Verification in admissions

Verification in admissions means checking and confirming that the information provided to support an application to study, a student visa application, or a tuition fee assessment is genuine.

For qualification verification, we check that the academic and English language qualifications used to make an offer are authentic.

This ensures all students are fully qualified to study at the University and helps to protect the value of a Manchester degree. 

How do we verify qualifications? 

For many applicants, we automatically confirm the authenticity of their qualifications when we receive their results. This includes undergraduate applicants whose results come to us through UCAS.  

For other applicants, we usually use online verification services offered by exam boards or universities. If your exam board or university offers this service, please grant The University of Manchester access to it. If your exam board or university doesn’t offer an online verification service, we may verify your qualifications through our external partner, Qualification Check. You may need to give consent to verify your documents as part of this process.  

Qualification Check allows us to verify your certificates and transcripts directly with institutions in more than 195 countries. This partnership has been approved following a detailed risk assessment of Qualification Check, including their privacy notice and how they handle personal information. Qualification Check has been approved by the University’s Information Governance Office and the company is a Crown Commercial Supplier.  

Using Qualification Check helps us to verify your documents quickly. Your information will be deleted within 12 months or sooner if you request it.  

When do we verify qualifications?  

We aim to verify all qualifications during the application process. Students are usually not allowed to register for a programme of study with us until their qualifications have been confirmed as authentic.  

In rare cases, we may ask to see qualification documents when a student registers or later during their studies. We advise that all new students bring their original qualification documents with them when they come to Manchester.  

Official translation into English  

If your certificates or transcripts are in a language other than English, you need to provide official, authenticated English translations with them. 
 
Official translations are also required by UK government visa regulations. 
 
The translation must be on official letterheaded paper, stating that it is an accurate translation of the original, and include the following:  

  • The translator or translation company's name and contact details.  
  • The translator or company's credentials or qualifications. 
  • The date of the translation. 
  • The translator's full name and signature, or the full name and signature of an authorised official from the translation company. 
  • Translations must be completed by an official translator or translation service. We cannot accept translations from agents unless the agency provides a recognised translation service and the translator has appropriate credentials, such as NAATI, CATTI or NAETI. English language modules studied as part of the agent's degree (eg TEM-4 or TEM-8) are not considered valid credentials.  

Verification of Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate and other UK immigration documents 

If you submit an ATAS clearance certificate or UK immigration documents to support your application, this evidence may be verified with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration).  

Admissions fraud prevention 

The University is committed to admitting students based on accurate, genuine and complete information.  

Please note:  

  • It's your responsibility to ensure that the information you provide is accurate, complete and free from false or misleading information. 
  • You must provide additional information or consent for the University to verify details through a third party if requested.  
  • If we find that you, or anyone acting on your  behalf, has provided fraudulent, false, inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information in connection with your application, the University may cancel your application, withdraw an offer or terminate your student contract (if an offer has been accepted but you’ve not yet registered).  
  • The University will inform the FCDO or the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration) of any fraudulent, false or inaccurate information provided during the admissions process.