Foreign qualifications

DIPLOMATIC LEGALISATION OF FOREIGN UNVERSITY QUALIFICATIONS

In the case of foreign university qualifications the following documents must be presented to apply for postgraduate studies:

1. Application form authorising postgraduate studies.
2. Diplomatically convalidated qualifications and academic record.

All foreign academic qualifications must be convalidated diplomatically. No postgraduate qualifications will be awarded if qualifications have not been previously convalidated.

In the case of European Union foreign university qualifications or those referring to the European Economic Area, in order to complete postgraduate studies you need to present:

• A postgraduate studies application form
• A certified university degree
• Academic record

In the case of overseas university qualifications, in order to complete postgraduate studies you need to present:

• A postgraduate studies application form
• A certified university degree which has been diplomatically legalised
• Academic record

Diplomatic legalisation of academic qualification(s) is compulsory for all overseas qualifications. This procedure must be done from the individual’s country of origin and requires the stamping of the university degree in accordance with international agreements. No postgraduate or master’s qualifications can be issued without legalised university qualifications.

Legalisation will be completed depending on the agreement signed by the country (see website of the Ministry of Science and Education):

• If the issuing country has subscribed to the Hague Convention you need to obtain a stamp from the Hague Apostille (abbreviated legalisation). Every country issues this stamp through specific organisms such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• If the country has subscribed to the Andrés Bello Convention, diplomatic legalisation will require three stamps from: the Ministry of Education for the issuing country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in question and the Spanish Consulate in the country which has issued the qualification.
• Those countries which are not subscribed to any of the above conventions must legalise diplomas with a stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education (this can be substituted by a university stamp) and from the country’s Spanish Embassy or Consulate).

If these qualifications are in a language other than Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Italian or Portuguese, the legalised degree and academic record must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Catalan or Spanish. The official translation can be done by a sworn translator authorised or registered in Spain, by any Spanish diplomatic or consular representation abroad or finally by any diplomatic or consular representation of the applicant’s country of origin in Spain.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

In the country of origin

European Union residents are not required to complete any administrative procedures before coming to the university. Citizens belonging to countries outside the European Union must obtain a visa before leaving their country. This can be applied for at the Spanish embassy or consulate nearest their place of residence. To apply for a visa you will need a letter of acceptance from IDEC-UPF for the corresponding master's or postgraduate course. Important: a tourist visa is not sufficient to study and work in Spain.

Documents needed for applying for student cards from Academic Administration

IDEC’s Academic Secretariat can inform you about and/or apply for your student card or NIE (foreign resident identification number). The documents which you need to provide during the first month of your student visa are:

• Application form (original and copy). Document Ex.15
• Original passport and photocopy
• Photocopy of your student visa (only 90 day visa)
• Photocopy of entry stamp (if this is illegible, a photocopy of your plane ticket)
• Letter of acceptance as a student at IDEC (for a duration of no less than six months)
• Photocopied proof of registration or course payment
• Three photos
• Municipal census form (from the City Council - see point 10)

You can also apply directly to:

Comisaría de Policía - Oficina de Extranjería - Eixample
Calle De Guadalajara, 3-5 Planta Baja
(behind the Police Station on the corner of calle Balmes)
Opening times: 0900 – 1400 (Monday to Friday)
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat: Estación de Gràcia
Metro: L5 and L3 Diagonal.

Forms are available from the Welcome Service and on www.mir.es

Health cover

If you are a Spanish citizen, you must have valid health cover in Barcelona (National Health Service, private health insurance, etc.).

If you are a European Union citizen and are registered with the Health Service in your country, you need to apply for form E-128, which is issued by the public health authorities in your country. This document entitles you to any necessary medical attention while in Spain. If you need free medical attention after arriving in Barcelona you should go to the Centre d'Assistència Primària (CAP) nearest your place of residence and present a photocopy of your E-128 form, together with proof of identity.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union it is advisable to find out if there is any medical agreement between your country's National Health Service and Spain (e.g. in the case of some Latin American countries). If there is such an agreement, you must ask the relevant authorities to issue you with the corresponding document to allow you free access to the Spanish public health service.

If none of the above apply, you must contract private medical insurance before you come here to cover the whole of your time at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The following insurance companies offer special conditions for Universitat Pompeu Fabra students:

1. UNIPSA
   Rambla de Catalunya, 38, 6a. planta
   Teléfono: (+34) 93 488 03 27
2. GDS-CORREDURIA DE SEGUROS, S.L.
   Vinculada a "la Caixa" Grupo Asegurador
   Aribau, 198, 6a. planta
   08036 Barcelona
   Telephone: 902 32 64 32
   E-mail: info@gdsseguros.com

On Barcelona city council's web page in the sections referring to public health, you will find information about health centres, hospitals and private clinics in the city of Barcelona.