Academic credentials
How to verify an academic degree with the issuing institution
Short answer
- HEDD price
- From £14 1
- HEDD consent
- Proof of consent from the individual needed 1
- My eQuals coverage
- All universities in Australia and New Zealand, more than 100 providers 3
- NAD records
- Over 110 crore digital educational awards, per NAD 4
- ENIC-NARIC countries
- 56 5
Why a paper certificate is not enough
A degree certificate is a document. The record sits with the awarding body. Checking the record, not the paper, is the core of degree verification. Two questions need separate answers. Did this person receive this award? And is the awarding body a real, recognised institution? The second question is covered on this site's accreditation and diploma mills page.
In the UK, nidirect says only Recognised Bodies can award UK degrees 7. GOV.UK says that if a degree is not officially recognised, employers or universities might not accept it 6.
Services by country
| Service | Jurisdiction | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) 1 | United Kingdom 1 | Place of study, award and grade received, dates of attendance 1 |
| National Student Clearinghouse DegreeVerify 2 | United States 2 | Degree and enrolment, for universities that appoint it as their official provider 2 |
| My eQuals 3 | Australia and New Zealand 3 | Academic transcripts and certificates issued by participating providers 3 |
| National Academic Depository 4 | India 4 | Degree and diploma certificates, marksheets and transcripts lodged by institutions 4 |
| ENIC-NARIC national centres 5 | 56 countries 5 | Information on recognition of foreign qualifications 5 |
United Kingdom: HEDD
HEDD describes itself as a centralised degree verification service that connects employers, agencies, universities, embassies and councils 1. It is part of Jisc 1. Enquirers can verify a current or past student's place of study, award, grade and dates of attendance. Prices start at £14 1.
The enquirer needs proof of consent from the individual. HEDD says it is not for students or graduates to verify their own awards 1. It can check whether a UK institution is a recognised degree-awarding body, and reports details of 471 recognised UK institutions and 243 bogus institutions 1.
United States: the Clearinghouse
Many US universities do not answer degree checks themselves. Stony Brook University, for example, authorizes the National Student Clearinghouse as its official provider and says employers and other third parties must obtain verification directly through that service 2. Requests start at degreeverify.com 2. Check the registrar page of the university named on the degree to see which route it uses.
Australia, New Zealand and India
My eQuals calls itself the official tertiary credentials platform for Australia and New Zealand, governed and operated by participating providers 3. It says all universities in both countries take part, with more than 100 providers in total 3. Employers and agencies can receive and verify credential claims online 3.
India's National Academic Depository is an online store where institutions lodge their awards. It says digital awards are legally valid under the IT Act, 2000 4. It runs alongside DigiLocker and lists instant verification as a feature 4.
Foreign degrees
A degree from one country may need recognition before it counts in another. The ENIC and NARIC networks link national information centres on academic recognition in 56 countries, working under the Lisbon Recognition Convention of 1997 5. The joint website is an initiative of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO 5. nidirect advises checking that the government of the country where a foreign awarding body operates recognises or accredits the degree 7.
Common questions
Can I verify my own degree on HEDD?
No. HEDD says it is not for students or graduates to verify their own awards 1.
Do I need the graduate's permission?
For HEDD, yes. The enquirer needs proof of consent from the individual 1.
How do employers verify a US degree?
Many universities route checks to the National Student Clearinghouse, as Stony Brook University does 2.
Is a digital degree in India valid?
NAD says digital awards are legally valid under the IT Act, 2000 4.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@thecredentialregistry.com.
Sources
- Higher Education Degree Datacheck: Homepage
- Stony Brook University: Degree Verification for Former Students
- My eQuals: Digital Academic Transcripts and Certificates
- National Academic Depository (NAD): home page
- ENIC-NARIC: gateway to recognition of qualifications
- GOV.UK: Check if your university or college can award a degree
- nidirect: Avoiding bogus degrees
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