Master's degree in Spain for foreigners: stages and documents

How to treat a foreigner as a magistrate in Spain: general order

The way is the same for most programs: to choose an official master's degree, to check university qualifications, to apply, to get a permit, to pay for a place, to collect visa documents and to file with the consulate; visa regulations are connected at the end, but their timing is determined when to start.

The only website that we've been running for all the judges in Catalonia hasn't found: Generalitat has a single pre-recorded record on Grado. [7]According to the open pages, the application is submitted to a particular university according to its rules. Exception: Master's degree in teacher training, for which Generalitat publishes its own page [2].

Do you need a diploma in homologization to enter the master ’s degree?

No, the homologación is needed to work in a regulated profession, not to study further. [1].

First: Diploma issued by the University of the country EEES (European Higher Education Area) and in that country it gives access to a master ’s degree. Second: Diploma from the system outside the EEES is equal to Spanish Grado. Then homologación is not needed, but the university checks out the level of training it confirms and the country of extradition should allow them to join postgraduate programmes. [1].

The way you go doesn't mean you're recognized, but the university accepts it for the purposes of the magistracy only. [1]What does this mean in practice: after the master's degree, you will have a Spanish master's degree, but your old diploma remains foreign unless you are separately awarded homologación or equivalencia.

Declaración de equivalencia at Grado or Máster level is registered separately by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, which states that it may be required in public service competitions, private companies and admission to further studies. [4]V. The message is on the Valida-TE portal [8]The master's office itself does not need it. Certificate of homologation in Spain.

What documents universities request

No single list: Article 18.5 of the regulations grants universities special admission requirements and, if necessary, additional courses which cannot exceed 20% of the programme credits [1]Therefore, the list of documents should be taken from the programme website rather than from other people ’s feedback.

Example from official sources, not a general list: Generalitat for the Masters of Education requests a diploma and academic certificate of assessment, for diplomas outside the EEES legalised and translated, a certificate from a university that the diploma gives access to a master ’s degree in the country of extradition and, if required (on the page "si escau"), certificate B1 on Catalan or Spanish for foreign diplomas [2]If the Ministry does not provide a certificate on the equivalence of estimates, the tolerance for this programme is 5,000. [2]It's a condition of one program, not the entire magistracy.

You will also most often be asked for a passport, a motivational letter or a summary and a confirmation of the language of instruction, but these points differ from one program to another, and we have not found an official list that connects them. Check the university website.

Apostille and transfer of diploma

For diplomas outside the EEES, universities and departments require legalization (the Hague Convention Apostille) and translation into Spanish [2][4]The consulate in Moscow requests the same for any foreign documents, the translation is done by the juror [6]I'm going to go to the police station. Certificate and certificate, What is apostille?, juror transfer.

For the same master ’s degree, Generalitat explains: EES higher education diplomas are given without legalisation but with translation, and diplomas outside the EEES with legalisation and translation [2]The composition of EEES is wider than the EU, so check your country and university on the program page before filing, and for a visa, the consulate in Moscow is in any case requesting apostil or legalization of foreign documents. [6]Order apostille and translations in advance, they're part of your pre-entry training, and re-schedules are not a substitute for checks: higher education institutions need papers by the date of their admission, and the consulate requires a two-month deadline before the start of the examination. [3].

Official and personal magistracy: how they differ

The official magistrature (Máster Universitario) can be checked in the register of RUCT, where universities, centres and titles are registered. [3]The university ’s own programmes (títulos propios) are awarded the university ’s own title, not the public one.

For student visas, both are subject to the rules: university programmes leading to their own recognized university degrees are included in the "higher education" [3]But the title títulos propios cannot be recognized through homologación or equivalencia, nor does it replace the official Máster for a regulated profession. [4]If you need a regulated job, choose an official program and check the details in the occupational standard.

How is the admission related to the student visa

The master ’s degree is a university: a visa requires admission to a recognized Spanish institution, a pay-as-you-go matrix and a full-time programme, i.e. at least 90% of loans are registered. [3]. The visa is submitted no later than two months before the start of studies, so admission and payment must be ready in advance. [3]I. Details of the procedure: Student visa to Spain: step-by-step application.

The visa documents are described in the article Student visa documents, funds in the article Training visa facilitiesIf you are already legally in Spain, the regulations allow for a permit for higher education within the country: two months for a decision, silence means a waiver. [3].

The master ’s degree is available: for higher education, work permits are automatically included if they are compatible with studies and not more than 30 hours per week [3]I'll give you more details: Can you work with student permits?.

Typical Errors

• Start with homologación when you need a university application: homologation is not compulsory for admission [1].
• Targeting on the requirements of another programme or university: the list is determined by the university [1].
• Not to verify that a diploma in the country of issue gives access to a master ’s degree: this is a condition of article 18 [1].
• Order apostille and a transfer in the last month, and apply for a visa two months before the start.
• Select a program with a face-to-face component less than half for a visa: Article 52 requires at least 50% of full-time classes for non-university higher education [3].
• To accept a deposit for the matrix without specifying it in the consulate: the regulation refers to "derechos de inscripción, matricula o documento equivalente" [3].

When Individual Review Is Needed

A case study is needed if you are not sure that the diploma gives you access to a magistrate in the country of extradition, if you want to work in a regulated profession, if you are with your family or are already in Spain on another basis.

What can we help you with?

The NEXO team in Barcelona explains the procedure, helps prepare documents, translations and visa applications. Consultation; service: Student visa and estanciaand the timing and sequence of steps collected in Training route, and other grounds of residence compare the page Residence permit in Barcelona.

Frequent issues

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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.