University of the Arts London (UAL) Degree Verification + Solicitor Certification + UK Apostille (FCDO) — 2026 Guide

If you need to use a University of the Arts London (UAL) degree certificate overseas, there are usually three separate issues to think about:

Academic verification — confirming the award through the university’s recognised verification route
Solicitor certification — preparing a properly certified copy in the UK
UK apostille — obtaining an FCDO apostille so the document can be used internationally

These steps are often confused, but they do different jobs. A degree certificate may be genuine, but an overseas employer, regulator, embassy, university, or public authority may still ask for independent academic verification. In other cases, they may also require a UK solicitor-certified copy and an FCDO apostille before the document is accepted abroad. For UAL, it is especially important to distinguish between (1) UAL’s own graduate document route, including digital certificates via Gradintel, and (2) HEDD, which is the third-party academic verification route.

---

University of the Arts London in brief

University of the Arts London (UAL) is a UK government-recognised degree-awarding institution. It is internationally known for art, design, fashion, communication, and creative education. HEDD lists UAL as a recognised UK degree-awarding institution and an exclusive partner for online degree data verification.

That reputation helps, but in practical cross-border use, a well-known university name alone is usually not enough. Many overseas authorities still want a formal verification route and properly prepared legalised documents.

---

The key distinction: UAL / Gradintel and HEDD are 2 different routes

This is the most important point in the whole process.

Route 1 — UAL graduate document route

This is the route for the graduate’s own documents, such as:

• digital certificates
• replacement certificates
• certified copies
• transcripts
• confirmation letters
• equivalency letters

For many graduates, this route includes Gradintel, which UAL uses for digital award certificates. UAL states that from February 2023, all UAL graduates can access digital award certificates via Gradintel. Once the Gradintel account is active, the graduate can share digital certificates securely with employers or education institutions.

Route 2 — HEDD third-party academic verification route

This is the route for third parties who want UAL to confirm academic information independently. UAL states that if an employer, university, agency, embassy, or local council requires verification of study, award, grade, and dates of attendance, they should be directed to Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD). UAL also states that it is unable to provide this information to third parties directly. HEDD lists UAL as an exclusive partner and says verification is available through HEDD registration.

Why this distinction matters

A Gradintel digital certificate is a graduate document access and sharing tool.
A HEDD verification is an independent third-party academic verification route.

So:

• Gradintel is not a substitute for HEDD
• HEDD is not the same as getting your own certificate or transcript from UAL
• a recipient may ask for one, or both, depending on what they need to prove

---

What UAL / Gradintel is for

UAL’s own graduate document route is for graduates who need access to or replacement of their own academic documents.

UAL states that:

• from February 2023, graduates can access digital award certificates via Gradintel
• if a graduate did not receive the activation email, they can contact UAL through the Graduate enquiry form
• once the Gradintel account is active, digital certificates can be shared securely with employers or education institutions
• if the graduate completed the award before February 2023 and needs a digital version of the certificate, UAL can provide a scan digital copy
• if the graduate completed the award before 2019, UAL states it does not store digital copies of certificates, so the graduate may need to scan the original certificate into PDF form
• if the graduate finished between 2019 and 2023 and requires a digital version, UAL can register the graduate with a Gradintel account

This route is about document access, document replacement, and document sharing by the graduate.

---

What HEDD is for

HEDD is for third-party academic verification.

For UAL, the service can be used to verify:

• whether a candidate is a past student
• award given
• grade attained
• attendance dates

HEDD also states that:

• UAL is an exclusive HEDD partner
• the service is for third-party enquirers only
• a consent form signed by the candidate must be uploaded
• the upload can be in PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF

This route is about independent verification for third-party reliance.

---

When should you use UAL / Gradintel, and when should you use HEDD?

Use UAL / Gradintel if the graduate needs:

• their digital certificate
• a replacement certificate
• a certified copy
• a transcript
• a confirmation letter
• an equivalency letter

Use HEDD if a third party needs independent confirmation of:

• study history
• award
• grade
• attendance dates

In practice, a graduate may need UAL / Gradintel to obtain or share their documents, while the receiving organisation may separately require HEDD to verify the qualification independently.

---

How to verify a University of the Arts London degree

For third-party academic verification, the current route is through Prospects HEDD.

HEDD states that the enquirer must:

• register on the HEDD website
• submit the enquiry through HEDD
• upload a signed candidate consent form
• provide the relevant candidate details and supporting information required for the verification process

Important records limitation

HEDD states that UAL can only verify awards going back to 1993/1994. HEDD also states that before then, most degree awards were issued by the CNAA.

That is a very important practical point. If the qualification is older, the correct route may be different from the standard UAL HEDD route.

---

Certificates, transcripts, letters, and replacement documents from UAL

UAL states that its Awards and Graduation Team produces certificates, transcripts and letters for awards at level 4 and above, and only for students who have completed their course. Recent graduates do not pay document charges within the first 12 months from the award date. UAL says responses can take up to 5 working days, but in June and July it can take up to 20 working days due to graduation activity.

Replacement certificates

UAL states that:

• for degrees completed from May 2004 onwards, it can issue a duplicate degree certificate for £40
• for studies completed from 1993 to 2004, it can issue a proforma for £40
• to obtain a replacement certificate or proforma, the graduate must complete a declaration form and take it to a legal representative to make a legal declaration that the original has been lost, damaged, or destroyed

Transcripts

UAL states that:

• if studies were completed after 2018, digital transcripts are £10 and hard copies with stamp and signature are £20
• if studies were completed between 2008 and 2017, digital marks documents are £10 and physical copies with stamp and signature are £20
• if studies were completed before 2008, UAL can issue a No Transcripts Letter, priced at £10 digitally or £20 physically with wet signature and stamp

Confirmation letters and equivalency letters

UAL states it can issue:

• a standard confirmation letter
• a degree equivalency letter

UAL says digital versions are £10 and physical copies with wet signature and UAL stamp are £20.

---

Current students, foundation diplomas, and short courses

UAL states that:

• current students should contact their College office
• students who completed a level 3 Foundation Diploma at one of UAL’s colleges should contact the Pre-Degree Office
• students who completed a Foundation Course at an external institution where UAL was the awarding body should contact the UAL Awarding Body
• students who completed a short course should contact the Short Courses team

This matters because not every UAL-related qualification follows the same route.

---

Solicitor certification for a UAL degree

If your University of the Arts London degree certificate is going to be used overseas, a plain photocopy is often not enough.

A UK solicitor can certify a copy of the degree certificate. But in serious cross-border document work, it is often better to go beyond a bare “certified true copy” approach.

---

Not just certified true copy — but authenticity verification too

At Ginkgo Advisory, the focus is not simply on comparing a photocopy against a document placed in front of us.

Where appropriate, the process can also include authenticity-focused review steps, such as checking:

• whether the document format is internally consistent
• whether names, dates, award details, and supporting records align
• whether the graduate document route used matches UAL’s own systems, such as Gradintel, replacement certificate, transcript, or official letter routes
• whether the HEDD route is relevant to the receiving authority’s expectations
• whether the overall document package is suitable for international use

That is the difference between:

basic copy certification
and
solicitor certification supported by authenticity verification

This distinction can matter a great deal in international cases.

---

Academic verification vs solicitor certification vs apostille

These are not the same thing.

1. Academic verification

This confirms award-related information through the recognised verification route. For UAL third-party verification, that route is HEDD.

2. Solicitor certification

This is the UK document-handling step. A solicitor certifies the copy and may also carry out authenticity-focused checks before the document is prepared for international use.

3. UK apostille

The FCDO apostille authenticates the UK signature or seal on the document being apostilled, such as the solicitor’s certification.

In simple terms

• UAL / Gradintel helps the graduate access and share documents
• HEDD helps third parties verify academic information
• the solicitor prepares the certified document package
• the FCDO apostille makes that UK-certified document usable abroad

---

Do you need a UK apostille for a UAL degree?

You may need a UK apostille if the degree certificate or certified copy will be used overseas for:

• employment
• visa or immigration
• further study
• professional registration
• residency applications
• embassy or public authority use
• court or regulatory filings abroad

Important

An apostille does not prove the academic award itself is genuine.

It proves the authenticity of the UK signature or seal on the document being apostilled.

That is why academic verification and apostille solve different problems.

---

The practical sequence: UAL degree verification + solicitor certification + apostille

In many real cases, the cleanest sequence is:

Step 1 — Review the degree certificate and supporting documents

Check what documents are available and what the overseas recipient actually wants.

Step 2 — Identify which route is actually needed

If the graduate needs access to documents, that points to UAL / Gradintel.
If a third party needs independent verification, that points to HEDD.
In some cases, both may be needed.

Step 3 — Arrange solicitor certification

Prepare a properly certified copy in the UK, ideally with more than bare copy matching where the case requires it.

Step 4 — Obtain the FCDO apostille

Apply for a UK apostille on the solicitor-certified document.

Step 5 — Consider whether further legalisation is needed

Some countries accept the apostille alone. Others may require additional embassy legalisation or attestation, depending on the jurisdiction and document purpose.

---

How Ginkgo Advisory can help

At Ginkgo Advisory, we help clients prepare UK academic documents for international use with a practical, careful, cross-border approach.

Our support can include

1. Reviewing the document package

We assess the UAL degree certificate and supporting materials to identify the most suitable route.

2. Identifying the correct verification route

We help distinguish between:

• UAL / Gradintel for graduate document access and sharing
• HEDD for third-party academic verification

This is often where confusion happens, and getting this right early can save time.

3. Solicitor certification

We provide UK solicitor certification for the degree certificate copy.

4. More than a basic certified true copy

Where appropriate, we approach the matter as solicitor certification plus authenticity verification, not just a mechanical photocopy exercise.

5. FCDO apostille

We arrange the UK apostille through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

6. Cross-border process guidance

We help clients understand the difference between:

• graduate document access through UAL or Gradintel
• third-party academic verification through HEDD
• solicitor certification
• apostille
• any further legalisation requirements

7. Clear handling for overseas clients

Many clients are outside the UK. We help structure the process clearly and efficiently so the document package is properly prepared from the outset.

---

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Confusing Gradintel with HEDD

This is the biggest mistake.

Gradintel helps the graduate access and share digital certificates.
HEDD is the third-party verification route.

They do not do the same job.

2. Assuming a digital certificate is the same as independent verification

It is not. A digital certificate may help show the qualification, but a third party may still require HEDD verification.

3. Using HEDD when what you actually need is a replacement or transcript

If the graduate needs their own document, the correct route may be UAL / Gradintel, not HEDD.

4. Missing the 1993/1994 cutoff

HEDD states that UAL can verify awards only back to 1993/1994, and earlier awards may fall under CNAA arrangements.

5. Thinking apostille replaces verification

It does not. Academic verification and apostille answer different questions.