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UC3M Ph.D. Equivalency for International Degrees

  • Inicio

    The equivalency certification validates a student's foreign degree as equivalent to a Ph.D. degree by uc3m's academic standards.

    • This recognition is considered valid in all of the Spanish territory from the date of approval and issue of the certificate.
    • Candidates may apply for equivalency to more than one academic institution at the same time. However, once a degree has been certified as Ph.D. equivalent, it cannot be subjected to another equivalency process in a different institution.

    The equivalency certification process is executed within a maximum period of nine months.

     

    Contact: escueladoctorado@uc3m.es

  • Application

    Applicants are required to submit a request to the Rector of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, indicating the Ph.D. program for which the equivalency is requested, attaching the required documents.

    Please note: Applicants must provide proof:

    • That the focus of the research project that served as basis for the thesis is related to the lines of research of the Ph.D. program for which the equivalency is solicited; 
       
    • That the project meets the quality requirements of the Ph.D. program, and that the candidate has the training considered mandatory by uc3m's standards to obtain a Ph.D. degree.
  • Documents
    • Application for Ph.D. equivalency certification for foreign degrees, indicating the UC3M Ph.D. program for which the equivalency is requested (Template #1)
    • Identity Card or document (certified copy of ID, DNI, NIE or passport or, in lack thereof, a digitized version of the original by the University's Registry Office)
    • Master's degree certificate or equivalent required to access Ph.D. (or proof of payment of certificate fees) (certified copy -or, in lack thereof, a digitized version of the original by the University's Registry Office)
    • Academic transcript of Ph.D. equivalent degree, stating: duration of training in academic years, subjects, hours and grades (certified copy or, in lack thereof, a digitized version of the original by the University's Registry Office)
    • Detailed Report of the doctoral thesis (English or Spanish)
    • Document stating the members of the Thesis Defense Committee and their assessment of the doctoral thesis evaluation
    • Copy of the doctoral thesis (uncertified copy, no translation required)
    • Ph.D. degree certificate for which the equivalency is requested (or proof of payment of certificate fees) (certified copy or, in lack thereof, a digitized version of the original by the University's Registry Office) (*)
    • Curriculum Vitae (updated)
    • Publications and contributions related to the thesis (including Impact Factor, if relevant) (no translation required)
    • Statement of simultaneous application for equivalency at other academic institutions in Spain (Template #2)
    • Statement by the applicant of the reasons to consider their foreign degree as equivalent to a UC3M Ph.D. degree (Template #3)

    At the end of the process, the applicant is required to pay the corresponding fees (160 €), in compliance with the Third Additional Disposition of Spanish regulation RD 889/2022, October 18th. This payment is required to obtain the certification of equivalency.

    Please submit all documents to escueladoctorado@uc3m.es

    Additionally, the originals of the documents listed below must be presented at the  UC3M Registry Office, to perform a faithful digitalization, which must be sent electronically to the Doctoral School:

    • Application for Ph.D. equivalency certification for foreign degrees, indicating the UC3M Ph.D. program for which the equivalency is requested (Template #1)
    • Identity card (certified copy of ID, DNI, NIE or passport or, in lack thereof, a digitized version of the original by the University's Registry Office)
    • Ph.D. degree certificate for which the equivalency is requested (or proof of payment of certificate fees) (certified copy or, in lack thereof, a digitized version of the original by the University's Registry Office) (*)

    (*) Documents must be certified by diplomatic channels or, where applicable, by the Apostille of The Hague Convention, except for documents issued by authorities of member states of the European Union (EU) or the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).

    Each document must have attached its legal Spanish translation, certified by proper channels (except for the copy of the Ph.D. Thesis)

  • Regulations