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
Writtle University College merged with Anglia Ruskin University on 29 February 2024. Its former campus and courses now operate as ARU Writtle, while earlier Writtle qualifications remain valid.
Ginkgo Advisory can assist with direct degree verification, enhanced solicitor certification, FCDO apostille and embassy legalisation. A 2 working day express FCDO apostille option is available after verification and certification are complete.
Quick answer
Writtle University College qualifications cannot be verified through the standard HEDD online service.
Verification must be requested directly from the relevant institution. The correct route depends on the date of the award and the awarding body printed on the certificate.
The usual process is:
direct academic verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille → embassy legalisation where required
HEDD states that formal third-party requests should be made on headed paper. Candidate consent is also required.
Current verification contact
Anglia Ruskin University now holds responsibility for former Writtle University College students.
ARU directs former Writtle students seeking certificates, transcripts or other alumni documentation to:
A verification request should normally include:
- the candidate’s name during study;
- any former name;
- date of birth;
- programme and qualification;
- attendance dates;
- award year;
- grade or classification;
- student number, if known;
- a clear certificate copy; and
- signed candidate consent.
ARU may ask for further details before confirming the academic record.
Check the awarding body
Writtle University College previously awarded degrees through the University of Essex. It later received its own degree-awarding powers in September 2017.
A Writtle certificate may therefore name:
- Writtle University College;
- the University of Essex;
- Anglia Ruskin University;
- Writtle College;
- Pearson or BTEC;
- City & Guilds; or
- another professional awarding body.
The awarding body determines who should verify the qualification and issue any replacement certificate.
Writtle University College awards
Where Writtle University College issued the degree under its own awarding powers, the verification and replacement-document enquiry should begin with ARU’s alumni team.
ARU confirms that former Writtle University College students should contact its alumni service directly for transcripts and certificates.
Available records may include:
- an academic transcript;
- an award confirmation;
- a replacement certificate;
- confirmation of attendance; or
- another official academic statement.
Availability depends on the programme, graduation date and records retained.
University of Essex awards
Where the certificate names the University of Essex, verification or replacement documents may need to come from Essex.
The University of Essex provides alumni services including:
- academic transcripts;
- award confirmation letters;
- certificate verification;
- certified document copies; and
- replacement degree certificates.
An award confirmation letter can state:
- study dates;
- qualification details;
- award obtained; and
- conferral date.
Essex also provides a service to verify the legitimacy of an existing hard-copy certificate or award document.
Transcripts and replacement certificates
ARU’s general document service provides replacement transcripts and certificates for eligible ARU awards. Former Writtle University College students must contact the alumni team first rather than placing a standard ARU order immediately.
Where the University of Essex awarded the qualification, Essex’s alumni document service may provide the relevant record.
Historic vocational awards may follow separate routes:
- BTEC, Edexcel, HNC or HND: Pearson;
- City & Guilds: City & Guilds;
- professional land-based qualifications: the body named on the certificate.
We review the certificate before advising which route applies.
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 document against reliable evidence, such as:
- direct ARU verification;
- University of Essex confirmation;
- an official transcript;
- an award confirmation letter;
- a replacement certificate; 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 UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
An apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal. It does not independently verify the academic qualification.
The recommended process is:
academic verification → enhanced solicitor certification → FCDO apostille
Our 2 working day express FCDO apostille option covers the apostille stage only.
It excludes:
- university verification;
- archive searches;
- transcript production;
- replacement certificates;
- 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 process is:
solicitor certification → FCDO legalisation → embassy legalisation
The receiving authority may also request an official transcript, award confirmation letter, certified translation or supporting identity document.
What to send us
Please provide:
- a clear certificate scan;
- any available transcript;
- the candidate’s name during study;
- programme and qualification;
- attendance dates;
- award year and classification;
- student number, if known;
- destination country; and
- the receiving authority’s requirements.
We will identify whether verification should come from ARU Writtle, the University of Essex or another awarding body.
Frequently asked questions
Is Writtle University College still independent?
No. It merged with Anglia Ruskin University on 29 February 2024 and now operates as ARU Writtle.
Can HEDD verify a Writtle qualification?
No. HEDD directs enquirers to contact the institution directly.
Who now handles former Writtle students?
ARU directs former Writtle University College students to its alumni team at alumni@aru.ac.uk.
What if the certificate names the University of Essex?
The University of Essex may need to verify the award or provide the transcript, confirmation letter or replacement certificate.
Are old Writtle qualifications still valid?
Yes. The 2024 merger did not invalidate qualifications previously awarded by Writtle University College or its validating universities.
Does an apostille verify the degree?
No. The university or awarding body 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 direct verification, enhanced solicitor certification, FCDO apostille, embassy legalisation and return delivery.
Start your Writtle qualification verification
Send a clear scan and the receiving authority’s requirements to:
Email: info@ginkgoadvisory.com
WhatsApp: +44 7388 833283
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