In 2023, The University of Law saw an increase in postgraduate applications containing suspected fraudulent qualifications. At the time, the University relied on manual reviews of degree certificates, transcripts and other supporting documents. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult for the internal teams at Law to determine fraudulent applications with the naked eye.
At the same time, UKVI reported a rise in international applicants using falsified qualifications to secure student visas, increasing concern across the higher education sector.
Advances in technology had made sophisticated fraudulent documents increasingly difficult to detect, creating the need for a more robust approach to confirming applicants were genuine and qualified to study.
When Law suspected an application was fraudulent, they would put it on hold for days or weeks at a time until the next steps were agreed internally. This created operational bottlenecks and delays for applicants, including genuine students who were incorrectly flagged for further review.
By adopting QC’s Standard Model, The University of Law has transformed its approach to applicant verification prior to enrolment. The model enables Compliance teams to submit verification requests on behalf of applicants at the CAS offer stage, while managing verification costs internally. This has reduced the risk of manual errors and provided Law with a centralised dashboard tailored to its global applicant population.
Law has praised the QC platform for its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The ability to search and filter by country and awarding body, combined with clear guidance on the documentation required for submissions, has streamlined verification processes and improved operational efficiency.
Greater transparency has also removed the need for Compliance teams to contact institutions individually, reducing delays and uncertainty while creating a smoother, faster enrolment journey for applicants.
By using Qualification Check, we have peace of mind we’re sponsoring genuine students. We always stay up to date with QC’s regular fraud bulletins, which helps us disperse our check volumes based on the latest data-driven trends and regions of concern.
By using Qualification Check, we have peace of mind we’re sponsoring genuine students. We always stay up to date with QC’s regular fraud bulletins, which helps us disperse our check volumes based on the latest data-driven trends and regions of concern.
The results reinforced the Law’s concerns about the prevalence of fraudulent qualifications within its applicant pool. 12% of submitted verifications resulted in a ‘Not Verified’ outcome, demonstrating the value of implementing a robust verification process to identify applicants presenting fraudulent credentials before enrolment.
As verification has become embedded within Law’s compliance workflows, it has not only strengthened decision-making but also helped create a more effective deterrent against fraud. Over time, institutions that adopt consistent verification practices often see a decline in ‘Not Verified’ outcomes, as applicants become increasingly aware that fraudulent qualifications are likely to be identified.
“By using Qualification Check, we have peace of mind we’re sponsoring genuine students. We always stay up to date with QC’s regular fraud bulletins, which helps us disperse our check volumes based on the latest data-driven trends and regions of concern.”
– Andrei Olteanu, Head of Sponsorship Compliance