Registry Services for Alumni

Registry Services are a function within the Registry team. We can help recent graduates and alumni with replacement letters, award documentation and replacement degree certificates.

Alumni document requests: what’s available

As an alumnus, you may need to request official documents related to your previous studies at Buckingham. Documents available to request are:

• Award verification letters
• Certified copies of your degree certificate
• Diploma supplements
• Graduation Letter for Visa Purposes
• Replacement/additional transcripts
• A replacement certificate for lost or damaged certificates.

Buckingham operates a scale of charges for services as outlined below:

The costs above include delivery via Royal Mail and/or email. Please note that Royal Mail is not a tracked service, and overseas mail can take up to 12 weeks to arrive. If you require a tracked service, your documents can be sent via DHL for an additional charge of £25.

Below is a summary of the documents available to request.

Award verification letter

This letter confirms your status as a former student of the Buckingham, including details such as the course you completed, dates of study, and degree awarded. This letter will be sent to you as a digital copy only.

Certified copy of degree certificate

If you need a certified copy of your degree certificate, we can provide a verified copy with an official stamp to confirm its authenticity. Please email a scanned copy, not a photograph, of your degree certificate to Registry Services and we will return a certified copy to you by email.

Diploma Supplement

The Diploma Supplement is an official document you’ll receive alongside your degree certificate. It provides extra detail about your qualification to help others—like employers or universities—understand what you studied and what your degree means. Replacement supplements are issued as digital copies only.

It includes information related to you, your course of study (including the language of instruction), and about the University of Buckingham. This document is especially useful if you’re applying for jobs or further study outside the UK, as it helps explain your qualification in an internationally recognised format.

Please note: the Diploma Supplement is not a replacement for your degree certificate or transcript—it’s an additional document that supports your achievements.

Graduation letter for visa purposes

If you need a letter to support a visa application for attending your graduation ceremony, we can provide one — but please note these letters will only be issued within 3 months of your ceremony date. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) generally will not process visitor visa applications too far in advance, so requesting a letter earlier than 3 months before your ceremony is not necessary and may result in your application being refused or delayed.

The letter will confirm that you are eligible to bring up to two guests to your ceremony; however, we do not include the names of your guests on the letter.

If your ceremony is more than 3 months away, please wait until you’re within the timeframe before submitting your request.

Replacement/additional transcript

If you need a copy of your academic transcript, you can request a replacement. The transcript will detail all the modules and grades you received during your studies. All transcripts are signed and stamped.

Please note: a transcript cannot be modified to include additional details, any requests to modify your transcript will not be considered.

Replacement degree certificate

If your degree certificate has been lost or damaged, you can request a replacement. The replacement certificate will confirm the degree you were awarded, along with the date of conferral. All certificates are signed and stamped with the University seal.

Please note: a certificate cannot be modified to include additional details, any requests to modify your transcript will not be considered.

Reference Requests

Occasionally, the Registry team receives requests for references or letters of good standing. Please note that we are unable to complete individual reference forms or provide character or academic references; we recommend you contact your previous School of Study for these however, please be aware that the University is not obliged to provide a reference for you. Employers or organisations wishing to verify your award should be directed to use the Hedd verification service.

Third Party Award Verification

The University has implemented the Hedd verification service for employers and third-party agencies to verify University of Buckingham awards. Instructions for how to submit a verification request are available here.

How to request documents

If you require one of the following:

• award verification letters
• diploma supplement
• Graduation letter
• replacement/additional transcript

Please submit your request by completing the Alumni Transcript and Letter Request Form.

If you require a replacement degree certificate, please submit your request by completing the replacement degree certificate form. A degree certificate is a legal document and there should only ever be one in circulation by requesting a replacement you are declaring that your certificate has either been lost or damaged.

Receiving your documents

Where you have selected a service that incurs a fee, your request will be processed after your payment has been received. Most requests take up to 15 working days to process from the date of payment or receipt of request. During peak periods in January, June, July, September, and December requests may take up to 20 working days. We’re not able to fast-track urgent requests, so please make sure you submit your request in good time to allow us enough time to process. Please do not submit multiple request forms as this will create a backlog and may cause delays.

Transcript requests for third parties

Transcripts are normally issued directly to the student and sent to their home address. If you need a transcript to be sent to a third party, there is an option to request this when completing the transcript request form. Please note that additional transcripts sent to third parties are subject to the standard transcript fee and any applicable postage charges.

Degree certificates are legal documents and there should only ever be one in circulation. For this reason, we are unable to issue degree certificates to anyone other than the student.

If you’re unsure which document you need, please get in touch with Registry Services. We’re here to help!

Phone: +44 (0)1280 820221
Email: Registry-Services@buckingham.ac.uk

Frequently asked questions

Where are Registry based?

The Registry team is based in Istra Cottage and is usually open Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) from 09:00 to 16:00.

Why do you need my personal details, such as my date of birth, when I request documents?

We have a responsibility to ensure that we send documents to the correct individuals. Collecting personal details like your date of birth helps us verify your identity and protect your personal data—particularly when it comes to legal documents such as your degree certificate.

Can I request a Graduation Letter for a visa anytime?

No. Graduation Letters are only issued within 3 months of your ceremony date to comply with UKVI guidelines.

Can I modify the content of my transcript or certificate?

No. Transcripts and certificates cannot be altered. They reflect your official academic record.

Can I get a reference or letter of good standing?

Registry does not provide personal references. You should contact your former School of Study. Note: The University is not obligated to provide a reference for you.

How do I request a document?

• For most documents: Use the Alumni Transcript and Letter Request Form
• For replacement degree certificates: Use the Replacement Degree Certificate Request Form

How long will it take to receive my documents?

Your request will be processed within 15 working days. In peak periods (Jan, Jun, Jul, Sep, Dec) your request may take up to 20 working days to process. Unfortunately, expedited/urgent processing is not available.