UK Degree Verification and Apostille for the University of Lisbon, Técnico Lisboa and ISEG

Are you applying to the University of Lisbon with a UK degree?

You may need to verify and apostille your degree certificate and academic transcript before you complete enrolment.

Ginkgo Advisory provides a complete UK degree apostille service for the University of Lisbon. We also assist applicants to:

• Técnico Lisboa
• ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management
• Other schools within the University of Lisbon

Our service can include:

• UK degree verification
• Academic transcript verification
• HEDD degree checks
• Verification through secure university platforms
• Direct checks with the awarding university
• Enhanced solicitor certification
• Academic document authenticity confirmation
• UK FCDO Apostille
• A two-working-day express Apostille option
• Paper and electronic Apostilles
• International delivery to Lisbon
• Embassy legalisation for non-Hague countries

However, the University of Lisbon does not operate one document process for every programme.

Instead, each school manages its own applications and enrolment. Therefore, Técnico Lisboa and ISEG may ask for different documents or apply different deadlines. ULisboa confirms that applicants normally apply directly to the school where they wish to study.

Are Técnico Lisboa and ISEG Part of the University of Lisbon?

Yes.

Técnico Lisboa and ISEG are both schools of the University of Lisbon. However, each school manages its own admissions process.

Therefore, an applicant should not rely only on general University of Lisbon information.

You should also check:

• The programme page
• The school’s application notice
• The admission email
• The enrolment checklist
• Instructions from Academic Services
• The final document deadline

The correct Apostille route may depend on the school, programme and admission category.

Do UK Degrees Need an Apostille for the University of Lisbon?

A UK degree may need a Hague Apostille when a University of Lisbon school asks the applicant to legalise foreign academic documents.

Portugal and the United Kingdom both use the Hague Apostille system. Therefore, the UK FCDO normally issues the Apostille for a document issued in the United Kingdom.

However, ULisboa does not publish one central master’s-enrolment rule that covers every school. The applicant must follow the rules of the relevant faculty or institute.

Técnico Lisboa expressly requires international-student enrolment documents to carry a Hague Apostille or certification from a Portuguese embassy or consulate.

ISEG publishes its own master’s application and enrolment instructions. Its public master’s page asks for the graduation certificate, final average and transcript. It also states that international students must later present their original diplomas. However, the page does not set out one clear Apostille rule for every non-Portuguese master’s applicant. Therefore, UK graduates should confirm the requirement with ISEG Academic Services before choosing the final document route.

What Is a UK FCDO Apostille?

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office issues the Apostille.

First, the FCDO checks the signature, seal or stamp on the document against its records. If the document meets its requirements, the FCDO attaches an Apostille.

The FCDO can legalise a qualification certificate or a certified copy after a UK public official, such as a solicitor or notary, has signed or certified it.

The Apostille does not assess:

• The student’s grade
• The academic level of the qualification
• The course content
• The applicant’s suitability for admission
• Whether the programme will accept the qualification

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

Do You Need to Apostille Both the Degree and Transcript?

You may need to apostille both documents.

Técnico asks second-cycle international applicants to provide:

• The bachelor’s degree diploma
• The official bachelor’s academic transcript
• The final average
• Information about the grading system

For enrolment, Técnico requires the relevant documents to receive a Hague Apostille or Portuguese consular certification.

ISEG asks master’s applicants to submit:

• A graduation certificate
• The final average
• A transcript of completed course units

Therefore, an applicant should not assume that the degree certificate alone will meet ISEG’s academic-document requirements.

Where both documents need legalisation, the safer route usually involves:

• One Apostille for the degree certificate
• One Apostille for the academic transcript

Separate Apostilles also let you use each document independently in the future.

Can One Apostille Cover the Degree and Transcript?

Sometimes, the FCDO can legalise a combined document bundle.

However, FCDO acceptance does not mean that Técnico, ISEG or another ULisboa school must accept one Apostille for two separate academic documents.

A combined route may create problems when:

• The school wants to review each document separately
• The transcript contains several pages
• The applicant later needs only one document
• The school retains one document but returns another
• The admissions team does not accept bundled Apostilles
• The documents require different certification wording

Therefore, separate Apostilles usually provide the clearer option.

Before using one Apostille, ask the school to confirm in writing:

• Whether one Apostille can cover both documents
• Whether a solicitor must bind them together
• Whether each document needs separate certification
• Whether the school needs the originals
• Whether the school will accept an apostilled copy

UK Degree Requirements for Técnico Lisboa

Técnico Lisboa publishes specific rules for international applicants.

For a second-cycle or master’s application, the applicant must provide:

• A recent photograph
• A curriculum vitae
• Passport or other identity document
• Official bachelor’s academic records
• The bachelor’s diploma
• The final average
• A document explaining the grading system
• Any required language evidence
• The application-fee payment evidence

Técnico also asks master’s applicants whose first language is not English for suitable English-language evidence, such as TOEFL or IELTS, where relevant.

The school may request other programme-specific documents.

Therefore, applicants should review both:

1. Técnico’s general international-student page; and
2. The page for the chosen master’s programme.

Does Técnico Require the Apostille During the Application?

No, not for the initial online application.

Técnico’s international admissions FAQ states that applicants do not need to apostille their documents for the online application.

However, accepted applicants must later present original validated or certified documents for enrolment. Técnico states that enrolment only becomes valid after its staff check the documents.

Therefore, the process usually involves two stages.

Application stage

You upload the requested academic documents online.

At this point, Técnico does not require the completed Apostille.

Enrolment stage

After acceptance, you provide the properly validated or certified documents.

Técnico accepts authentication through:

• The Hague Apostille; or
• A Portuguese embassy or consulate

For a UK-issued degree, the Hague Apostille route will normally involve the UK FCDO.

Does Técnico Require Original Documents?

Técnico states that accepted applicants must present original validated or certified documents at enrolment.

Its FAQ also says that Técnico officers must validate the documents after the student arrives.

Therefore, applicants should keep their original degree certificate and transcript available.

Before sending valuable originals to the United Kingdom, ask Técnico whether it wants:

• The apostilled original
• An apostilled solicitor-certified copy
• A certified electronic record
• A paper Apostille
• An e-Apostille
• The original for later inspection

The phrase “original validated or certified documents” does not, by itself, confirm that every UK solicitor-certified copy will meet Técnico’s requirements.

Therefore, written confirmation can reduce the risk of rejection.

Can Técnico Accept an e-Apostille?

Técnico’s public international-student guidance refers to the Hague Apostille and validation of original or certified documents.

However, it does not clearly confirm that every programme accepts an FCDO e-Apostille.

Therefore, applicants should not rely only on an electronic Apostille without written confirmation.

A paper Apostille may provide the safer route when:

• Técnico will inspect the document in person
• The applicant must present the original
• The school asks for a physical certified document
• The admissions team has not approved an e-Apostille

An e-Apostille may work where Técnico confirms that it accepts:

• The electronic academic document
• Electronic solicitor certification
• The FCDO e-Apostille
• Online submission of the complete digital file

UK Degree Requirements for ISEG

ISEG manages master’s applications through its online system.

For the 2026/2027 application cycle, ISEG asks applicants to submit:

• A photograph
• Passport or identity document
• Graduation certificate
• Final degree average
• Transcript of course units
• Motivation letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Language evidence where relevant

ISEG states that master’s applications take place online. The school then sends complete applications to the relevant master’s coordination team for assessment.

The programme may also apply its own academic entry requirements.

Therefore, applicants should check the chosen master’s page before applying.

Can You Apply to ISEG Before You Graduate?

Yes.

ISEG allows final-year students to apply before they complete their degree.

In that case, the applicant should submit an official academic record showing:

• The course units already completed
• The grades obtained
• The current average, where available

ISEG states that the applicant must complete the degree by the end of September in the relevant admission year. The applicant must then provide the final completion certificate within the deadline set by ISEG.

However, one section of ISEG’s current public page still displays an old date from 2024 for the presentation of international diplomas.

Applicants should therefore follow the date in their current offer, admission notice or direct instructions from the Masters and Doctorates Office rather than relying on that old webpage date.

Does ISEG Require Original International Diplomas?

ISEG’s master’s application page states that international students must present their original diplomas to Academic Services after arriving in Portugal.

Therefore, applicants should keep their original degree certificate available.

The school may use the original to compare it with:

• The online application copy
• The transcript
• The final completion certificate
• An apostilled copy
• A certified copy
• An electronic academic record

Do not permanently send the original to another party unless ISEG has clearly asked you to do so.

Does ISEG Require a Hague Apostille for Every UK Master’s Applicant?

ISEG’s current public master’s page specifically discusses the Hague Apostille in its guidance for Brazilian applicants.

However, it does not publish one clear sentence that requires every UK master’s applicant to apostille both the degree and transcript.

In other ISEG procedures involving foreign higher education records, the school requires documents to carry a Hague Apostille or Portuguese consular certification. Those procedures also accept documents in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish.

Nevertheless, those pages concern other admission or transfer routes. They do not automatically set the rule for every ISEG master’s programme.

Therefore, a UK master’s applicant should ask ISEG to confirm:

• Whether the degree needs an Apostille
• Whether the transcript needs an Apostille
• Whether ISEG wants the original
• Whether it accepts a certified copy
• Whether it accepts an e-Apostille
• When the legalised documents must arrive

Ginkgo Advisory can review ISEG’s written reply before preparing the documents.

Can the University of Lisbon Accept Certified Copies?

ULisboa’s central foreign-qualification guidance states that applicants may use certified true copies in its formal recognition procedures.

It lists several authorities that can authenticate copies in Portugal, including:

• Portuguese notaries
• Portuguese consulates
• Qualifying chambers of commerce and industry
• Lawyers and solicitors
• Registry offices
• Parish councils
• CTT offices in Portugal

However, this guidance concerns the formal recognition of foreign qualifications. It does not automatically control admission or enrolment at every ULisboa school.

Therefore, applicants must distinguish between:

• Admission to a master’s programme
• Enrolment at Técnico or ISEG
• Formal Portuguese recognition of a foreign degree
• Recognition for employment
• Recognition for a regulated profession

Each process may require a different type of copy or certification.

Can a UK Solicitor Certify the Degree and Transcript?

Yes, a UK solicitor can certify suitable UK academic documents.

The solicitor may certify:

• A copy of the degree certificate
• A copy of the academic transcript
• A secure electronic degree
• A secure electronic transcript
• A university award letter
• A document shared through an official university platform

The FCDO can then legalise the solicitor’s signature if the document meets its requirements.

However, the Portuguese school decides whether it accepts the certified copy.

Therefore, solicitor certification should support the school’s chosen route. It should not replace a requirement for:

• The apostilled original
• Notarial certification
• Portuguese consular certification
• Later presentation of the original
• Formal recognition of the qualification

What Is UK Degree Verification?

Degree verification checks whether a recognised UK university genuinely awarded the qualification.

A photocopy only shows the information printed on the document. It does not independently prove that the university issued it.

A verification check may confirm:

• The graduate’s full name
• The awarding institution
• The qualification
• The subject studied
• The degree classification
• The final average
• The award date
• The attendance dates
• The transcript
• The validity of an electronic record

After verification, our solicitor can prepare certification wording that reflects the checks completed.

HEDD Degree Verification

HEDD provides a degree-verification route for many UK higher education institutions.

Depending on the university, a HEDD check may confirm:

• Attendance
• The qualification awarded
• The classification
• The dates of study
• The date of award

HEDD may help where:

• The graduate only has a paper certificate
• The document has no verification code
• The university has no public verification portal
• The receiving school wants independent confirmation
• The solicitor needs evidence before confirming authenticity
• The university directs third parties to HEDD

However, not every UK university participates in HEDD.

Therefore, we may use another official verification route.

Other UK University Verification Routes

Secure academic document platforms

Many UK universities issue degree certificates and transcripts through secure platforms.

These platforms may include:

• Digitary CORE
• Parchment
• Gradintelligence
• A secure graduate portal
• A university electronic-record system

The graduate can share the document directly with our solicitor.

Therefore, we can access the academic record from its official source instead of relying on an ordinary email attachment.

QR codes and authentication codes

Some degrees and transcripts contain:

• A QR code
• A secure verification code
• An authentication number
• A link to an official university website

We can use that information to check the record online.

Direct university confirmation

Where no electronic verification service exists, we may contact:

• The university registry
• Student records
• The graduation team
• The awards office
• The degree-verification department

The university may ask for:

• Written consent
• A passport copy
• A student number
• Date of birth
• A copy of the document
• A verification fee

Official university email

Some universities confirm awards through an official email address.

In that case, we check:

• The sender’s university domain
• The department
• The graduate’s details
• The qualification
• The final result
• The wording of the confirmation

Digital signatures and electronic seals

A university may issue a PDF with a digital signature or electronic seal.

We can check whether the signature links to the awarding institution.

Where the evidence supports the conclusion, our solicitor may confirm the document’s authenticity.

What Is Enhanced Solicitor Certification?

Basic certification normally confirms that a copy matches the document shown to the solicitor.

Enhanced solicitor certification goes further.

After completing an official verification check, our solicitor may confirm:

• How we received the document
• Which university platform we used
• Whether HEDD confirmed the award
• Whether the university confirmed the qualification
• Whether we checked a QR code
• Whether we checked a secure verification code
• Whether we validated a digital signature
• Whether the certified copy matches the verified record
• Whether the evidence supports authenticity confirmation

This wording creates a clearer link between the university record and the certified document.

However, our solicitor only confirms checks that actually took place.

Therefore, we tailor the wording to:

• The degree certificate
• The transcript
• The available verification evidence
• The FCDO requirements
• Técnico or ISEG’s instructions
• The intended use in Portugal

Verification, Certification and Apostille Explained

These stages perform different functions.

Degree verification

Verification confirms the academic award through an official university source.

Solicitor certification

Certification records the solicitor’s formal statement about the document or copy.

FCDO Apostille

The Apostille authenticates the UK public official’s signature, stamp or seal.

Therefore:

• University verification supports authenticity.
• Solicitor certification records the completed checks.
• The Apostille authenticates the solicitor’s signature and capacity.

The Apostille does not decide whether Técnico or ISEG will admit the applicant.

Paper Apostille or e-Apostille for Portugal?

The FCDO offers paper and electronic Apostilles.

However, the receiving school decides which format it accepts.

Paper Apostille

A paper Apostille may offer the safer route where:

• The school wants the original
• Staff will inspect the documents in person
• The applicant must present a physical diploma
• The school wants a paper certified copy
• The school has not approved an e-Apostille

This route may suit Técnico applicants because Técnico states that its officers validate the accepted applicant’s original or certified documents at enrolment.

It may also suit ISEG applicants because ISEG asks international students to present original diplomas after they arrive in Portugal.

Electronic Apostille

An e-Apostille may work where:

• The university issued the degree electronically
• The document contains a valid electronic signature
• Our solicitor signs the certified document electronically
• Técnico or ISEG accepts digital legalisation
• The applicant submits the complete electronic file

However, applicants should obtain written approval before relying only on an e-Apostille.

Do UK Academic Documents Need Translation?

At Técnico, documents may appear in:

• Portuguese
• English
• Spanish
• French

Where the original uses another language, Técnico asks for a translation into English or Portuguese. The relevant consular service or embassy must validate the translation.

Therefore, a normal UK degree certificate and transcript written in English should not need translation for Técnico’s stated international-student process.

ISEG’s master’s application page operates in Portuguese and English and asks for the academic documents online. However, that page does not publish one detailed translation rule for all foreign master’s documents.

Other ISEG foreign-document procedures accept documents in:

• Portuguese
• English
• French
• Spanish

They require translation when the document uses another language.

A UK applicant should still confirm the rule with the ISEG Masters and Doctorates Office.

Do You Need Portuguese Degree Recognition?

Not always.

Admission to a University of Lisbon programme and formal Portuguese recognition of a foreign degree are separate processes.

Portugal regulates formal recognition of foreign higher education degrees through Decree-Law no. 66/2018. The recognition process may apply when a person needs Portuguese recognition of the academic level, a specific degree or a foreign qualification.

However, a school may assess a foreign bachelor’s degree directly for entry to a master’s programme.

Therefore, applicants should identify whether they need:

• Admission assessment only
• Automatic recognition
• Level recognition
• Specific recognition
• Professional recognition
• Recognition for a regulated profession

The Apostille supports the legal use of the document. It does not itself grant Portuguese academic recognition.

Can You Complete the Process While Living Overseas?

Yes, in many cases.

A graduate living in Portugal, Hong Kong or another country may complete the verification stage remotely through:

• HEDD
• Digitary CORE
• Parchment
• Gradintelligence
• A secure university portal
• A QR code
• An authentication code
• A digital signature
• Direct university confirmation

After reviewing the school’s instructions, we can confirm whether the Apostille stage requires:

• The original degree
• The original transcript
• Certified paper copies
• Certified electronic copies
• A paper Apostille
• An e-Apostille

You should not courier valuable originals until we confirm the correct route.

Two-Working-Day Express FCDO Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory offers a two-working-day express FCDO Apostille option for suitable documents.

The two-working-day period applies to the FCDO stage after we have prepared the documents correctly.

Before submission, we may need to:

• Review the ULisboa school requirements
• Verify the degree
• Verify the transcript
• Obtain the graduate’s consent
• Check digital signatures
• Prepare enhanced certification
• Confirm whether to use the original or a copy
• Select the paper or electronic route

Therefore, the total processing time depends on the verification method.

A secure university platform may allow quick verification. Direct university confirmation may take longer.

Embassy Legalisation for Non-Hague Countries

UK academic documents intended for Portugal normally follow the Hague Apostille route.

Therefore, they should not normally need Portuguese embassy legalisation after the FCDO Apostille.

However, Ginkgo Advisory also assists clients who need to use UK documents in countries outside the Hague Apostille system.

In those cases, the process may include:

1. Academic verification
2. Solicitor or notarial certification
3. FCDO authentication
4. Embassy or consular legalisation
5. International delivery

The exact route depends on the destination and intended use.

Our University of Lisbon Document Process

Step 1: Send us the programme information

First, send:

• Your admission or offer email
• The programme name
• The relevant ULisboa school
• Whether the programme is at Técnico or ISEG
• The application notice
• The enrolment checklist
• Your document deadline

We will separate central ULisboa information from school-specific rules.

Step 2: Send copies of the academic documents

Next, provide clear copies of:

• Your degree certificate
• Your academic transcript
• Any diploma supplement
• Any provisional award certificate
• Any letter confirming completion
• Any existing translation

Do not send the originals until we confirm that we need them.

Step 3: Identify the verification route

We determine whether we can use:

• HEDD
• Digitary CORE
• Parchment
• Another secure platform
• A QR code
• An authentication number
• A digital signature
• Direct university confirmation

Step 4: Confirm the required document format

We then check whether the school wants:

• The original
• A solicitor-certified copy
• A consularly certified copy
• A secure electronic record
• A paper Apostille
• An e-Apostille
• Later presentation of the original

Step 5: Complete university verification

Our solicitor checks the degree and transcript through the strongest official route available.

Step 6: Prepare enhanced solicitor certification

Where suitable, our solicitor prepares certification wording that records the authenticity checks.

We will also explain if the school requires a notarial or consular route instead.

Step 7: Obtain the FCDO Apostille

We submit each correctly prepared document to the FCDO.

A two-working-day express option is available for suitable documents.

Step 8: Check the completed Apostilles

Once complete, we check:

• The graduate’s name
• The Apostille details
• The public official’s details
• The document attachment
• The number of documents
• The condition of the completed papers

Step 9: Arrange international delivery

Finally, we can send the documents to:

• The applicant in Portugal
• The applicant in the United Kingdom
• An address in Hong Kong
• Another overseas address
• A representative
• Técnico or ISEG, where the school permits direct delivery

Courier charges depend on the destination and service level.

Documents We Can Help With

Our service can cover:

• Bachelor’s degree certificates
• Master’s degree certificates
• Doctoral and PhD certificates
• Academic transcripts
• Diploma supplements
• Graduation letters
• Award confirmation letters
• Provisional degree certificates
• Letters confirming completion
• Replacement degree documents
• Student status letters
• Secure electronic academic records
• Professional qualification certificates
• Older UK qualifications

Each university uses a different verification system. Therefore, we review every case before confirming the process.

Why Choose Ginkgo Advisory?

Ginkgo Advisory manages the process from academic verification to international delivery.

Our service includes:

• Direct handling by a solicitor in England and Wales
• Review of University of Lisbon requirements
• Review of Técnico Lisboa requirements
• Review of ISEG requirements
• HEDD degree verification
• Alternative university verification routes
• Secure electronic document checks
• Enhanced authenticity certification
• Paper and electronic Apostille support
• A two-working-day express FCDO option
• Advice on original and certified-copy routes
• Advice on separate and combined Apostilles
• International courier delivery
• Embassy legalisation for other destinations

Most importantly, we do not assume that every University of Lisbon school follows the same process.

Instead, we check the relevant school and programme before we verify, certify or apostille the documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a UK degree need an Apostille for the University of Lisbon?

It may. Each ULisboa school manages its own admission and enrolment process. Técnico expressly requires an Apostille or Portuguese consular certification for international-student enrolment documents.

Does Técnico Lisboa require an Apostille?

Yes, for the enrolment stage under its international-student route. Técnico does not require the Apostille for the initial online application.

Does ISEG require an Apostille?

ISEG’s public master’s page does not state one general Apostille rule for every UK applicant. Ask the Masters and Doctorates Office to confirm the route for your programme.

Do I need to apostille both my degree and transcript?

Possibly. Técnico asks for both the bachelor’s diploma and official transcript. ISEG also asks master’s applicants for the graduation certificate and transcript.

Can one Apostille cover both documents?

Possibly, but separate Apostilles usually provide the clearer and safer route.

Must I send my original degree certificate?

Not always. However, Técnico may inspect original validated or certified documents, while ISEG asks international students to present original diplomas after arriving in Portugal.

Can Técnico accept a UK solicitor-certified copy?

Possibly, but Técnico should confirm that the certification format meets its enrolment rules.

Can ISEG accept a UK solicitor-certified copy?

Possibly. However, ISEG may also ask to inspect the original diploma.

Can you verify my degree through HEDD?

Yes, where the awarding university participates in HEDD. Otherwise, we will use another official verification route.

What does enhanced solicitor certification confirm?

It records the authenticity checks completed by our solicitor. These may include HEDD, secure university-platform access or direct university confirmation.

Does the Apostille prove that my degree is genuine?

The verification process addresses the academic record. The Apostille authenticates the UK public official’s signature, stamp or seal.

Does Técnico accept electronic degree documents?

Técnico’s public guidance does not provide one clear rule for every electronic document. Obtain confirmation before relying only on an electronic certificate or e-Apostille.

Does ISEG accept electronic degree documents?

ISEG accepts online application documents. However, it may later ask the applicant to present the original international diploma.

Do English academic documents need translation?

Técnico accepts documents in English. ISEG’s other foreign-document procedures also accept English, but master’s applicants should confirm the programme rule.

Can I apply before obtaining the Apostille?

At Técnico, yes. The Apostille becomes necessary at enrolment rather than during the initial online application. ISEG also accepts online applications before final presentation of the international diploma.

Can I apply before completing my degree?

ISEG allows final-year students to apply with an official record of completed course units. The student must complete the degree and provide the final certificate within ISEG’s current deadline.

Do I need formal recognition of my UK degree?

Not always for programme admission. Formal Portuguese recognition is a separate procedure.

Can I complete the process from outside the UK?

Yes. We can often complete verification remotely. However, the Apostille route may require a physical document in the United Kingdom.

How quickly can you obtain the Apostille?

We offer a two-working-day express FCDO option for suitable documents after verification and document preparation.

Can you deliver the documents to Lisbon?

Yes. We can arrange tracked international delivery to Lisbon or another destination.

Contact Ginkgo Advisory

To request a quotation for UK academic documents for the University of Lisbon, Técnico Lisboa or ISEG, please send:

• Your degree certificate
• Your academic transcript
• The full programme name
• The relevant University of Lisbon school
• Your offer or admission email
• The application or enrolment checklist
• Any instructions from Academic Services
• Details of the university verification platform
• Your final deadline
• Your return-delivery city and postcode

We will review the requirements and confirm:

• Which documents need verification
• Which documents need an Apostille
• Whether the school requires originals
• Whether solicitor certification is suitable
• Whether you need separate Apostilles
• Whether electronic documents are acceptable
• The expected processing time
• The international courier cost