Royal Veterinary College graduates preparing for Spanish homologation or equivalence should distinguish the degree certificate from other documents received after completing the course. RVC\’s academic record and the University of London\’s award document have different roles. A clear file should identify the actual qualification, its issuer and any additional academic or training evidence requested for assessment in Spain.
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.
Use the degree award document for your RVC qualification
RVC\’s current graduation guidance states that its degree certificates are awarded and dispatched by the University of London. It separately issues an RVC Certificate of Completion for display, which is distinct from the University of London degree certificate.
Check the heading and issuer of each certificate before selecting the evidence for your application. Keep the University of London degree document with the RVC academic record, and explain any difference in institutional names during the initial review. If the degree certificate has not arrived or a replacement is needed, use the relevant award-document service and ask what official confirmation is available in the meantime. A display certificate should not be assumed to provide the same evidence as the formal degree award or to meet the Spanish procedure\’s document requirements.
Request RVC academic detail for the actual Spanish assessment
RVC can provide an official academic transcript or Confirmation of Award letter and can send those documents to a third party when requested.
Start with the complete transcript and compare it with the qualification and programme dates on the award evidence. If a homologation assessment asks for particular subject content, practical training or workload information, send the precise request to RVC and ask what official records it can provide. Preserve the source correspondence and identify any delivery instructions for third-party verification. The academic file should document the studies actually completed. Additional professional membership or display documents should not be used to fill gaps in the degree\’s academic record.
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 RVC degree recognition in Spain
Is RVC\’s Certificate of Completion the same as its degree certificate?
RVC describes the Certificate of Completion as a display document and identifies the University of London as the issuer of the degree certificate. Check which official award evidence the Spanish procedure requires, and obtain the academic transcript or a suitable award-confirmation document through the appropriate records service.
Can equivalencia provide permission to practise a regulated profession?
Equivalencia has academic and administrative effects and does not itself authorise practice of the regulated professions covered by the homologation procedure. Establish the exact intended outcome before selecting the application. Assessment of academic level and assessment against a professional qualification can involve different evidence and procedures.
Official equivalence guidance.
Prepare your RVC documents with Ginkgo Advisory
Send your RVC qualification, University of London award document, academic transcript and any request for further subject or training information.
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.