If you are preparing to study at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore and obtained your previous degree overseas, you may need to complete academic certificate verification as part of the admissions process.
Certificate verification gives NTU independent confirmation that the qualification you submitted is genuine and was awarded by the institution stated in your application.
For applicants unfamiliar with the process, it can feel like another administrative hurdle. In practice, preparing the correct documents and starting early can make NTU certificate verification relatively straightforward.
What is NTU certificate verification?
NTU certificate verification is the process of independently confirming the authenticity of an academic qualification.
This goes beyond simply providing NTU with a scanned copy of your degree certificate. A verification provider checks the information about your qualification with the awarding institution or another authoritative source.
RMI is endorsed by NTU to verify certificates from applicants who wish to enrol at the university. Applicants who need to start the process can use RMI’s NTU certificate verification service.
Why does NTU verify academic certificates?
Universities need confidence that the qualifications used to support an application are genuine.
Academic verification helps establish that:
- the institution exists and issued the qualification;
- the applicant attended the institution stated;
- the qualification was genuinely awarded; and
- important information about the qualification is accurate.
This type of verification is also widely used outside university admissions. For example, RMI provides education verification for Singapore MOM requirements and qualification verification as part of its wider background screening services.
The underlying principle is the same: important decisions should be supported by independently verified information.
Which qualification needs to be verified for NTU?
The exact requirements depend on your course and circumstances, so you should always follow the instructions provided by NTU.
For graduate applicants with overseas qualifications, verification will typically focus on the qualification being used to support admission.
If you hold several degrees, make sure you understand which qualification NTU has asked you to verify before beginning the process.
Applicants who have completed joint programmes or qualifications involving more than one institution should pay particular attention to their verification instructions, as additional evidence may be required.
What documents should you prepare?
Getting your documents organised before beginning verification can help avoid unnecessary delays.
You may need documents such as your:
Degree certificate
This confirms the qualification awarded by your university.
Academic transcript
Your transcript provides further details about your academic record.
Identification
Personal details may be needed so the verifier can accurately match you to the records maintained by your university.
English translations
If your documents were issued in another language, you may also need an English translation.
RMI has a more detailed guide explaining what documents are commonly required for education verification in Singapore.
Before submitting anything, check that your name, date of birth and other details are consistent across your documents.
How does NTU academic verification work?
Once your request has been submitted, the verification provider confirms your academic credentials with the appropriate source.
Depending on the institution and country, this may involve contacting a university registrar, administrator or authorised academic records service.
RMI regularly works with universities and student record teams around the world as part of its qualification verification services.
Once the relevant information has been independently confirmed, a verification report can be produced for your NTU admissions requirements.
How long does NTU certificate verification take?
Verification times can vary according to the institution and country involved.
Some universities provide information quickly through established digital systems. Others rely on manual communication with academic administration teams.
RMI advises that its NTU certificate verification process takes around 15 business days on average, although some checks involving institutions in countries such as India and China may take longer.
University holidays, term breaks and delayed responses from awarding institutions can also affect turnaround times.
This is why it is sensible to start your NTU certificate verification as early as your application requirements allow.
What can delay certificate verification?
Several relatively simple issues can slow down the process.
These include:
- incomplete documents;
- unclear scans;
- differences between the name on your passport and university records;
- missing transcripts;
- untranslated documents;
- additional consent requirements; or
- slow responses from the awarding institution.
A delay does not necessarily indicate that there is a problem with your qualification. It may simply mean the verifier needs additional information.
Responding quickly to requests can help keep the process moving.
Make NTU certificate verification one less thing to worry about
Preparing to begin a course at NTU can involve admissions paperwork, immigration requirements, accommodation and travel arrangements.
Certificate verification does not need to become another source of stress.
RMI is endorsed by NTU to verify the authenticity of certificates from applicants who wish to enrol at the university.
You can start your NTU certificate verification with RMI and submit your qualifications for independent verification before beginning the next stage of your studies in Singapore.