Certification requirements differ between bursary providers, so the provider’s current instructions always come first. Once you know what it asks for, a visual check can prevent avoidable uncertainty.
Read the certification date
Some funds state that certification must be no older than a particular number of months at submission. Count back from the actual closing or submission date, not from the day you started preparing. If the fund gives no period, ask it rather than assuming.
Look for the commissioner’s details
A stamp may need to show a name, designation, business address or other identifying detail. Requirements depend on the commissioning context. Buildgridbase can flag an unclear impression but cannot authenticate it.
Check signatures and wording
Inspect whether the copy and certification carry the expected signatures and whether the wording is complete. A stamp cut off by scanning can hide exactly the detail a reader needs.
Include every required side
If the original has relevant information on both sides, a single-sided copy may be incomplete. The same applies to multi-page records. Compare the scan with the original before moving the original back into safe storage.
Test ordinary readability
Open the final file on another screen at normal zoom. Confirm that small numbers, issue dates and stamp details remain readable and that shadows do not cover text.
A visible review cannot prove that a certification is genuine. When anything material is uncertain, consult the bursary provider or an appropriate commissioner of oaths.