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 Roehampton Institute of Higher Education degree verification and apostille services for graduates using their qualifications overseas.
Our service can include:
- HEDD degree verification;
- University of Surrey or University of London checks;
- enhanced solicitor certification;
- authenticity confirmation;
- FCDO apostille;
- a 2-working-day express apostille option; and
- embassy legalisation where required.
Roehampton Institute of Higher Education issued recognised qualifications between 1975 and 2000. However, the correct verifier depends on the year and awarding body.
Who verifies the qualification?
The verification route is divided by award period.
Awards from 2004 onwards
The University of Roehampton verifies its own awards through HEDD.
Awards from 1985 to 2003
Verification requests should normally be submitted to the University of Surrey through HEDD. Surrey acted as the former awarding body for these qualifications.
Earlier awards
Qualifications awarded before the Surrey period may belong to the University of London.
Therefore, we check the certificate before submitting the request. The awarding university shown on the document usually controls formal verification and replacement certificates. Roehampton’s document guidance directs students who began degrees before 1984 to the University of London and those who began between 1984 and 2004 to Surrey.
HEDD verification
HEDD can check:
- whether the candidate was a student;
- the qualification awarded;
- the grade or classification; and
- attendance dates.
The current Roehampton HEDD enquiry fee is £14. Digital signatures are accepted on consent forms. The signed consent can be uploaded as a PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF file.
Where possible, Roehampton may help with an older record. However, it may refer the enquiry to Surrey or the University of London if it does not hold the required information.
Current students and partner institutions
Current students should request a reference from Roehampton’s Nest team and attach their consent form.
Email: nest@roehampton.ac.uk
Students who studied through a collaborative partner institution should contact that partner first.
Information required
We normally request:
- the front and back of the certificate;
- any available transcript;
- the graduate’s passport;
- full name used during study;
- any former name;
- date of birth;
- student number, if known;
- course and qualification titles;
- award year and classification;
- attendance dates;
- signed candidate consent; and
- the intended country of use.
The certificate is important because it identifies whether Roehampton, Surrey or the University of London awarded the qualification.
Replacement certificates and transcripts
The correct provider depends on the original awarding body.
Roehampton’s current guidance states:
- degrees commenced before 1984: contact the University of London;
- degrees commenced from 1984 to 2004: contact the University of Surrey; and
- degrees commenced from 2005: contact the University of Roehampton.
Historic transcript availability is limited:
- before 1984: contact the University of London;
- 1984 to 1991: marks are no longer available for transcript production;
- 1992 to 2000: Roehampton holds limited information, so the graduate should contact Registry before ordering.
Where Roehampton can issue a transcript, its current store charges £7.50 for one copy or £15 for three copies. Production takes approximately 20 days.
Roehampton’s own replacement certificate currently costs £25 and takes around six weeks. However, this service generally applies only where Roehampton is the correct awarding body.
Enhanced solicitor certification
A basic certified true copy confirms that the copy matches the original document shown to the solicitor.
Enhanced solicitor certification can also use independent academic evidence.
Depending on the case, our solicitor may:
- identify the correct awarding university;
- obtain HEDD or direct university verification;
- review the original certificate;
- compare any transcript or verification letter;
- check the graduate’s identity and former names; and
- certify the document using wording supported by the evidence.
We only confirm authenticity where reliable verification supports that conclusion.
FCDO apostille
After verification and solicitor certification, the document can normally proceed to the FCDO for an apostille.
The usual route is:
academic verification → solicitor certification → FCDO apostille
The Legalisation Office checks whether the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal matches its records. It does not independently verify the academic award. Qualification certificates and certified copies can be legalised after suitable certification by a UK solicitor or notary.
Ginkgo Advisory offers a 2-working-day express FCDO apostille option for eligible documents.
However, this period covers the FCDO stage only. It does not include:
- HEDD or university verification;
- historic record searches;
- transcript or certificate production;
- solicitor enquiries;
- embassy legalisation; or
- delivery.
Both paper apostilles and e-Apostilles are available. An e-Apostille requires an eligible PDF electronically signed by a UK solicitor or notary.
Embassy legalisation
Some destinations require embassy or consular legalisation after the FCDO stage.
For a non-Hague destination, the process may involve:
- FCDO legalisation;
- legalisation by the destination country’s embassy in London; and
- approval by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the destination country.
Therefore, we check the receiving authority’s requirements before preparing the documents.
Our process
- Review the certificate and identify the awarding university.
- Obtain the graduate’s signed consent.
- Submit the request to Roehampton, Surrey or the University of London.
- Compare the verification with the certificate and identification.
- Complete enhanced solicitor certification where supported.
- Arrange the FCDO apostille.
- Complete embassy legalisation where required.
- Return the completed documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Roehampton Institute qualification still valid?
Yes. Later institutional and awarding arrangements do not invalidate a recognised qualification.
Who verifies an award from 1985 to 2000?
The University of Surrey normally verifies it through HEDD.
Who verifies an earlier award?
The University of London may hold the award record. The exact route depends on the certificate and study dates.
Can Roehampton verify the qualification?
Roehampton may help where it holds the information. However, it may refer the request to the original awarding body.
Can the consent form be digitally signed?
Yes. The University of Roehampton accepts digital signatures for its HEDD consent process.
Can I obtain an old transcript?
Possibly. Marks from 1984 to 1991 are no longer available. Roehampton holds limited transcript information for awards from 1992 to 2000.
Does an apostille verify the degree?
No. It authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal rather than the underlying academic record.
Can Ginkgo Advisory arrange a 2-working-day apostille?
Yes, once verification and solicitor certification are complete and the document is ready for FCDO submission.
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