If you are considering applying for overseas roles or want to study for a postgraduate or other type of qualification abroad, UK qualifications are well regarded internationally by both employers and education institutions. Many UK universities and colleges have strong reputations around the world and the standards of education in the UK are considered to be amongst the highest in the world.
Diplomas, degrees and professional qualifications obtained in the UK are generally well accepted across many countries, including the US, Australia, UAE and most European countries. However, depending on the role or course that you are applying for, holding a UK qualification may not be the only requirement and there may be additional checks involved before you are accepted for a course or offered a job. These can include:
Verification of Qualification
In some cases, a copy of your qualification may be acceptable but many universities and employers will want to ensure that qualifications are authentic and may request that you provide an apostille. For example, you might need to provide an apostille for diploma, which includes FCDO-registered solicitor certification.
Apostille diploma services can provide verification of:
- Graduate Diploma
- Higher National Diploma
- Diploma of Higher Education
- College Diploma
- Advanced Diploma
- Postgraduate Diploma
The time it takes in obtaining an apostille will depend on the service that you choose, as some services can provide an e-Apostille with next day turnaround, while traditional apostille services provide a paper copy sent by post which can take several weeks.
Comparison of Qualification Level
For less common types of qualification, an employer or university may need to assess whether the qualification meets the same level in their education system. In this case, they might conduct a credential evaluation by looking at learning outcomes, length of study and entry requirements.
For professional qualifications, whether a course is accredited by a professional body or has regulator approval may also be a key consideration.
Work Experience Records
Depending on the role that you are applying for, employers may also want to check your work experience to ensure that you have the relevant skills to perform the role. This is particularly common when applying for senior, professional and skilled roles. As well as reviewing your CV to assess your work experience in terms of duties and responsibilities, they will often request references from previous employers to confirm the role that you held and how long you held it for.
Professional Memberships or Licences
For roles in the healthcare, legal, financial and teaching sectors, depending on the role you are applying for, you may also need to provide evidence of a professional licence or membership of a professional body. In some cases, you may be asked to provide an apostille to confirm membership or the employer may check your membership or licence number against the register.
Criminal Record Checks
Many professional roles require criminal record checks, particularly for those working with children, patients, vulnerable people or roles that serve the public such as the police force. DBS checks and Enhanced DBS checks are used in England and Wales but the country that you are applying to work or study in may require a criminal record certificate or police certificate. The requirements will vary depending on the country and the type of role you are applying for but the employer or university should provide details of this.
You may be asked to obtain an apostille for a DBS certificate to prove that it is an authentic UK document.
Right to Work/Study
Before you can start a role or a qualification course overseas, you may need to provide evidence that you have the right to work or study in the country through a visa, permit or your residency status. If you receive an offer, you will need to apply for the required visa or permit unless your residency status already allows you to work in the country.
The eligibility for work and study visas are stricter in some countries like the US, where employer sponsorship is required for many role types. Work visas may also be restricted to specific jobs and sectors.
As part of the application, you will usually be required to pay an application fee, provide ID and you may also need to attend an embassy interview before you can get your visa approved.
Conclusion: UK Qualifications Hold Weight but Further Checks are Common
Holding a UK qualification will stand you in good stead for applying for roles and courses overseas but your legal right to work in the country, work experience, criminal record and professional memberships may also form part of the additional checks.
