Recognition of a foreign PhD qualification

The recognition procedure to make a foreign PhD qualification equivalent to a PhD qualification issued by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona consists of two phases:

1- Examination of the foreign qualification (Estudi d'equivalència del títol estranger de Doctor/a)
2- Issuance of a document certifying the recognition of your credentials (Expedició de credencial acreditativa de equivalència)

(1) Examination of the Foreign PhD qualification

- You must fill out the Examination of a Foreign Degree application form. You must include the following documents with the application form:

- Photocopy of your national identity card or passport.

- Qualification you wish to have recognised (original and photocopy which the Escola de Doctorat will certify) or a certified document stating that you have completed your PhD studies.

- Academic certificate of your PhD studies (original and photocopy which the Escola de Doctorat will certify) with the following information included (if you are not obliged to fulfil one of these requirements in your home country, you must also present a document certifying this fact):

- official duration in academic years

- course programme followed

- subjects taken

- hours of lectures of each of the subjects and marks received

- number of members on the thesis evaluation committee

- PhD thesis qualification

- Official qualifications of your prior studies (original and photocopy which the Escola de Doctorat will certify):

- bachelor's degrees or equivalents and

- master's degrees or equivalents.

- Academic certificate of your prior studies (original and photocopy which the Escola de Doctorat will certify):

- bachelor's degrees or equivalents and

- master's degrees or equivalents
including the following information:

- official duration in academic years

- subjects taken and marks received

- Summary of your PhD thesis in Catalan or Spanish (between 5 and 10 pages).

- One original copy of your thesis.

Other recommended documents:

- Certificate from your home university or corresponding authority indicating the validity of your qualification as an integrated part of the education system of your country.

The official documents you submit (qualifications and certificates) must have official validity and have been translated into Catalan or Spanish by a sworn translator qualified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

- You will also need to pay the corresponding recognition fee (Sol·licitud d'equiparació de títols estrangers d'educació superior) in one of the two following manners:

- Payment with a debit or credit card to the Escola de Doctoratl when you submit your application and required documents.

- Depositing the fee into the BBVA account number ES48 0182 6035 4302 0160 9886. You must attach the original receipt and submit it with your documents.

- Once you have submitted your application, the corresponding body will evaluate your documents. In case the documents you submit do not fulfil all the requirements or more documents must be submitted, you will be notified of this and asked to present them within an established period of time. In case of doubts about the authenticity, validity or content of the documents, the body responsible for reviewing them will take the necessary measures to confirm their authenticity.

- Once you submit all documents (application and required documents) and have paid the Recognition Examination fee, the Escola de Doctorat will send all documents to the coordinators of the area of study equivalent to your PhD qualification so that the Committee of Doctoral Studies can evaluate and prepare a proposal for recognition. This recognition proposal will be evaluated by the Rector's Commissioner for Doctoral Studies upon request of the UAB Committee of doctoral Studies, and will write up a report based on your application. Finally, the Rector of the UAB, after considering the report, will decide whether to accept or deny your application.

- Following the rector's decision, the Escola de Doctorat will contact you via mail and send you the Resolution of the Rector regarding the recognition of your PhD qualification.

- Once you have received the resolution and if it is favourable, you will be able to request that the UAB begin the procedure of certifying the recognition of your credentials.

Please note: Your qualification will be officially valid in Spain starting on the date on which you receive the certificate of recognition of your credentials.

This second phase of the procedure is explained in part (2) Issuance of a document certifying the recognition of your credentials (Expedició de credencial acreditativa d'equivalència).

If you did not find in these pages the information you need, you can contact the Doctoral School at ed.comissions@uab.cat (if you send an email, you must identify yourself by indicating your ID / passport, NIU, name and surname).

Examination of a Foreign Degree Apllication Form (català) (MS Word, )

(2) Issuance of a document certifying the recognition of your credentials

In case the resolution for recognition is favourable, you will be able to request that the UAB begin the procedure of certifying the recognition of your credentials (please remember that your qualification will be officially valid in Spain starting on the date on which you receive the certificate of recognition of your credentials). This procedure begins at the Doctoral School:

- You must fill out the (2) Issuance of a document certifying the recognition of your credentials (Expedició de credencial acreditativa de equivalència)

- You will also need to pay the corresponding issuance fee (Expedició de la credencial acreditativa de l'homologació dels títols estrangers) in one of the two following manners:

- Payment with a debit or credit card to the Unitat d'Atenció a l'Usuari of the Doctoral School when you submit your application and required documents.

- Depositing the fee into the BBVA account number ES48 0182 6035 4302 0160 9886. You must attach the original receipt and submit it with your documents.

- Once your certificate has been issued, the Certificates Unit (Unitat de Títols) of the Doctorat School will contact you so you can come and pick up your certificate at the Unitat Tècnica de Doctorat

You may pick it up in person or authorise a person to collect it on your behalf. They will need to present a paper signed by you giving them permission to collect your document and a photocopy of your identification card.

You have a total of five years to collect your certificate. After this period you will be informed about the possibility of your certificate being destroyed.

If you did not find in these pages the information you need, you can contact the Doctoral School at ed.titols@uab.cat (if you send an email, you must identify yourself by indicating your ID / passport, NIU, name and surname).

Application form (català) (MS Word, )
PhD Administrative Services Fees 2015/16 (PDF, )
PhD Administrative Services Fees 2016-2017 (PDF, )

Recognition of a foreign PhD qualification

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