Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Degree Verification and Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory provides Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama degree verification and apostille services for graduates using their qualifications overseas.

Our service can include:

• direct academic verification;
• awarding-body checks;
• enhanced solicitor certification;
• authenticity confirmation;
• FCDO apostille;
• a 2-working-day express apostille option; and
• embassy legalisation where required.

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, commonly known as RWCMD, is the National Conservatoire of Wales and forms part of the University of South Wales Group. Current RWCMD programmes lead to University of South Wales degrees and awards.

Who verifies an RWCMD degree?

Royal Welsh College qualifications cannot currently be verified through HEDD.

Instead, the graduate or an authorised third party should contact RWCMD Registry directly. Registry handles enquiries about:

• student records;
• award confirmation;
• certification; and
• academic transcripts.

Registry email: registry@rwcmd.ac.uk
Telephone: 029 2039 1335

A professional third-party request should normally be made on headed paper and include the graduate’s consent.

Check the awarding body

The HEDD listing states that degrees were awarded by the University of Glamorgan. However, the University of Glamorgan merged with the University of Wales, Newport in April 2013 to form the University of South Wales.

Therefore, the correct awarding body may be:

• University of Glamorgan for an older award;
• University of South Wales for a more recent award;
• another historic validating institution; or
• a separate professional awarding body.

The certificate itself should guide the verification route.

We check:

• the institution named at the top;
• the degree or diploma title;
• the award date;
• signatures and seals;
• any University of Glamorgan or USW wording; and
• the academic transcript.

Candidate consent

A third-party verification request requires the graduate’s consent.

The consent should normally include:

• the graduate’s full name;
• any former name;
• date of birth;
• student number, if known;
• course and qualification;
• attendance dates;
• the authorised organisation;
• the information that may be released;
• the graduate’s signature; and
• the date.

RWCMD Registry should confirm any additional consent requirements before submission.

Information required

We normally request:

• the front and back of the certificate;
• any available transcript;
• the graduate’s passport;
• 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;
• signed consent; and
• the intended country of use.

Exact details help Registry locate the correct academic record.

Transcripts and replacement documents

RWCMD Registry handles enquiries relating to certification, student records and academic transcripts.

Depending on the record available, RWCMD may provide:

• an academic transcript;
• confirmation of attendance;
• confirmation of award;
• a certified academic document; or
• guidance on obtaining a replacement certificate.

For University of Glamorgan or University of South Wales awards, RWCMD may coordinate with the University of South Wales where necessary. USW’s former-student service specifically directs Royal Welsh College graduates back to RWCMD for their records.

Fees and processing times depend on the document and award year.

Enhanced solicitor certification

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

However, it does not independently prove that RWCMD, the University of Glamorgan or the University of South Wales issued the qualification.

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

1. obtain confirmation from RWCMD or the awarding university;
2. review the original certificate;
3. compare an official transcript or award letter;
4. confirm the correct awarding body;
5. check the graduate’s identity and former names; 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, an eligible document can normally proceed to the FCDO for an apostille.

The usual route is:

academic verification → enhanced 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:

• RWCMD or university verification;
• transcript or certificate production;
• historic record searches;
• solicitor enquiries;
• 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;
• direct RWCMD verification;
• an academic transcript;
• an award confirmation letter;
• a certified translation; or
• specific certification wording.

For a country outside the Hague Apostille Convention, further embassy and destination-country processing may be required.

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

Our process

1. Review the certificate and identify the awarding body.
2. Obtain the graduate’s signed consent.
3. Request verification from RWCMD or the awarding university.
4. Compare the response 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

Can I verify an RWCMD degree through HEDD?

No. HEDD directs applicants to contact the College directly.

Who should receive the verification request?

RWCMD Registry handles student-record, certification and transcript enquiries.

Email: registry@rwcmd.ac.uk

Who awards current RWCMD degrees?

Current RWCMD courses lead to University of South Wales degrees and awards.

Who awarded older RWCMD degrees?

Some older qualifications were awarded by the University of Glamorgan. USW became its successor in 2013. The certificate should confirm the correct awarding body.

Do I need candidate consent?

Yes. A third-party verification request requires the graduate’s permission.

Can RWCMD provide a transcript?

RWCMD Registry handles transcript and certification enquiries. Availability depends on the award and records held.

Does an apostille verify the degree?

No. It authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal. Academic verification remains a separate stage.

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

Yes, once academic 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 award year;
• the intended country of use; and
• the receiving authority’s instructions.