Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I talk to within the University of Barcelona about the procedures for validating my doctorate degree?

How can I be sure that the information in my academic papers is correctly presented before I get it translated??

How much does it cost to validate my degree and where do I pay?

Where can I hand in my application?

Where can I obtain an application form?

Where can I have the documents supporting my application legally authorized?

Which of my documents need to be officially translated?

If I can't complete the homologation process in person, can someone else do it for me?

Who can act as a legal representative and what exactly does this person do?

What happens if the University of Barcelona asks me for papers?

When and how will I receive the answer to my application form?

Which paper do I need to accredit the fact that my doctoral qualification has been homologated by the University of Barcelona?

Who should I talk to within the University of Barcelona about the procedures for validating my doctorate degree?
All enquiries should be addressed to:

The Academic Management Unit - General Affairs and Postgraduate Degrees
Recinte de la Maternitat - Pavelló Rosa
Travessera de les Corts Catalanes, 131-158
08028 Barcelona
Tel. 934 021 754/2
ga.tercercicle@ub.edu

How can I be sure that the information in my academic papers is correctly presented before I get it translated?
You can either ask at the UB's Office for Academic Management for an official list (in Spanish) of what your academic papers should include or else you can consult this list on the UB's website (in Spanish) . The list basically tells you which details should be given in your certificates and it also outlines the general requirements regarding all your papers.

How much does it cost to validate my degree and where do I pay?
Each academic year the Catalan Government establishes the fees for the academic services provided by the public universities. Following the publication of Royal Decree 309/18 March 2005, by which the rectors of the universities are authorized to undertake the validation of university degrees awarded abroad as being equivalent to postgraduate degrees, for the academic year 2009/2010 a fee of 136,00 € was established for validating a doctorate degree (Decree 110/14 July 2009, published in the DOGC on 16 July).

To pay the application fee contact the Academic Management Unit, who will issue you with the necessary payment form. You can then either pay using your bank credit card or by depositing the required fee in a university bank account. Remember to attach the receipt to your application for validation.

Where can I hand in my application?
The application for validating a doctorate degree can be handed in at any of the centres with a General Registry office.

Where can I obtain an application form?
The application form (in Spanish) can be obtained from the Academic Management Unit or from the University of Barcelona web page (in Spanish).

Where can I have the documents supporting my application legally authorized?
The Academic Management Unit can certify that copies of documents are true provided they are accompanied by the original documents. No charge is made for this service.

For more information about this, you can consult the UB's official list ( in Spanish) of what your academic papers should include and conditions in general.

Which of my documents need to be officially translated?
Documents issued abroad in a language other than in Spanish or Catalan must be accompanied by a sworn translation. For more information about this, you can consult the UB's official list (in Spanish) of what your academic papers should include and conditions in general.

The presentation of a sworn translation of a document does not exempt the applicant from having also to present the original or a copy of that document that has been certified as true.

If I can't complete the homologation process in person, can someone else do it for me?
Yes they can, but you will have to formally authorize that person to be your legal representative.You can either ask at the UB's Office for Academic Management for an example of how to write this authorization (in Spanish) and the information it should contain, or else you can consult a model on the UB's website (in Spanish).

Who can act as a legal representative and what exactly does this person do?
Any person may be authorized to make the application to validate your doctorate degree on your behalf, provided they are of full legal age (18). The authorization should be attached to the application and must contain the following information:

• Name and family name(s) of the person seeking validation of a doctorate degree, as well as their official identity number (Spanish national identity number - DNI, identity number for a foreigner resident in Spain - NIE or passport number).
• Name and family name(s) of the person authorized to present the application, undertake the corresponding procedures and to receive information regarding the progress of the application, as well as their official identity number (Spanish national identity number - DNI, identity number for a foreigner resident in Spain - NIE or passport number).
• A photocopy certified as true of the Spanish national identity card - DNI, foreign resident identity card - NIE or passport of the authorized person.

The authorization form (in Spanish) can be obtained from the Academic Management Unit or from the University of Barcelona web page (in Spanish).

The legal representative is the person who signs and submits the application form. He or she is then also the person who receives any official UB notification sent out to the applicant and can also make any further enquiries or deal with subsequent paperwork on the applicant's behalf.

What happens if the University of Barcelona asks me for papers?
If the UB asks you for papers, you'll have a period of ten days in which to submit these, starting on the day after you receive this request. The presentation of papers required by the university must be completed according to the standard procedure outlined (in Spanish).

When and where will I receive the decision regarding my application form?
The answer will be sent to the address you have given in your application form. Please notify the Academic Management Unit of any changes in address. This can either be done in writing or by email.

You should receive notification of the decision within six months of presenting your application to the University of Barcelona registry office. If you have not heard from the University within this period you can assume that your application for validation has been unsuccessful.

Which paper do I need to accredit the fact that my doctoral qualification has been homologated by the University of Barcelona?
The paper you need is called a credential. Credentials are issued by the UB Rector, after the qualification they certify has been registered in the special section of the government's National Register of Degree Qualifications.

When your credential has come through, you'll be informed of this by the Office for Academic Management, who will also tell you which papers to take when you go to collect it.