St Stephen’s House Oxford Degree Verification and Apostille

St Stephen’s House was a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford from 2003 until 2023. It is now an independent Anglican theological college, but the University of Oxford continues to verify Oxford qualifications obtained by former St Stephen’s House students.

Ginkgo Advisory can assist with HEDD verification, enhanced solicitor certification, FCDO apostille and embassy legalisation. A 2 working day express FCDO apostille option is available after verification and certification are complete.

Quick answer

Historic University of Oxford qualifications connected with St Stephen’s House can be verified through Oxford and HEDD.

The usual route is:

Oxford degree verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille → embassy legalisation where required

HEDD can confirm current or former student status, the award, grade or classification and attendance dates. The degree enquiry fee is £47.

Oxford consent-form requirements

Applicants must use the University of Oxford Consent to Disclosure form.

The form should name both:

• HEDD; and
• the organisation submitting the request, such as Ginkgo Advisory.

Oxford requires a genuine handwritten signature. Typed names, handwriting fonts, pasted signatures and non-verifiable electronic signatures are not accepted.

The completed form may be scanned and uploaded as a PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF. Oxford also requires candidate consent for direct verification requests.

For a current student, the request should include the course start year and expected completion year.

St Stephen’s House after 2023

Since September 2023, St Stephen’s House has operated as an Anglican theological college and is no longer a Permanent Private Hall of the University. It continues to teach students taking certain Oxford and Durham qualifications.

The verification route therefore depends on:

• the dates of study;
• the qualification;
• the awarding university; and
• the institution named on the certificate.

Older Oxford qualifications should normally follow the University of Oxford verification route. A newer theological award may instead require confirmation from St Stephen’s House or Durham University.

Short and external courses

HEDD cannot verify many short or external Oxford programmes, including some Executive Leadership Programmes.

Alternative verification may need to come from:

• St Stephen’s House;
• Saïd Business School;
• Oxford Lifelong Learning;
• the Department for Continuing Education;
• Durham University; or
• another awarding body named on the document.

We review the certificate wording before submitting the verification request.

Solicitor verification and certification

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

It does not independently prove that Oxford or another university awarded the qualification.

Our enhanced service reviews the document against reliable evidence, such as:

• a HEDD verification result;
• direct Oxford confirmation;
• an Oxford eDocument;
• a degree confirmation letter;
• an official transcript; or
• confirmation from another awarding university.

Oxford’s eDocuments service allows eligible students and alumni to access and share electronic academic records.

Where the evidence supports it, our solicitor can provide certification with authenticity confirmation.

FCDO apostille

After verification and solicitor certification, the document can proceed to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

An apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal. It does not independently verify the academic qualification.

The recommended route is:

academic verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille

Our 2 working day express FCDO apostille option covers the apostille stage only. It excludes HEDD processing, university verification, courier delivery and embassy legalisation.

Embassy legalisation

Documents intended for a country outside the Hague apostille system may require further embassy or consular legalisation.

A typical route is:

solicitor certification → FCDO legalisation → embassy legalisation

The receiving authority may also request an official transcript, university confirmation letter, certified translation or supporting identity document.

What to send us

Please provide:

• a clear scan of the academic document;
• the candidate’s name during study;
• the St Stephen’s House affiliation;
• the course and awarding university;
• attendance dates;
• graduation year;
• student number, if known;
• destination country; and
• receiving authority’s instructions.

We will identify whether Oxford, HEDD, St Stephen’s House, Durham University or another body should verify the qualification.

Frequently asked questions

Is St Stephen’s House still part of Oxford University?

No. It ceased to be a Permanent Private Hall in 2023. Historic Oxford qualifications remain University of Oxford awards.

Who verifies an older St Stephen’s House Oxford qualification?

The University of Oxford verifies eligible Oxford qualifications, including through HEDD.

Is a wet-signed consent form required?

Yes. The Oxford form should contain a genuine handwritten signature.

Must the form mention Ginkgo Advisory?

It should name both HEDD and the organisation submitting the verification request.

Does an apostille verify the degree?

No. Oxford, HEDD or the relevant awarding body verifies the qualification. The apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal.

Can Ginkgo Advisory manage the full process?

Yes. We can coordinate verification, enhanced solicitor certification, FCDO apostille, embassy legalisation and return delivery.

Start your St Stephen’s House verification

Send a clear scan and the receiving authority’s requirements to:

Email: info@ginkgoadvisory.com
WhatsApp: +44 7388 833283