Our solicitor can verify, certify, apostille & legalise
All UK recognised degree-awarding universities or colleges
471
recognised UK
institutions
About the Author
KH is a practising solicitor based in London, admitted in England & Wales and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He is registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. KH has worked as legal counsel and in-house solicitor across leading firms and corporations. He personally oversees every case at Ginkgo Advisory, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and end-to-end quality control.
KH Lam, LLB, LLM
Legal Consultant of Ginkgo Advisory
Writtle Agricultural College was a recognised UK institution that gave awards between 1938 and 1994. Its successor, Writtle University College, merged with Anglia Ruskin University on 29 February 2024. The Writtle campus now operates as ARU Writtle.
Ginkgo Advisory can assist with direct 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
Writtle Agricultural College qualifications cannot currently be verified through the standard HEDD online route.
Verification should begin with ARU’s alumni team or the awarding body named on the original certificate. ARU specifically directs former Writtle University College students to:
The usual process is:
direct academic verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille → embassy legalisation where required
Direct qualification verification
A third-party verification request should normally include:
- the candidate’s full name during study;
- any former name;
- date of birth;
- course and qualification;
- attendance dates;
- award year;
- grade or classification;
- student number, if known;
- a clear certificate copy; and
- signed candidate consent.
A formal request may need to appear on the requesting organisation’s headed paper.
Check the awarding body
Writtle University College did not obtain its own taught degree-awarding powers until 2015. Therefore, older Writtle Agricultural College certificates may show another awarding institution.
The document may name:
- Writtle Agricultural College;
- Writtle College;
- the University of Essex;
- CNAA;
- BTEC or Edexcel;
- City & Guilds; or
- another professional awarding body.
Many later Writtle degrees were University of Essex awards. Essex retains records connected with Writtle College and offers verification and alumni-document services for partner-institution graduates.
The awarding body printed on the certificate determines who should verify the qualification and issue any replacement document.
University of Essex verification route
Where the certificate names the University of Essex, the graduate or authorised third party may request:
- award verification;
- an academic transcript;
- an award confirmation letter;
- a certified document; or
- a replacement degree certificate.
An Essex award confirmation letter can state the study dates, award, qualification details and conferral date. The University can also verify the legitimacy of an existing hard-copy certificate.
Historic transcript availability depends on the records held. Essex currently offers a separate electronic transcript service for awards from 1967 to 2005.
CNAA and vocational qualifications
A certificate naming the Council for National Academic Awards should normally follow the Open University’s CNAA Awards and Aftercare route.
Other common routes include:
- BTEC, Edexcel, HNC or HND: Pearson;
- City & Guilds: City & Guilds;
- professional agricultural qualifications: the professional awarding body shown on the certificate.
A successful verification may still be possible even where the original teaching institution cannot issue a replacement certificate.
Transcripts and replacement certificates
ARU’s awards team handles transcript and certificate enquiries for ARU graduates. Former Writtle University College students are directed separately to the ARU alumni team.
For a Writtle Agricultural College award, the correct document provider may instead be:
- Anglia Ruskin University;
- the University of Essex;
- the Open University;
- Pearson;
- City & Guilds; or
- another awarding institution.
We check the original certificate before advising which organisation should be contacted.
Solicitor verification and certification
A basic solicitor-certified copy confirms that the copy matches the document presented to the solicitor.
It does not independently establish that the candidate obtained the qualification.
Our enhanced service reviews the document against reliable evidence, such as:
- direct ARU or Writtle confirmation;
- University of Essex verification;
- an official transcript;
- an award confirmation letter;
- CNAA verification;
- a replacement certificate; or
- another 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 underlying 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:
- university or awarding-body verification;
- archive searches;
- transcript production;
- replacement certificates;
- courier 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 transcript, award confirmation letter, certified translation or supporting identity document.
What to send us
Please provide:
- a clear certificate scan;
- any available transcript;
- the candidate’s name during study;
- course and qualification;
- attendance dates;
- award year and classification;
- student number, if known;
- destination country; and
- the receiving authority’s requirements.
We will identify whether verification should come from ARU Writtle, the University of Essex, the Open University, Pearson or another awarding body.
Frequently asked questions
Is Writtle University College still operating?
Writtle University College merged with Anglia Ruskin University in February 2024. The campus is now known as ARU Writtle.
Can HEDD verify a Writtle Agricultural College qualification?
Not through the normal online route. Verification should be requested directly from the relevant institution or awarding body.
Who now handles former Writtle enquiries?
ARU directs former Writtle University College students to its alumni team. Older awards may instead require verification from the University of Essex or another awarding body.
Who replaces a University of Essex certificate?
The University of Essex provides replacement certificates and other alumni documents for eligible Essex awards.
Does an apostille verify the qualification?
No. The university or 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 Writtle qualification verification
Send a clear scan and the receiving authority’s requirements to:
Email: info@ginkgoadvisory.com
WhatsApp: +44 7388 833283
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