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
Ginkgo Advisory provides Northeastern University London degree verification and apostille services for graduates who need to use their academic documents overseas.
Our solicitor-led service can include:
- HEDD degree verification;
- 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.
Northeastern University London is a recognised UK university that currently awards undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Quick answers
Who verifies a Northeastern University London degree?
Northeastern University London verifies its qualifications through HEDD.
The University is an exclusive HEDD partner. Therefore, employers, solicitors, screening agencies and other third parties must normally submit verification enquiries through HEDD.
What can HEDD verify?
A HEDD enquiry can check:
- whether the candidate is a current or former student;
- the qualification awarded;
- the grade or classification; and
- the dates of attendance.
Which consent form should I use?
Northeastern University London only accepts the official HEDD consent form.
Therefore, applicants should not use a general consent letter or another university’s form. Both handwritten and digital signatures are permitted.
Can the degree receive an FCDO apostille?
Yes.
In most cases, our solicitor can certify a suitable copy before submitting it for an FCDO apostille.
How quickly can Ginkgo Advisory arrange the apostille?
We offer a 2-working-day express FCDO apostille option for eligible and correctly prepared documents.
However, this period covers the FCDO stage only. It begins after we complete the necessary 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 authentication step.
Therefore, we check the destination and receiving authority before preparing the document.
Northeastern University London degree verification through HEDD
HEDD stands for Higher Education Degree Datacheck.
It provides a central verification platform for employers, agencies, universities, embassies, professional bodies and other authorised organisations. HEDD is not intended for graduates who wish to verify their own qualifications directly.
Instead, the graduate authorises a third party to submit the enquiry.
Ginkgo Advisory can manage this process as part of the wider solicitor certification and legalisation service.
HEDD enquiry fee
HEDD currently lists a £14 degree enquiry fee for Northeastern University London. However, HEDD may change its platform charges.
The HEDD fee does not include:
- Ginkgo Advisory’s service fee;
- solicitor certification;
- FCDO apostille;
- embassy legalisation;
- translation; or
- return delivery.
HEDD consent requirements
Northeastern University London only accepts the official HEDD consent form.
Both handwritten and digital signatures are allowed. After signing, the candidate must provide the form as a:
- PDF;
- JPG;
- PNG; or
- TIF file.
The form should clearly identify:
- the candidate;
- Northeastern University London;
- the authorised third-party enquirer;
- the qualification;
- the candidate’s signature; and
- the date.
Before submission, we review the consent form and academic information.
This check reduces the risk of delay or rejection.
Information needed for verification
A HEDD enquiry normally requires:
- the graduate’s full name;
- any former name used during study;
- date of birth;
- course title;
- qualification title;
- graduation year;
- degree classification or result;
- attendance dates;
- student number, if known;
- a clear scan of the certificate; and
- the signed HEDD consent form.
Small differences may prevent a quick match.
For example, problems may arise because of:
- a missing middle name;
- a later change of surname;
- an incorrect graduation year;
- a shortened course title;
- incomplete attendance dates; or
- inconsistent qualification details.
Therefore, we copy the information from the degree certificate and transcript wherever possible.
HEDD verification and solicitor certification
HEDD verification and solicitor certification perform different roles.
Degree verification
HEDD checks the academic information against the University’s record.
Solicitor verification
Our solicitor reviews the certificate, HEDD result, identification and supporting evidence.
Solicitor certification
The solicitor places a formal certification statement on the document or copy.
FCDO apostille
The FCDO checks the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal and attaches an apostille where the document meets its requirements.
Therefore, one stage does not replace another.
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 Northeastern University London issued the original certificate.
For stronger evidence, Ginkgo Advisory can provide enhanced solicitor certification.
The process may include:
- HEDD degree verification;
- review of the original degree certificate;
- comparison of the academic details;
- review of the graduate’s identity;
- name-change checks, where relevant;
- authenticity confirmation; and
- solicitor certification.
Therefore, enhanced certification connects the academic document with an independent university record.
However, our solicitor will only confirm authenticity when reliable evidence supports that conclusion.
FCDO apostille
A Northeastern University London degree certificate can usually receive an FCDO apostille after correct preparation.
Depending on the receiving authority’s requirements, the apostille route may use:
- a solicitor-certified degree certificate;
- a certified academic transcript;
- an official university letter;
- a replacement certificate; or
- another eligible academic document.
Apostille legalisation does not verify the graduate’s academic history.
Instead, the FCDO checks whether the signature, stamp or seal matches its official records. If it matches, the Legalisation Office attaches the apostille.
A strong process may therefore follow this order:
HEDD verification → authenticity review → solicitor certification → FCDO apostille
Two-working-day express FCDO 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:
- HEDD verification is complete;
- we receive the correct academic document;
- our solicitor approves the supporting evidence;
- the certification is ready; and
- the document meets the FCDO requirements.
Therefore, the two-working-day period does not include:
- HEDD processing;
- university document production;
- solicitor evidence enquiries;
- embassy legalisation; or
- international delivery.
The FCDO offers both paper apostilles and e-Apostilles. However, the receiving authority must accept the chosen format.
Embassy legalisation
Some destinations require further embassy or consular legalisation after the UK authentication stage.
A typical non-Hague route may involve:
- degree verification;
- solicitor certification;
- FCDO apostille or authentication;
- embassy legalisation; and
- further approval after the document arrives overseas.
The UK government confirms that documents for non-Hague countries may require an embassy stamp after FCDO legalisation.
However, every embassy sets its own rules.
For example, it may require:
- the original degree certificate;
- a solicitor-certified copy;
- HEDD verification;
- an academic transcript;
- a certified translation;
- a passport copy;
- an application form; or
- specific certification wording.
Therefore, we check the destination requirements before preparing the certification.
Our process
Step 1: Document review
First, we review the degree certificate and the receiving authority’s requirements.
Step 2: Candidate consent
Next, the graduate completes the official HEDD consent form.
A handwritten or digital signature is permitted.
Step 3: HEDD verification
We submit the degree enquiry using the candidate’s exact academic details.
Step 4: Authenticity review
Our solicitor compares the HEDD result with the degree certificate and identification documents.
Step 5: Solicitor certification
Where the evidence matches, our solicitor prepares the appropriate certification.
Step 6: FCDO apostille
We submit the document for an apostille.
A 2-working-day express option is available for eligible cases.
Step 7: Embassy legalisation
Where required, we arrange the embassy or consular stage.
Step 8: Return delivery
Finally, we provide a completion scan where requested.
We then return the documents through the agreed postal or courier service.
Frequently asked questions
Is Northeastern University London a recognised UK university?
Yes.
It is a recognised UK institution that currently awards degrees.
Who verifies its degrees?
Northeastern University London verifies third-party enquiries through HEDD.
Can I contact the University directly instead of using HEDD?
Third-party verification must normally use HEDD because the University is an exclusive HEDD partner.
Which consent form should I use?
You must use the official HEDD consent form.
Another consent template may not be accepted.
Can I use a digital signature?
Yes.
Northeastern University London permits both handwritten and digital signatures on the HEDD consent form.
What file formats does HEDD accept?
HEDD accepts PDF, JPG, PNG and TIF consent files.
How much does HEDD verification cost?
HEDD currently lists a £14 enquiry fee.
Is HEDD verification the same as solicitor certification?
No.
HEDD checks the academic record. Solicitor certification formally certifies the document or copy.
Does an apostille verify the degree?
No.
The apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal. It does not check the University’s academic record.
Can Ginkgo Advisory arrange a 2-working-day apostille?
Yes, provided that the document is eligible and ready for FCDO submission.
Can I obtain an e-Apostille?
Possibly.
The document must qualify for the electronic route, and the overseas authority must accept an e-Apostille.
Do I need embassy legalisation?
You may need it where the destination requires further embassy or consular processing.
Contact Us
Address
Suite 161, 30 Red Lion Street, London, TW9 1RB, England