Postgraduate and Research

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

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.

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