Newman College of Higher Education Degree Verification and Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory provides Newman College of Higher Education degree verification and apostille services for graduates who need to use their academic documents overseas.

Our solicitor-led service can include:

• HEDD degree verification;
• Birmingham Newman University record checks;
• solicitor verification;
• enhanced solicitor certification;
• authenticity confirmation;
• certified true copies;
• FCDO apostille;
• a 2-working-day express apostille option;
• embassy or consular legalisation; and
• international return delivery.

Newman College of Higher Education operated under that name between 1968 and 2007.

Today, Birmingham Newman University holds and manages its legacy academic records. HEDD may still describe the current institution as “Newman University,” although the university adopted the name Birmingham Newman University in 2023.

Quick answers

Who verifies a Newman College of Higher Education degree?

Birmingham Newman University verifies former Newman College qualifications.

Third-party enquirers can submit an online request through HEDD. The current HEDD service can check:

• current or former student status;
• the award;
• the grade or classification; and
• attendance dates.

Can Newman verify degrees awarded by another university?

Yes.

Before Newman gained its own degree-awarding powers in 2007, other universities validated many courses. HEDD states that Newman can confirm degrees previously awarded to its students through Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester.

However, the original awarding university may still control replacement certificates.

Can the certificate receive an FCDO apostille?

Yes.

In most cases, our solicitor can certify a suitable copy before submitting it for an FCDO apostille.

Can a solicitor confirm the degree’s authenticity?

Yes, provided that reliable evidence supports the conclusion.

For example, our solicitor may rely on:

• a HEDD verification result;
• an academic transcript;
• a university reference;
• an official replacement certificate;
• a Higher Education Achievement Report;
• the original academic document; and
• the graduate’s identification.

How quickly can Ginkgo Advisory arrange the apostille?

We offer a 2-working-day express FCDO apostille option for eligible documents.

However, this period covers the FCDO stage only. It begins after we complete the required verification and solicitor certification.

Do I also need embassy legalisation?

You may need embassy or consular legalisation if the destination does not accept an apostille as the final step.

Therefore, we check the receiving country and authority before preparing the document.

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About Newman College of Higher Education

Newman College of Higher Education opened in Birmingham in 1968.

The institution later gained its own degree-awarding powers in 2007. It subsequently used the names Newman University College and Newman University.

In 2023, the Office for Students approved its present name, Birmingham Newman University.

As a result, academic documents may show several different institutional names:

• Newman College of Higher Education;
• Newman University College;
• Newman University; or
• Birmingham Newman University.

An old certificate remains valid simply because the institution has changed its name.

Nevertheless, an overseas authority may need evidence that connects the historic certificate with the current university.

HEDD verification can provide that link.

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Newman College verification through HEDD

HEDD stands for Higher Education Degree Datacheck.

It allows an authorised third party to compare a graduate’s information with the academic record held by the university.

HEDD currently lists Newman College of Higher Education as a legacy institution. It directs verification to the current Newman university and charges a £14 enquiry fee.

A HEDD check may confirm:

• whether the person studied at Newman;
• the course or programme;
• the qualification;
• the classification or grade;
• the award date; and
• the attendance dates.

Therefore, HEDD does more than inspect the appearance of a certificate.

Instead, it checks the information against the university record.

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Who can use HEDD?

HEDD serves third-party enquirers.

These may include:

• employers;
• recruitment companies;
• screening agencies;
• solicitors;
• professional regulators;
• universities;
• government bodies; and
• document legalisation providers.

The graduate must provide signed consent before the third party can obtain academic information.

Ginkgo Advisory can submit the enquiry as part of the certification and legalisation service.

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Candidate consent

HEDD requires a consent form signed by the candidate.

The enquirer must upload it as a:

• PDF;
• JPG;
• PNG; or
• TIF file.

The consent should clearly authorise the release or confirmation of academic information.

It should also identify:

• the graduate;
• the authorised third party;
• the institution;
• the purpose of the enquiry;
• the candidate’s signature; and
• the date.

Before submission, we check the consent and academic details.

This review helps prevent avoidable delays.

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Information required for verification

A Newman College HEDD enquiry normally requires:

• the graduate’s full name;
• any former name used during study;
• date of birth;
• course title;
• qualification;
• year of graduation;
• classification or result;
• attendance dates;
• student number, if known;
• a clear scan of the certificate;
• a transcript, if available; and
• signed candidate consent.

Small differences may prevent a quick match.

For example, problems may arise because of:

• a missing middle name;
• an incorrect award year;
• a later change of surname;
• a shortened course title;
• incomplete attendance dates;
• the use of an old Newman name; or
• confusion about the validating university.

Therefore, we copy the details from the academic documents wherever possible.

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Degrees validated by Coventry, Birmingham or Leicester

Before Newman gained degree-awarding powers, partner universities validated many of its programmes.

HEDD confirms that the current Newman university can verify degrees previously awarded to Newman students through Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester.

However, two separate questions arise:

1. Who can verify the academic record?
2. Who can issue a replacement certificate?

Birmingham Newman may confirm the study and award.

Nevertheless, the original validating university may control the replacement document.

For example, Birmingham Newman’s current alumni guidance states that graduates with a University of Leicester-validated programme must contact Leicester for the relevant replacement certificate.

Therefore, we check the exact awarding body printed on the certificate.

It may name:

• Newman College of Higher Education;
• Coventry University or its predecessor;
• the University of Birmingham;
• the University of Leicester; or
• another validating organisation.

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Replacement certificates

Birmingham Newman University provides replacement certificates for awards that it validates.

Graduates can order a duplicate or replacement through the University’s payment portal. The current listed price is £30.

However, the University advises graduates to check the validating institution shown on the original certificate before ordering.

Therefore, a graduate should not assume that Birmingham Newman can replace every legacy Newman College certificate.

Where another university awarded the qualification, that university may need to issue the replacement.

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Academic transcripts

Birmingham Newman University also provides duplicate academic transcripts.

The current transcript includes:

• the modules taken;
• credit values;
• the programme;
• the award title; and
• the award year.

The current fee is £10, with a stated turnaround of 10 working days for courses that began in or after 2000.

For courses that began in 1999 or earlier, graduates should contact the Assessments team before ordering.

The University will then explain what information remains available from the older record.

Therefore, an older Newman College transcript may contain:

• a complete academic record;
• partial module information;
• an award summary; or
• only the data that the University can still locate.

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University reference and award confirmation

Birmingham Newman can also provide a formal letter confirming the completion date shown on the graduate’s final transcript.

Graduates can request this confirmation through the Registry team.

A university reference may help where:

• the certificate uses an old institution name;
• the receiving authority needs study dates;
• the graduate needs proof of completion;
• another university validated the award; or
• the solicitor needs additional evidence.

However, the receiving authority decides whether it will accept a letter instead of a certificate.

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Higher Education Achievement Report

Eligible graduates may also obtain a Higher Education Achievement Report, known as a HEAR.

This digital document can include:

• module results;
• awards and prizes;
• volunteering;
• leadership activities; and
• recognised extracurricular achievements.

A HEAR can support an academic verification pack.

However, it does not automatically replace:

• the degree certificate;
• HEDD verification;
• solicitor certification;
• an apostille; or
• embassy legalisation.

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Degree verification and solicitor certification

They perform different roles.

Degree verification

HEDD or Birmingham Newman University checks the academic record.

Solicitor verification

Our solicitor reviews the certificate, verification result and identification documents.

Solicitor certification

The solicitor places a formal certification statement on the document or copy.

FCDO apostille

The apostille authenticates the relevant UK public signature, stamp or seal.

Therefore, each stage serves a separate purpose.

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Enhanced solicitor certification

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

However, it does not automatically confirm that Newman College or a validating university issued the original certificate.

For stronger evidence, Ginkgo Advisory can provide enhanced solicitor certification.

The process may include:

1. HEDD or university verification;
2. review of the original certificate;
3. review of a transcript or university letter;
4. confirmation of the validating institution;
5. comparison of the academic details;
6. identity and name checks;
7. authenticity confirmation; and
8. solicitor certification.

Therefore, the certification can connect the historic document with an independent university record.

However, our solicitor will only confirm authenticity when reliable evidence supports that conclusion.

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FCDO apostille

A Newman College of Higher Education degree certificate can usually receive an FCDO apostille after correct preparation.

Depending on the case, the apostille route may use:

• a solicitor-certified degree certificate;
• a certified transcript;
• a university confirmation letter;
• a replacement certificate;
• a HEAR; or
• another eligible academic document.

The receiving authority may require a particular format.

Therefore, we first check whether it needs:

• the original certificate;
• a certified copy;
• university verification;
• a transcript;
• an official letter; or
• a combined document pack.

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What does the apostille confirm?

An apostille does not verify the graduate’s academic record.

Instead, it authenticates the relevant UK public signature, seal or stamp.

For a solicitor-certified copy, the FCDO normally authenticates the solicitor’s signature.

As a result, a strong process may follow this order:

degree verification → authenticity review → solicitor certification → FCDO apostille

Each stage adds a different type of assurance.

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Two-working-day express apostille

Ginkgo Advisory offers a 2-working-day express FCDO apostille option for eligible documents.

However, the express period only covers the FCDO stage.

It begins after:

• academic verification is complete;
• we identify the correct awarding body;
• the correct document is available;
• our solicitor approves the evidence;
• the certification is ready; and
• the document meets the FCDO requirements.

Therefore, the two-working-day period does not include:

• HEDD processing;
• transcript production;
• university reference production;
• replacement-certificate processing;
• solicitor evidence enquiries;
• embassy legalisation; or
• international delivery.

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Embassy legalisation

Some destinations require embassy or consular legalisation after the UK authentication stage.

A typical route may involve:

1. degree verification;
2. solicitor certification;
3. FCDO apostille or authentication;
4. embassy legalisation; and
5. further processing after arrival.

However, each embassy sets its own rules.

For example, it may ask for:

• the original certificate;
• a solicitor-certified copy;
• HEDD verification;
• an academic transcript;
• a university reference;
• a certified translation;
• a passport copy; or
• specific certification wording.

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

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Our process

Step 1: Document review

First, we review the front and back of the certificate.

We identify:

• the institution;
• the validating university;
• the qualification;
• the award date;
• the grade or classification;
• the signatures; and
• the seals.

Step 2: Verification-route selection

Next, we decide whether the case should use:

• Newman College HEDD verification;
• Birmingham Newman records;
• a former validating university; or
• more than one source.

Step 3: Candidate consent

The graduate signs the required consent form.

Step 4: Academic verification

We submit the enquiry using the exact information shown on the academic documents.

Step 5: Authenticity review

Our solicitor compares the verification result with the certificate and identification evidence.

Step 6: Solicitor certification

Where the evidence matches, our solicitor prepares the appropriate certification.

Step 7: FCDO apostille

We submit the document for an apostille.

An express 2-working-day option is available for eligible cases.

Step 8: Embassy legalisation

Where required, we arrange the embassy or consular stage.

Step 9: Return delivery

Finally, we provide a completion scan where requested and return the documents through the agreed delivery service.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a Newman College of Higher Education degree still valid?

Yes.

A change of institutional name does not invalidate the qualification.

Birmingham Newman University now holds and verifies the relevant legacy records.

What is Newman College called now?

The institution now operates as Birmingham Newman University.

The Office for Students approved this name in 2023.

Who verifies a Newman College degree?

Birmingham Newman University verifies former Newman College qualifications through HEDD.

How much does HEDD verification cost?

HEDD currently lists a £14 enquiry fee.

Do I need candidate consent?

Yes.

HEDD requires a consent form signed by the candidate.

Which consent-file formats does HEDD accept?

HEDD accepts PDF, JPG, PNG and TIF files.

Can Newman confirm a degree awarded by another university?

Yes.

HEDD states that Newman can confirm legacy degrees awarded to its students through Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester.

Can Birmingham Newman replace every old certificate?

No.

The original validating institution may control the replacement route.

For example, a graduate with a University of Leicester-validated award must contact Leicester for the relevant replacement certificate.

Can I obtain a transcript?

Yes.

The current fee is £10, and the normal turnaround is 10 working days for courses started in or after 2000.

What if I studied before 2000?

Contact the Assessments team before ordering.

The University will advise what information it can provide from the older record.

Can I obtain an official award letter?

Yes.

Registry can provide a formal letter confirming the completion date shown on the final academic transcript.

Is HEDD verification the same as solicitor certification?

No.

HEDD checks the academic record. Meanwhile, solicitor certification formally certifies the document or copy.

Does an apostille verify the degree?

No.

The apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, seal or stamp. It does not check the academic record.

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

Yes, provided that the document is eligible and ready for FCDO submission.

Do I need embassy legalisation?

You may need further embassy or consular processing where the destination does not accept an apostille as the final step.