Royal Northern College of Music Degree Verification and Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory provides Royal Northern College of Music degree verification and apostille services for graduates using their qualifications overseas.

Our service can include:

• direct RNCM degree verification;
• awarding-body checks;
• enhanced solicitor certification;
• authenticity confirmation;
• FCDO apostille;
• a 2-working-day express apostille option; and
• embassy legalisation where required.

The Royal Northern College of Music, commonly called RNCM, is a recognised UK conservatoire with taught degree-awarding powers. It also received full research degree-awarding powers with effect from 5 January 2026.

Who verifies an RNCM degree?

RNCM qualifications cannot currently be verified through HEDD.

Instead, the graduate or an authorised third party must contact the College directly. RNCM’s contact service specifically covers:

• transcript requests;
• student-status enquiries; and
• qualification-verification requests.

Verification may confirm:

• whether the candidate studied at RNCM;
• the qualification awarded;
• the grade or classification; and
• attendance dates.

The current verification fee is not published on HEDD.

Contact: info@rncm.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)161 907 5200
Address: Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD

Candidate consent

RNCM requires the graduate’s consent before releasing academic information to a third party.

The consent should normally include:

• the graduate’s full name;
• any former name;
• date of birth;
• student number, if known;
• course and qualification;
• study dates;
• the authorised organisation;
• the information RNCM may release;
• the graduate’s signature; and
• the date.

RNCM should confirm the current consent format before submission.

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 consent; and
• the intended country of use.

Exact names and dates help RNCM locate the correct record.

Check the awarding body

RNCM has held full taught degree-awarding powers since 2007. Therefore, many current undergraduate and taught postgraduate certificates carry RNCM as the awarding institution.

However, the awarding body may differ for some older or research qualifications.

For example:

• RNCM previously delivered research degrees validated by Manchester Metropolitan University; and
• RNCM gained its own full research degree-awarding powers on 5 January 2026.

Therefore, we check the exact institution shown on the certificate before requesting verification or replacement documents.

Short professional courses and certificates of attendance should not automatically be described as degrees.

Transcripts and replacement documents

Former students can contact RNCM about:

• academic transcripts;
• qualification verification;
• student-status confirmation;
• replacement certificates; and
• official academic letters.

RNCM routes these requests through its general contact service to the relevant department.

Availability, fees and processing times depend on the qualification and the records held by the College.

For older awards, the graduate should provide copies of all surviving academic documents.

Enhanced solicitor certification

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

However, it does not independently prove that RNCM issued the qualification.

Enhanced solicitor certification can also use academic verification. Depending on the evidence, our solicitor may:

1. obtain confirmation from RNCM or the awarding body;
2. review the original certificate;
3. compare an official transcript or academic letter;
4. check the graduate’s identity and former names;
5. confirm the award details; and
6. 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, an eligible document can normally proceed to the FCDO for an apostille.

The usual route is:

RNCM verification → solicitor certification → FCDO apostille

The FCDO checks whether the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal matches its records. It does not independently verify the academic qualification.

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

However, this period covers the FCDO stage only. It does not include:

• RNCM verification;
• transcript or certificate production;
• awarding-body enquiries;
• solicitor verification;
• embassy legalisation; or
• delivery.

Paper apostilles and e-Apostilles are available, subject to document eligibility and acceptance by the receiving authority.

Embassy legalisation

Some destinations require embassy or consular legalisation after the FCDO stage.

For a non-Hague destination, the process may include:

1. FCDO legalisation;
2. legalisation by the destination country’s embassy; and
3. further approval in the destination country.

The receiving authority may request:

• the original certificate;
• a solicitor-certified copy;
• direct RNCM verification;
• an official transcript;
• an academic confirmation letter;
• a certified translation; or
• specific certification wording.

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

Our process

1. Review the certificate and identify the awarding body.
2. Obtain the graduate’s signed consent.
3. Request verification from RNCM or the correct awarding institution.
4. Compare the result with the certificate and identification.
5. Complete enhanced solicitor certification where supported.
6. Arrange the FCDO apostille.
7. Complete embassy legalisation where required.
8. Return the completed documents.

Frequently asked questions

Can I verify an RNCM degree through HEDD?

No. HEDD directs applicants to contact the Royal Northern College of Music directly.

Who should receive the verification request?

RNCM’s contact service handles qualification-verification, student-status and transcript requests. The current general email is info@rncm.ac.uk.

Do I need candidate consent?

Yes. RNCM requires the graduate’s consent before releasing academic information to a third party.

Does RNCM award its own degrees?

RNCM has held taught degree-awarding powers since 2007. It also gained full research degree-awarding powers from 5 January 2026.

Who verifies an older research degree?

Manchester Metropolitan University may be the awarding body for an RNCM research degree completed before RNCM gained its own research degree-awarding powers. The certificate should confirm the correct route.

Can RNCM provide a transcript or replacement certificate?

Possibly. Former students should contact RNCM with their qualification details and copies of available documents.

Does an apostille verify the degree?

No. It authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal. Academic verification remains a separate stage.

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.

Contact Ginkgo Advisory

To request a quote, please send:

• the front and back of the certificate;
• any available transcript;
• the award year;
• the intended country of use; and
• the receiving authority’s instructions.