Wimbledon College of Art Degree Verification and Apostille

Wimbledon College of Art is now part of the University of the Arts London. UAL verifies eligible qualifications through HEDD, while many older awards require the separate CNAA verification route.

Ginkgo Advisory can arrange academic 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

Wimbledon College of Art qualifications awarded from approximately 1993/94 onwards can normally be verified through HEDD.

The usual process is:

HEDD verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille → embassy legalisation where required

The HEDD degree enquiry fee is £14. The candidate must provide a signed consent form as a PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF.

For most awards issued before 1993, the certificate may name the Council for National Academic Awards, known as CNAA. Those qualifications should normally be verified through the Open University’s Awards and Aftercare service instead of HEDD.

HEDD verification through UAL

University of the Arts London is an exclusive HEDD partner. Standard third-party verification requests must therefore be submitted through HEDD.

The service can check:

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

UAL can only verify awards going back to the 1993/94 academic year. Earlier Wimbledon qualifications require the awarding body shown on the original certificate to be checked.

Pre-1993 CNAA qualifications

CNAA was a UK degree-awarding body from 1965 to 1992. After CNAA was abolished, the Open University took custody of its award records.

The Open University can provide third-party verification or a certificate-style pro forma confirming a CNAA award.

The current fee is £60. Signed candidate authorisation is required, and third-party verifications may take up to seven working days once the complete application is received.

We check whether the certificate names:

• Wimbledon College of Art;
• Wimbledon School of Art;
• CNAA;
• University of the Arts London;
• another validating university; or
• a professional awarding body.

The wording on the certificate determines the correct verification and replacement-document route.

Transcripts and official letters

UAL’s standard transcript service mainly covers awards completed from 2008 onwards.

For older awards, UAL may instead provide:

• a Confirmation of Studies letter;
• a letter stating that no transcript is available;
• a certified certificate copy; or
• another available academic record.

A standard Confirmation of Studies letter can confirm the graduate’s name, course, study dates, classification and college. UAL currently charges £10 for a digital letter or £20 for a posted copy.

For many pre-2008 programmes, no unitised transcript exists. UAL can issue an official letter explaining that transcript information is unavailable.

Replacement certificates

UAL’s standard replacement-certificate service applies to awards completed from May 2004 onwards. The current fee is £40.

Earlier Wimbledon College of Art graduates may need to approach:

• the Open University for a CNAA award;
• another validating university;
• Pearson for a BTEC or Edexcel qualification; or
• another awarding body named on the certificate.

A successful verification may still be possible even when a conventional replacement certificate cannot be issued.

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 the candidate obtained the qualification.

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

• a HEDD verification;
• CNAA verification from the Open University;
• a UAL Confirmation of Studies letter;
• a certified university copy;
• a replacement certificate; or
• another official awarding-body record.

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 UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

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

The recommended process is:

academic verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille

Our 2 working day express FCDO apostille option covers the apostille stage only. It excludes HEDD or CNAA processing, document production, delivery and embassy legalisation.

Embassy legalisation

Documents intended for a destination outside the Hague Apostille Convention may require further embassy or consular legalisation.

A typical process is:

solicitor certification → FCDO legalisation → embassy legalisation

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

What to send us

Please provide:

• a clear certificate scan;
• any transcript or university letter;
• the candidate’s name during study;
• course and qualification;
• attendance dates;
• award year and classification;
• student number, if known;
• destination country; and
• receiving authority’s requirements.

We will identify whether the correct route involves HEDD, UAL, CNAA Awards and Aftercare or another awarding body.

Frequently asked questions

Who verifies Wimbledon College of Art qualifications?

University of the Arts London verifies eligible awards from approximately 1993/94 onwards through HEDD.

How much does HEDD verification cost?

The current degree enquiry fee is £14.

Who verifies a pre-1993 degree?

Most pre-1993 degree awards were issued by CNAA. The Open University now maintains the CNAA award records.

Can former students obtain a transcript?

A full UAL transcript is generally available for awards from 2008 onwards. Older graduates may receive a Confirmation of Studies letter or a letter explaining that no transcript is available.

Does an apostille verify the qualification?

No. HEDD, the Open University or the relevant awarding body verifies the academic record. The apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal.

Can Ginkgo Advisory manage the complete process?

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

Start your Wimbledon College of Art verification

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

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