UK higher education is under growing financial pressure. Domestic tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017, steadily losing real value, while reliance on international enrolments is increasingly risky. Nearly three-quarters of institutions expect to run deficits this year. Meanwhile, students expect more: secure, digital access to their records, greater flexibility, and a better experience throughout their learning journey.
Credentialling is one area where many institutions can unlock hidden value. Most UK universities already charge for replacement certificates (£35–£50) or official transcripts (£10–£20 per copy) — yet many still rely on slow, manual steps that increase costs and delay fulfillment.
What’s the opportunity?
A new eBook from Parchment — Unlocking Value in Digital Credentials: Improve Efficiency & Drive Revenue — explores how modernising credential management can help universities:
- Give students secure, self-serve access to credentials — instantly
- Reduce fraud and lost documents with secure digital delivery
- Recover costs or generate new revenue through pay-as-you-go or lifetime alumni subscriptions
- Build stronger alumni relationships with secure learner wallets and curated profiles
Dublin Business School, for example, reduced admin time by 90% with a secure digital approach.
Modern digital credentialling transforms an essential service into a strategic asset — driving efficiency, supporting sustainability, and delivering a better experience for students.
Download the eBook: Unlocking Value in Digital Credentials. Get practical steps and real-world insights to help your institution do more with less — while putting learning first.