Academic Calendar

ACADEMIC AND PRE-ENROLMENT AND ENROLMENT CALENDAR 2023-2024

New Doctoral Students - First term of Pre-enrolment and Enrolment

Pre-enrolment, Admission and Enrolment

Pre-enrolment: 

  • Period: June 12 to September 20, 2023
  • Submission of documentation: until September 20, 2023

Admission:

  • Publication of the provisional Admission List: until October 2, 2023
  • Claims Period: within two days of publication of the provisional admission list
  • Publication of the final Admission List: the following day after the end of the claims period

Payment of the Tutition Fee (first year)*: October 11 to November 17, 2023

*New students must submit a signed Documentary Pledge and Best Practices for Doctoral Studies and a copy of the contracted insurance policy at the time of enrolment.

Annual Assessment and Follow-up report

It includes the submission of the Research Plan, the Doctoral Student's Activity Document and the evaluations of the Tutor and and the Thesis Supervisor/s

Regular evaluation:

  • Submission of documentation: September, 2023
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: October, 2023 (academic year 2023-2024)

Extraordinary evaluation (if ordinary evaluation is not exceeded):

  • Submission of documentation: February, 2024 
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: March, 2024 (academic year 2023-2024)

Payment for the renewal of the Tutition Fee: October-November 2023 

New Doctoral Students - Second term of Pre-enrolment and Enrolment

Pre-enrolment, Admission and Enrolment

Pre-enrolment: 

  • Period: Octuber 17, 2022 to February  26, 2023
  • Submission of documentation: until February 26, 2023

Admission:

  • Publication of the provisional Admission List: until March 10, 2023
  • Claims Period: March 13 and 14, 2023, or within two days of publication of the provisional admission list
  • Publication of the final Admission List: until March 17, 2023

Payment of the Tutition Fee (first year)*: March 20 to April 20, 2023

*New students must submit a signed Documentary Pledge and Best Practices for Doctoral Studies and a copy of the contracted insurance policy at the time of enrolment.

Annual Assessment and Follow-up report

It includes the submission of the Research Plan, the Doctoral Student's Activity Document and the evaluations of the Tutor and and the Thesis Supervisor/s

Regular evaluation:

  • Submission of documentation: February, 2024 
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: March, 2024 (academic year 2023-2024)

Extraordinary evaluation (if ordinary evaluation is not exceeded):

  • Submission of documentation: September, 2024
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: October 2024 (academic year 2023-2024)

Payment for the renewal of the Tutition Fee: March-April 2024 (academic year 2023-2024)

Doctoral students enrolled in academic years prior to 2022-2023 - second to fifth assessment

Annual Assessment and Follow-up report - For students admitted in the first term

It includes the submission of the Research Plan, the Doctoral Student's Activity Document and the evaluations of the Tutor and and the Thesis Supervisor/s

Regular evaluation:

  • Submission of documentation: until September 12, 2022
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: until October 7, 2022

Extraordinary evaluation (if ordinary evaluation is not exceeded):

  • Submission of documentation: until February 13, 2023
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: until March 10, 2023

Request for extension of Doctoral Studies: until September 12, 2022

Payment for the renewal of the Tutition Fee: October 17 to November 17, 2022

Annual Assessment and Follow-up report - For students admitted in the second term

It includes the submission of the Research Plan, the Doctoral Student's Activity Document and the evaluations of the Tutor and and the Thesis Supervisor/s

Regular evaluation:

  • Submission of documentation: until February 13, 2023
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: until March 10, 2023

Extraordinary evaluation (if ordinary evaluation is not exceeded):

  • Submission of documentation: until September 11, 2023
  • Assessment by the Program’s Academic Committee: until October 6, 2023

Request for extension of Doctoral Studies: until February 13, 2023

Payment for the renewal of the Tutition Fee: March 20 to April 20, 2023

Supervision of Doctoral Students and Doctoral Theses

Guidance calendar for the supervision of Doctoral Students and Doctoral Theses

In this link you can consult a Guidance calendar for the supervision of Doctoral Students and Doctoral Theses

Deposit and defence of the Doctoral Theses

Guidance calendar for the deposit and defence of the Doctoral Theses

In this link you can consult a Guidance calendar for the deposit and defence of the Doctoral Thesis

Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Awards

The Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Awards are honorary mentions that the Menéndez Pelayo International University may grant in recognition of the high quality of Doctoral Theses, in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates Official Doctoral Studies.

In the Grants and Burseries web link you can consult UIMP Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Awards Announcements.

Competency

The Rector of the Menéndez Pelayo International University will convene each academic year the Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Awards.

Applicant's requirements

The Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Awards may be granted to those Doctoral Theses presented at the Menéndez Pelayo International University that have been defended within the deadlines set out in the corresponding calls for applications and that have obtained:

  • the mention "Cum Laude"
  • the positive report, unanimously, of the Thesis Examining Board on the option for Doctoral Studies Exceptionalism Award.

Scope of application

The prizes will be convened for each of the Doctoral Programs:

  • Doctoral Program in Science and Technology
  • Doctoral Program in Economics and Government 

Call for applications

For the purpose of establishing the corresponding calls, the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Committee of the Menéndez Pelayo International University will update annually, for each Doctoral Program, the list of Doctoral Theses that have obtained the highest grade and will proceed to publish the call for the awards, taking into account what is established in the following section.

Number of Awards

An annual award may be granted, in each Doctoral Program, for every five Theses read and obtaining the highest grade in the academic year prior to the academic year immediately preceding that of the call.

In the event that the aforementioned number is not reached in the academic year, in any of the programs, the Doctoral Theses read in two or more academic years will be accumulated until the aforementioned numer is reached. If, on the other hand, the number of Doctoral Theses read exceeds this number, the number of awards that may be granted will be the result of dividing the number of Theses read by five and rounding the result to the nearest whole number.

Deadlines and submission of applications

The awards will be announced before 15 February each year.

The application must be submitted in the place and by the deadline established in the call for entries (which, in any case, must be before 31 March), together with the documentation that is to serve as the basis for the assessment.

Each applicant must compete in the quota corresponding to the area to which he/she has been assigned within the corresponding call for applications, not having the option to compete in subsequent calls for applications.

  • Application for the Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Awards (Forms).

Evaluation and Award Proposal

The evaluation and proposal for the awarding of the prizes will be the responsibility of the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Committee, which will be advised by as many experts as it deems appropriate.

The provisional award proposal, which must be made before 31 May, will be based on the following evaluation criteria:

1. Scientific impact:

  • Publications associated with the Doctoral Thesis - Up to 2.5 points for each publication, weighted according to the type of publication and indicating the evidence of quality of these publications: full national or international book, chapter in national or international book, article in national or international journal, with external evaluation or without external evaluation, and dissemination works. The prestige of the journal or publisher that has published the work will be assessed (e.g., the indicators published in the Journal Citation Reports, Science / Social Sciences Citation Index, Institute for Scientific Information, Scholarly Publishers Indicator or other indicators used by the National Commission for the Evaluation of Research Activity in the respective areas). In the case of collaborations, the applicant must justify his/her participation in the work.
  • Presentations at congresses associated with the Doctoral Thesis: Up to 1 point, weighted according to the type of congress (International or National). An assessment will also be made differentiating the category of the presentation (poster, communication, paper or conference by invitation).
  • Patents, degree of technology transfer achieved or awards obtained - Up to 1 point.
  • Invitations or stays in other academic institutions for reasons associated with the Thesis, after its defense: Up to 1 point.

2. International Doctor Mention/Theses carried out under cotutellge agreements with foreign universities: 2,5 points .

3. Other merits directly related to the Doctoral Thesis: up to 2 points.

Those members of the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Committee and those experts who have been Thesis Supervisors or Tutors of any of the applicants must abstain from intervening in the evaluation and award proposal.

Awarding of prizes and complaints

Once the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Committee has published the provisional proposals, these may be subject to complaints within the period established in the call for applications.

Once the allegations have been resolved by the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Committee, after hearing the interested party, the Committee shall submit the definitive proposals to the University Governing Council, which shall have the power to decide on the awarding of the prizes.

The final decision will be published on the website of the Vice-Rectorate of Postgraduate and Research, and will be notified personally and in writing to the beneficiaries.

All those Doctors who have been awarded a Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Award will be entitled to:

  • The issue of a Diploma/Certificate accrediting the awarding of the prize.
  • Exemption from, or reimbursement, where applicable, of the fees for the awarding of the Doctoral Degree Certificate.

An appeal may be brought before the Rector of the Menéndez Pelayo University against the resolution to grant the Doctoral Studies Extraordinary Award, adopted by the Vice-Rectorate for Postgraduate Studies and Research, within a period of one month from the date of publication of the said resolution.

Guide and Stipulated Periods for the Presentation of Proposals for Doctoral Programs

Contents of Proposals

The proposals for official Doctoral Studies will be set before the Vice Principal for Postgraduate Studies and Research of the UIMP, who, appointed by the Principal, is to chair the Commission for Postgraduate Studies.

So as to ensure the initiation of the process of evaluation of Doctoral Studies Programs, the following should be submitted by e-mail to the address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. a Project Dossier, in standard format, wherein it is compulsory to provide full details of the contents as described in Appendix I – Full Description Dossier for the Verification of Doctoral Studies Programs, as set down in Royal Decree 99/2011, dated 28 January, by means of which official Doctoral Studies are regulated.

  • Full Description Dossier for Proposals for Doctoral Studies Programs.

Only those Proposals that were to receive the approval of the Governing Council of the UIMP should also be submitted in full via the online virtual platform as set up by the Ministry of Education so as to facilitate application for verification of official Doctoral Studies Programs.

Procedure and Stipulated Periods for Approval

The Postgraduate Studies Commission will assess the proposals, according to the criteria for quality established beforehand by the University, and will prepare the corresponding report in this regard, which will be put before the Governing Council. The issuing of the report will include an analysis of the feasibility and strategic appropriateness of the proposal concerned and its compliance with current regulations, while positive value will be assigned to:

  • the degree of international projection of the Teaching Staff and of the Program;
  • the academic quality of the program concerned, to which end consideration will be given to the adequacy of the teaching and research, or professional, background of the group of those who will undertake the teaching;
  • its coherence;
  • the prior basis of the Study Plan and the interdisciplinarity that it sets out;
  • the system of coordination and tutorials put forward;
  • the monitoring and quality improvement procedures to be employed.

Approval of Doctoral-level Studies is incumbent upon the Governing Council at the behest of the Commission for Postgraduate Studies.

The operative introduction of official Doctoral Studies' programs within the UIMP requires having obtained, in each case, a favorable report from the National Agency for Quality Assessment (ANECA), together with a resolution involving positive verification by the Council of Universities, which will forward this same resolution to the Ministry of Education. The Ministry will place before the Government the proposal to establish the Qualification concerned officially, together with its inclusion in the Register of Universities, Establishments, and Qualifications (RUCT), the approval of which via a Ministerial Cabinet accord will be published in the Official State Gazette, BOE. This same inclusion will also entail it being considered initially as an authorized Qualification.

Once the Government has approved the official character of the Qualification, the Principal of the UIMP will give instructions for the publication of the Study Plan in the Official State Gazette (BOE).

Stipulated Periods of the Processing Schedule
On a yearly basis the Postgraduate Studies Commission will propose an annual schedule for the processing of new Doctoral Studies Programs, while taking into account the guidelines for assessment and verification as set out by the ANECA.

In general terms, the calendar will be as follows:

  • July: mandatory submission of projects to the Postgraduate Studies Commission, which will issue a preliminary report.
  • September: submission of completed drafts of new proposals for the following academic year to the Postgraduate Studies Commission.
  • October: submission of the new proposals to the Governing Council.
  • November: authorized submission of proposals to the ANECA to await its assessment report. The completion of the Project Dossier which will accompany the application for verification of the Qualifications concerned will be implemented via the online platform set up for this purpose by the Ministry of Education.

Renewal and Cancellation of Doctoral Studies

Once instituted, the official UIMP Doctoral Studies concerned will be valid for four years, at the end of which time, upon application by the Academic Commission, they may be renewed for periods of the same duration.

The proposal for renewal will be submitted to the Postgraduate Studies Commission, to await its report, prior to March 30 of the current course period for which renewal is proposed. The proposal for renewal will necessarily include the Teaching and Research Plans involved, together with an economic feasibility study of the new edition of the Studies concerned.

If the proposal for renewal were to entail modifications to the already authorized Study Plan concerned, it will be compulsory to submit them to the Postgraduate Studies Commission before being reported to the University Coordination Council. If the changes are approved by the said Council, considering, as it, the Council, were to, that they do not involve a change in the essential character and aims of the Qualification, the University will incorporate the accepted modifications into the Study Plan.

Should that not be the case, it would be deemed to be a new Study Plan, for which reason the authorization process should be initiated as if it were a new proposal that was being dealt with.

The Postgraduate Studies Commission may, at any time, justifiably, or given the application made by the respective Academic Commission, propose the withdrawal of the already implemented Doctoral-level Studies concerned. In any case, those students who may have begun those studies, and wish to do so, will be given the guarantee of being able to complete them.

Forms related to a Doctoral Degree

Entry and Admission

Enrolment

Annual assessment

Forms for Doctoral Students

Forms for Supervisor/Tutor and Academic Committee

Doctoral Thesis Defense

International PhD Mention

Joint supervision of Thesis (cotutelle)

Certificates and Degree Certificates

NOTICE: Certificates may be requested throughout the academic year. Applications for the issuance of Degrees, Academic Certifications, issuance of Duplicates and submission of titles received during the month of August will be processed in September

Regulations concerning Continuing Presence

Full-time students

The duration of Doctoral Studies will be no longer than three years, full-time, from the admission of the doctoral student to the program until the defense of the Doctoral Thesis. 

In the case of full-time Doctoral Studies, if a period of three years has passed without filing the application for Authorization of the Defense of the Doctoral Thesis, the doctoral student may request an extension of one additional year from the Academic Committee which, in exceptional cases, may be extended an additional year under conditions established within the corresponding Doctoral Program.  

  • Application Form for extension of Doctoral Studies (Forms).

Part-time students

Nevertheless, and subject to authorization from the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program, part-time doctoral studies may be undertaken. The admission criteria will be the same for full-time or part-time students and will follow the provisions of the corresponding Study Plan.

Part-time students will have at most 5 years to complete their studies, from the admission of the doctoral student to the program until the defense of the Doctoral Thesis. In the case of part-time studies, if a period of five years has passed without filing the application for Authorization of the Defense of the Doctoral Thesis, the student may request an extension of two additional years from the Academic Committee which, also in exceptional cases, may be extended an additional year.

Any student admitted may change the modality under which he or she is studying the Doctoral Program by sending a reasoned request for the change to the Academic Committee, which will be competent to accept or reject it.

  • Application Form for change in modality (Forms).

Request for temporary or permanently withdraw for Doctoral Studies

For the purposes of calculating the periods indicated above, sillness, pregnancy or any other cause included in applicable legislation will not be taken into account when calculating the time spent in the Doctoral Program.

Doctoral students may request to temporarily withdraw from the program for a maximum of one year, which may be extended one additional year. Said application must be addressed to and justified before the Academic Committee of the program, which will make a decision about whether or not to grant the request of the doctoral student.  

  • Application Form for temporary or permanently withdraw for Doctoral Studies (Forms).

Grants and Bursaries for Doctoral Studies

Queries and administrative procedures related to the stipulated periods for the convening and allotment of grants and bursaries in which the Universidad Internacional Menéndez y Pelayo shares should be submitted by e-mail to the following address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Convening of Grants and Bursaries 2013-2014

Fideas Foundation Grants to undertake PHD studies for graduates in the Master's Degree UIMP-CSIC in Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Universia Foundation Grants for training PhD students with disabilities

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

2013 MINECO contracts for the accomplishment of Doctoral Thesis

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Convening of Grants and Bursaries 2012-2013

Grants for the Program for the Training of University Teaching Staff (FPU). Convening in 2012. For Short Periods of Attendance

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Grants for the Program for the Training of University Teaching Staff (FPU). Convening in 2012. Ongoing Monitoring Dossier

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Grants for the Program for the Training of University Teaching Staff (FPU). Convening in 2012. New Grants

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Grants for the Program for the Training of University Teaching Staff (FPU). Convening in 2012. Secondments

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Convening of Grants and Bursaries 2011-2012

Training of Research Personnel, Ministry of Science and Innovation (FPI-MICINN). 2011

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Board for Advanced Studies Program (JAE) for the Training of Researchers and Technicians within the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Loans to enable Postgraduate Studies, Masters’ Degrees, or Doctoral Studies to be undertaken. Convening in 2011

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Convening of Grants and Bursaries 2010-2011

Training of Research Personnel, Ministry of Science and Innovation (FPI-MICINN). 2010

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Board for Advanced Studies Program (JAE) for the Training of Researchers and Technicians within the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Grants for the Program for the Training of University Teaching Staff (FPU). Convening in 2010. New Grants

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Grants for the Program for the Training of University Teaching Staff (FPU). Convening in 2010. Secondments

  • Stipulated Period: Closed

Certifications and Issuance of the Doctoral Degree Certificate

Issuance of the Doctoral Degree Certificate

Requirements

The Doctoral Degree Certificate will be officially valid throughout national territory and will enable the student concerned to benefit from the rights which current regulations grant to this Qualification.

It will be issued in the name of the King, by the Rector of the University, in accordance with the requirements set down regarding its format, text and issuance procedure in Royal Decree 1002/2010, dated 5 August, dealing with the issuance of university-level qualifications certificates.

The way of denominating the Doctoral Degree will be "Doctor by the Menéndez Pelayo International University". Likewise, according to the regulations set down regarding the issuance of Qualification Certificates, included therein will be information specifying the field of knowledge about which the Doctoral Thesis has dealt, in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 1002/2010.

The mention of "cum laude" may also be included while, and on the front side of the Certificate, the mention of "International Doctor" and "Industrial Doctorate" may also be included.

Having applied for the Degree Certificate implies the closure of the Academic Records concerned, for which reason, once closure has taken place, new entries cannot be made in the said Records.

In order to initiate the application process, the following requirements must be met:

  • The student must have passed the corresponding courses that aim to acquire the competences and skills related to quality scientific research and that will end with the elaboration and defense of a doctoral thesis that incorporates original research results.
  • Being up to date in the payment of enrolment fees.
  • The Official Grades Records are to be found in the keeping of the Student Administration Office.

Stipulated Periods for Issuance

The Doctoral Degree Certificate may be requested throughout the academic year. 

Documents to be summitted

  • Application Form for Issuance of Doctoral Degree Certificate (Forms)
  • Current, legible photocopy of National ID Card or Passport.
  • Students who are members of large families or students with some form of disability: documentation as listed in fee reductions and exemptions.

Submission of the Application Form

The Application may be submitted in person to the UIMP Student Administration Office (Secretaría de Estudiantes UIMP, C/Isaac Peral, 23. 28040 Madrid - Spain) or by e-mail to the following address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Payment

After submitting the application form, the student concerned will be given a receipt of payment of the fee so that payment may be made in cash at any branch of Banco Santander, or by credit card (for which purpose the Online Administration Office may be accessed), or via a bank transfer (only in the case of those who find themselves outside Spanish territory).

The amount to be paid over is that which appears on the receipt slip. The transfer costs or any other bank charges will be borne by the student and should not lead to a reduction in the overall amount concerned.

The student concerned is expected to ensure that either a copy of the payment slip officially stamped by the Bank reaches the Student Administration Office, or, if it were the case, the receipt slip of payment having been made by credit card or bank transfer, indicating: First Name and Last Names / National ID Card, passport, or Non-National's ID (NIE), together with the code number and description of the Study Program concerned, and the academic year in course.

Provisional Supplementary Qualification Certificate

The Doctoral Degree Certificate will become fully effective as of the date of payment of the costs of the issuance of the said certificate.

Once payment has been made, the interested party will be provided with a Provisional Supplementary Qualification Certificate which will act as the equivalent of the official Qualification Certificate until the latter's actual issuance, and will be of equivalent value with regard to the exercise of the rights inherent to the Qualification Certificate concerned. Such a certification will include the essential data that would be included in the said Qualification Certificate itself.

The Provisional Supplementary Qualification Certificate will be valid for one year from the date of issue of the certification. This period of validity may be extended when for technical reasons the University has not been able to issue theDoctoral Degree Certificate.

Collection of the Qualification Certificate

  • By the interested party in person from the UIMP Student Administration Office (C / Isaac Peral, 23. 28040 Madrid), by providing proof of his or her identity via his or her National Identity Card, DNI, in original format (in the case of Spanish citizens), a passport, or a Non-National's Identity Card, NIE, (in the case of persons from other countries).
  • By duly authorizing another person by power of attorney to collect it on his or her behalf. If the power of attorney were to have been issued abroad, it ought to have been legalized and translated into Spanish.
  • If the interested party does not reside in Madrid, he or she may request in writing that the UIMP General Administration Office ensure delivery of the Qualification Certificate to the High Inspectorate of Education or Education Offices of the Government Delegation or Sub-Delegation, and / or the Consular Office, nearest to his or her place of residence. In such a case, the student concerned would be expected to collect the Qualification Certificate in person.

Legalizing documents to be used abroad

Legalizing documents to be used abroad

Original academic documents (degree, academic transcript, or course syllabi) which are to be used abroad must be legalized following the process which can be consulted here.

Legalizing documents issued by the Menéndez Pelayo International University must be done directly by the interested party or by his or her legal representative.

Academic equivalence for Doctorate

Procedure

The declaration of equivalence of foreign degrees of higher education to the academic level of Doctor may be requested simultaneously at more than one University. However, a foreign degree that has already been declared equivalent at another Spanish University may not be submitted to the UIMP for equivalence.

Applications for the declaration of equivalence of a foreign higher education degree to the academic level of Doctor shall be addressed to the Rector of the UIMP using a standard form.

Procedure

1. The Vice-rectorate of Postgraduate and Research will act as the instructing body for the procedure.

2. Once the conditions indicated in the application form have been verified, the file will be sent to the UIMP Commission for Postgraduate Studies, which will in turn propose an assessment committee made up of 2 or 3 experts in the corresponding field of knowledge who will assess the Doctoral Thesis in accordance with the criteria set out in these regulations and issue a reasoned report on the relevance of the equivalence requested.

3. The UIMP Commission for Postgraduate Studies, after receiving the report drawn up by the assessment committee, will submit a resolution proposal to the Rector by means of a reasoned report, which may be favourable or unfavourable.

4. The resolution of equivalence to the academic level of Doctor will be adopted by the Rector and must be issued and communicated within a maximum period of 6 months from the date of submission of the application.  Failure to issue an express decision within the aforementioned period shall mean that the application for equivalence has been rejected, as established in the twenty-ninth additional provision of Law 14/2000, of 29 December, on Fiscal, Administrative and Social Order Measures, and in its Annex 2.  

5. Once a resolution has been issued, the UIMP will communicate it to the Subdirectorate General for Degrees and Recognition of Qualifications of the Ministry of Education, for the purposes of its registration in the special section of the National Register of Official University Graduates.

6. For the purposes of accrediting the granting of equivalence, the UIMP will issue the corresponding certificate, signed by the Rector, stating the foreign degree held by the interested party and the University of origin, and which will include the RNTUO registration number assigned.

The equivalence to the academic level of Doctor does not imply, in any case, the homologation, declaration of equivalence or recognition of another or other foreign degrees held by the interested party, nor the recognition in Spain at a level other than that of Doctor.

Necessary documentation to apply for equivalence

  • Equivalence application for overseas higher education qualifications at PhD level and sworn statement/affidavit on not having been awarded a degree equivalence from another European university (Forms).
  • A true and certified copy of the document proving the applicant’s identity and nationality issued by the relevant authorities in their home country, or by the relevant Spanish authorities for immigration (NIE). For Spanish citizens, a true stamped photocopy of their DNI.
  • A true and certified copy of the degree certificate for the qualification subject to equivalence. The certificate must be official and issued by the relevant authorities. It shall be certified by diplomatic methods or, where applicable, bear The Hague Convention apostille. This shall not be required for documents issued by authorities in European Union member states or signatory countries of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as well as Switzerland (in accordance with its bilateral agreement with the EU). It shall come with an official sworn translation into Spanish where the original certificate was issued in another language. In case you need an official translation, you can find a list of official translators at the following link: Official translators. It is important to note that only translations done by official translators will be accepted, as they guarantee the accuracy and legal validity of the documents.
  • A true and certified copy of the academic transcript for the studies undertaken by the applicant prior to obtaining their doctoral degree. The transcript must be official and issued by the relevant authorities. It shall be certified by diplomatic methods or, where applicable, bear The Hague Convention apostille. This shall not be required for documents issued by signatory countries of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as well as Switzerland (in accordance with its bilateral agreement with the EU). It shall come with an official sworn translation into Spanish where the original certificate was issued in another language.
  • A true and certified copy of the official certification setting out the thesis viva voce details (viva date and mark), as well as the panel members. It shall be certified by diplomatic methods or, where applicable, bear The Hague Convention apostille. This shall not be required for documents issued by signatory countries of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as well as Switzerland (in accordance with its bilateral agreement with the EU). It shall come with an official sworn translation into Spanish where the original certificate was issued in another language.
  • A report summarising the thesis in Spanish or English (max. 10 pages).
  • A copy of the thesis (on paper or digital format).
  • Curriculum vitae in Spanish or English (max. 5 pages).

The Commission for Postgraduate Studies at the university may request supplementary documentation if it deems it necessary. Where there is a doubt as to the authenticity, validity or content of the submitted documents, the examining body may carry out the necessary steps to verify them; it may also contact the relevant issuing authority for the documents to resolve any uncertainties. Once the documentation has been reviewed, the UIMP will send a payment slip for you to pay the processing fees.

Applications may be submitted as follows:

1. In-person:

At the UIMP General Registry and Auxiliary Registries. Address: Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo. C/ Isaac Peral, 23. 28040, Madrid – España.

Address: Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo. Av. de los Castros, 42. 39005, Santander – España.  

At the registry support offices (of the Spanish central government, autonomous regions and local administrations that are incorporated into the Registry Interconnection System): https://administracion.gob.es/pagFront/atencionCiudadana/oficinas/encuentraOficina.htm#.X32cgdkzZhE

- At post offices in Spain via registered post in an unsealed envelope (fee applies). Address: Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo. C/ Isaac Peral, 23. 28040, Madrid – España.

- At accredited Spanish diplomatic or consular offices

2. Online:

- If you have an electronic DNI or certificate, you may submit your original application at the following link: https://administracion.gob.es/pag_Home/atencionCiudadana/encuentraTuOficina/REC.html#.X3b2Y2gzbIU