificates;
• academic transcripts;
• confirmation letters; and
• other historic academic records.

The University currently directs these requests to:

registry@rau.ac.uk

Availability depends on the award, date and records held by the University. Therefore, graduates should provide a copy of the original certificate where possible.

Enhanced solicitor certification

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

Enhanced solicitor certification can also incorporate independent academic evidence.

Depending on the case, our solicitor may:

1. obtain HEDD verification;
2. review the original certificate;
3. compare an RAU transcript or confirmation letter;
4. check the graduate’s identity and former names;
5. confirm the institutional name change; 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:

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 academic qualification.

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;
• Registry enquiries;
• transcript or certificate production;
• solicitor verification;
• embassy legalisation; or
• delivery.

Both 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 verification;
• an academic transcript;
• an official RAU letter;
• a certified translation; or
• specific certification wording.

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

Therefore, we check the receiving authority’s requirements before preparing the documents.

Our process

1. Review the certificate and identify the awarding body.
2. Obtain a valid hand-signed consent form.
3. Submit the HEDD verification request.
4. Obtain additional RAU documents where useful.
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 Royal Agricultural College qualification still valid?

Yes. The change to Royal Agricultural University does not invalidate a recognised qualification issued under the former College name.

What did the Royal Agricultural College become?

It received university status in 2013 and became the Royal Agricultural University.

Who verifies the qualification?

The Royal Agricultural University verifies it through HEDD.

How much does HEDD verification cost?

The current fee is £14.

Can the consent form be digitally signed?

The published HEDD requirement specifies a hand-signed form dated within the previous three months.

Can I obtain a transcript or replacement certificate?

Possibly. Graduates should contact the RAU Registry at registry@rau.ac.uk with the award details and available documents.

Does an apostille verify the qualification?

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