A London Interdisciplinary School degree needs a clear account of its interdisciplinary academic content when prepared for Spanish homologation or equivalence. Preserve the formal BASc title and explain the assessed subjects, methods and projects through official records. The application should represent the qualification actually awarded rather than rename it as a more familiar single-subject degree.
Homologation or equivalence: choose the relevant Spanish route
Homologación seeks recognition against the Spanish qualification required for a regulated profession covered by the procedure. Declaración de equivalencia recognises academic level at Grado or Máster, with academic and administrative effects; it does not authorise practice of those professions. The appropriate application depends on your completed qualification and intended use. Neither university reputation nor an apostille guarantees recognition. Doctoral equivalence follows a separate procedure through a Spanish university.
The Ministry\’s equivalence guidance requires study equivalent to at least three full-time years (180 ECTS or equivalent) for Grado and at least one full-time year (60 ECTS or equivalent) for Máster. The official qualification must also give access to master\’s or doctoral study respectively. Meeting these minimum conditions does not guarantee approval; the actual award and evidence must be assessed.
Explain the BASc through modules and assessed projects
LIS\’s undergraduate award is the BASc in Arts and Sciences: Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods, offered over three years full-time. Its curriculum combines methods and subject knowledge across disciplines and includes independently chosen research projects.
Request the full academic record and identify where it describes module levels, credits and the projects completed. If the broad award title leaves the subject coverage unclear, ask for the programme specification or other official explanation applicable to your cohort. Keep project descriptions connected to assessed academic work rather than using them to infer an additional degree specialism. This allows the Spanish assessment to follow the structure and workload of the interdisciplinary qualification while preserving the title recorded on the certificate.
Distinguish UK awarding authority from the Spanish decision
The Office for Students authorises LIS to award taught degrees up to Level 7, including bachelor\’s and taught master\’s qualifications.
The institution\’s authority to award a UK qualification is relevant to identifying the degree, but it does not decide the outcome of Spanish recognition. Check the precise award, intended use and requirements of the chosen procedure. An interdisciplinary curriculum should not be assumed to match several Spanish professional qualifications because it draws on multiple subjects. If further subject information is requested, obtain it from the institution and keep it consistent with the transcript instead of creating your own substitute qualification title.
Institution sources for the document arrangements above:
Prepare the degree certificate and academic record
Check the official document requirements and assemble:
- Your degree certificate or an official certificate confirming its issuance.
- An official academic record showing programme duration, subjects passed and workload in the required form, with the institution\’s authentication. For equivalencia, a suitable Diploma Supplement may provide this information.
- Identity evidence, payment evidence where required, and any additional documents requested for your application.
Ask the university to clarify missing information. Do not invent study hours or convert credits yourself. Check that names, qualification titles and award dates agree across the records. Plan the required legalisation and official translation for both the qualification evidence and the academic record; confirm the document format before proceeding.
For equivalencia, the Ministry’s document checklist also requires a certificate from the originating institution when transferred or recognised credits exceed 15% of the total. Identify earlier study before preparing a file based only on the final award.
University verification before solicitor certification and apostille
The Spanish Ministry’s UK-specific instructions require the solicitor or notary to state explicitly that authenticity has been verified with the issuing institution. A statement that a copy matches an original is insufficient. Arrange the necessary consent and institutional verification before the certification and FCDO apostille stages. The apostille authenticates the relevant signature; the Spanish authority separately assesses the qualification.
Separate documents, bundles and electronic apostilles
Do not assume that one apostille covering both the degree certificate and transcript will meet the application requirements. FCDO guidance advises checking whether the recipient needs separate apostilles or accepts a group of documents.
Spanish guidance recognises electronic apostilles with operational verification. For the UK electronic route, the PDF must be electronically signed by a UK solicitor or notary. Preserve the original signed PDF and follow the submission instructions. The UK apostille verification service uses the apostille number and issue date. Keep these verification details legible.
Official Spanish translation
The Ministry’s translation guidance requires a complete official translation into Castilian Spanish where applicable, including the legalisations. A Spanish Ministry-appointed sworn translator (traductor jurado) is one recognised route. Arrange translation of the final prepared documents and retain the source documents alongside it.
Questions about LIS degree recognition in Spain
Should I translate the LIS BASc into a different BA or BSc award title?
Preserve the formal qualification as issued and use an official translation of the actual documents. Provide the institution\’s explanation of the interdisciplinary programme where needed. Renaming the award yourself can create inconsistencies between the certificate, transcript and application without establishing its academic equivalence or a professional recognition outcome.
Is the apostille timetable the same as the Spanish assessment timetable?
No. University verification, certification, apostille production and translation are preparation stages. Spanish homologation or equivalence assessment is a separate procedure. Ask for a document-service timetable based on the records available, without treating preparation speed as a promised recognition deadline.
Official Ministry recognition guidance.
Prepare your LIS documents with Ginkgo Advisory
Send your LIS certificate, transcript and official programme or project information so the interdisciplinary award can be described accurately in the Spanish file.
Ginkgo Advisory can review your documents, arrange institutional verification, prepare solicitor certification and assist with paper or electronic apostilles, subject to review and confirmed scope. These services prepare the evidence for your application; the competent Spanish authority decides homologation or equivalence.
Contact Ginkgo Advisory or email info@ginkgoadvisory.com with your documents and intended Spanish procedure. We can confirm the verification route, service scope and quotation after reviewing the records.
Related guidance: UK degree homologation and equivalence in Spain; UK degree certificate and transcript apostille; UK e-apostille service.