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
University College Chester was a UK government-recognised institution that gave awards between 1995 and 1999. The University of Chester now verifies its qualifications.
Ginkgo Advisory can arrange HEDD verification, enhanced solicitor certification, FCDO apostille and embassy legalisation. A 2 working day express FCDO apostille option is available after verification and solicitor certification are complete.
Quick answer
University College Chester qualifications can be verified through HEDD.
The usual route is:
HEDD verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille → embassy legalisation where required
The University of Chester is an exclusive HEDD partner. Third-party verification requests must therefore be submitted through the HEDD platform.
The current degree enquiry fee is £14.
HEDD degree verification
HEDD can confirm:
- current or former student status;
- qualification type;
- course name;
- year of award;
- grade or classification; and
- attendance dates.
The University of Chester checks and completes the request through its Registry team. Candidate details should be entered exactly as they appear on the degree certificate.
The candidate must provide a signed consent form as a PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF.
The University accepts only the HEDD consent form. A different consent form may cause the request to be rejected or delayed.
Third-party verification only
The HEDD service is intended for third-party enquirers, including:
- employers;
- universities;
- screening agencies;
- embassies;
- professional regulators; and
- legal representatives.
A graduate seeking official self-verification should contact HEDD about the appropriate route.
The University of Chester directs third-party verification enquiries through HEDD and lists references@chester.ac.uk for related Registry enquiries.
Transcripts and replacement certificates
Former students can order replacement certificates, transcripts and other academic records through the University of Chester’s online shop.
The University currently lists:
- digital certificate and transcript: £30;
- replacement degree certificate: £50; and
- replacement transcript, Diploma Supplement or HEAR: £30.
A replacement degree certificate shows the graduate’s name, programme, classification where applicable and award date. It does not include individual module marks.
Older records may require additional checks. The University warns that requests for students registered before 2006 may take up to four weeks. Complete records cannot always be guaranteed for students registered before 1998.
This point is relevant to University College Chester awards issued between 1995 and 1999.
Check the awarding body
The institution where the candidate studied may not always be the legal awarding body.
An older certificate may name:
- University College Chester;
- the University of Liverpool;
- another validating university;
- BTEC or Edexcel; or
- another professional awarding organisation.
We review the precise wording on the certificate before ordering replacement documents or preparing solicitor certification.
Where another university awarded the qualification, that institution may need to issue the replacement certificate or provide additional confirmation.
Solicitor verification and certification
A basic solicitor-certified copy confirms that the copy matches the document presented to the solicitor.
It does not independently prove that the candidate obtained the qualification.
Our enhanced service reviews the certificate against reliable evidence, such as:
- a HEDD verification result;
- an official University transcript;
- a digital award document;
- a replacement certificate;
- a Diploma Supplement; or
- another awarding-body record.
Where the evidence supports it, our solicitor can provide certification with authenticity confirmation.
This creates a stronger evidence chain than a basic certified true copy.
FCDO apostille
After academic verification and solicitor certification, the document can proceed to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
An apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal. It does not independently verify the academic qualification.
The recommended sequence is:
academic verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille
Our 2 working day express FCDO apostille option covers the apostille stage only.
It excludes:
- HEDD processing;
- University record searches;
- replacement-document production;
- courier delivery; and
- embassy legalisation.
Embassy legalisation
Documents intended for a destination outside the Hague Apostille Convention may require further embassy or consular legalisation.
A typical route is:
solicitor certification → FCDO legalisation → embassy legalisation
The receiving authority may also request an official transcript, university letter, certified translation or supporting identity document.
What to send us
Please provide:
- a clear scan of the certificate;
- the transcript, if available;
- the candidate’s name during study;
- course and qualification;
- attendance dates;
- award year;
- grade or classification;
- student number, if known;
- destination country; and
- receiving authority’s requirements.
We will identify whether the correct route involves HEDD, the University of Chester or another awarding institution.
Frequently asked questions
Who verifies University College Chester qualifications?
The University of Chester verifies the qualifications through HEDD.
How much does HEDD verification cost?
The current degree enquiry fee is £14.
Can I use a general consent form?
No. The University of Chester only accepts the official HEDD consent form.
Can former students obtain a transcript?
Yes, where sufficient records remain. The University offers digital and replacement transcripts through its online shop.
Can the University replace an older certificate?
Possibly. However, records for students registered before 1998 may be incomplete, and the legal awarding body should be checked first.
Does an apostille verify the qualification?
No. HEDD or the relevant awarding institution verifies the academic record. The apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal.
Can Ginkgo Advisory manage the complete process?
Yes. We can coordinate HEDD verification, enhanced solicitor certification, FCDO apostille, embassy legalisation and return delivery.
Start your University College Chester verification
Send a clear scan and the receiving authority’s requirements to:
Email: info@ginkgoadvisory.com
WhatsApp: +44 7388 833283
Contact Us
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