UK Degree Verification and Apostille for the University of Valencia

Are you applying to the University of Valencia, officially known as the Universitat de València or UV, with a UK degree?

UV normally requires UK applicants to legalise both their degree certificate and academic transcript. For documents issued in the United Kingdom, this usually means obtaining a UK FCDO Apostille.

Ginkgo Advisory provides a complete UK degree Apostille service for the University of Valencia.

Our service can include:

• UK degree and transcript verification
• HEDD degree verification
• Checks through secure university platforms
• Direct confirmation from the awarding university
• Enhanced solicitor certification
• Academic document authenticity confirmation
• UK FCDO Apostille
• A two-working-day express Apostille option
• Paper and electronic Apostille support
• International delivery to Valencia
• Embassy legalisation for non-Hague countries

Does a UK Degree Need an Apostille for the University of Valencia?

Yes, in most cases.

UV exempts academic documents issued in the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland from legalisation. However, the United Kingdom does not belong to any of these groups.

Instead, UV expressly lists the United Kingdom among the Hague Convention countries whose documents require an Apostille.

Therefore, UK applicants should normally Apostille:

• The bachelor’s degree certificate
• The official academic transcript

Moreover, UV states that applicants with non-EU qualifications must submit the Apostille or legalisation with their online pre-enrolment application. UV may exclude an application that does not include the required legalised documents.

Applicants should therefore complete the Apostille process before the application deadline.

The UK Is in the EHEA but Still Needs an Apostille

The United Kingdom remains a member of the European Higher Education Area.

However, UV uses two different geographical tests.

For academic access and its foreign-qualification equivalence fee, UV distinguishes between:

• EHEA qualifications
• Qualifications issued outside the EHEA

By contrast, UV’s legalisation exemption covers only:

• EU countries
• EEA countries
• Switzerland

As a result, a UK graduate normally follows the EHEA academic-access route and avoids UV’s separate €155.22 non-EHEA equivalence-study fee. Nevertheless, the UK degree and transcript still require an Apostille because the UK is outside the EU and EEA.

Do Both the Degree and Transcript Need an Apostille?

Yes.

UV states that both the foreign degree certificate and academic transcript must be official. In addition, both documents must complete the applicable legalisation process.

Therefore, the safer route normally involves:

• One Apostille for the degree certificate
• One Apostille for the academic transcript

An Apostille on the degree alone may not meet UV’s requirements.

UV also uses the legalised transcript to assess the applicant’s academic average. If the applicant does not provide the Apostille or the required Spanish grade-equivalence document, UV may assign an admission mark of 5 out of 10.

Can One Apostille Cover the Degree and Transcript?

The UK FCDO may accept a properly prepared bundle in some cases.

However, UV treats the degree certificate and transcript as separate admission documents. Therefore, one Apostille may create uncertainty unless UV confirms that it accepts a combined bundle.

Separate Apostilles usually provide a clearer route because:

• Each academic document remains independent
• UV can review each document separately
• The transcript may contain several pages
• You can reuse either document elsewhere
• The documents may require different certification wording

Before choosing a combined bundle, applicants should ask UV to confirm its acceptance in writing.

Must the Apostille Be Attached to the Original?

UV’s central guidance states that the Apostille must appear on the original academic document.

Therefore, applicants should not assume that UV will accept an Apostille attached only to an ordinary photocopy.

For paper academic records, the safer route usually involves:

1. Verifying the degree or transcript.
2. Preparing suitable solicitor certification on the original document or an attached certification page.
3. Obtaining the FCDO Apostille.
4. Scanning the complete apostilled document for the online application.
5. Keeping the original available for later inspection.

Some UV programmes may accept a certified copy of the complete apostilled original. For example, the Secondary Education Teaching master’s guidance states that applicants must first Apostille the original and then provide a certified copy of the whole document.

Programme-specific rules may therefore affect the final submission format.

Can a UK Solicitor Certify the Degree and Transcript?

Yes, where the chosen document route permits solicitor certification.

The UK Legalisation Office can legalise qualification certificates after a UK public official, such as a solicitor or notary, has certified them. However, applicants must first check whether the overseas recipient wants an original or a certified copy.

Our solicitor can:

• Verify the academic award
• Check the degree certificate
• Check the transcript
• Review secure electronic records
• Confirm the verification route
• Add enhanced authenticity wording
• Prepare the document for the FCDO

Because UV asks for the Apostille on the original, we normally prepare the certification to support legalisation of the original academic document rather than a standalone photocopy.

What Is UK Degree Verification?

Degree verification checks whether a recognised UK university genuinely awarded the qualification.

A scan or photocopy only shows the information on the document. It does not independently prove that the university issued it.

We may verify academic documents through:

• HEDD
• Parchment
• Digitary CORE
• Gradintelligence
• A secure graduate portal
• A QR code
• An online authentication code
• A valid digital signature
• Direct confirmation from the university
• An official university email

The check may confirm:

• The graduate’s name
• The awarding institution
• The qualification
• The subject studied
• The degree classification
• The award date
• Attendance dates
• Transcript details
• The validity of an electronic academic record

What Is Enhanced Solicitor Certification?

Basic solicitor certification usually confirms that a copy matches the document shown to the solicitor.

Enhanced solicitor certification goes further.

After completing an official verification check, our solicitor may confirm:

• How we received the academic document
• Which verification route we used
• Whether HEDD confirmed the award
• Whether the university confirmed the qualification
• Whether we checked an authentication code
• Whether we validated a digital signature
• Whether the document matches the verified university record
• Whether the available evidence confirms authenticity

This approach creates a clear link between the university’s official record and the document submitted to the FCDO.

However, enhanced certification does not replace UV’s requirement to legalise both the degree and transcript.

What Documents Does UV Require?

Applicants generally upload electronic copies of:

• The degree that gives access to the master’s programme
• The official academic transcript
• Passport, NIE or Spanish identity document
• Any documents required by the specific master’s programme

The transcript must include the academic average. Foreign applicants must also provide the relevant Spanish ten-point grade conversion.

Depending on the programme, UV may also request:

• A curriculum vitae
• A motivation letter
• Language certificates
• Recommendation letters
• A Diploma Supplement
• A grading-scale statement
• Proof of specific subjects or credits
• Professional or research experience

Each master’s degree can set additional admission requirements.

Does UV Require a Spanish Grade Conversion?

Yes.

UV asks foreign applicants to provide an academic average converted to the Spanish ten-point scale.

If the applicant does not provide the correct grade-equivalence document, UV may use a mark of 5 out of 10 when assessing the application.

A UK applicant may therefore need:

• The official transcript
• A Diploma Supplement
• A university grading-scale statement
• An explanation of the UK classification system
• The Spanish Ministry’s average-grade equivalence declaration

The transcript should clearly show all subjects, grades and credits.

Can You Apply Before Receiving the Final Degree?

UV allows some applicants to apply while they complete their undergraduate studies.

During Phase 2, EHEA students may apply where they still need to complete the final degree project and no more than nine ECTS credits. However, applicants who already hold their degrees receive priority.

Applicants who have completed their studies but have not received the final diploma may use:

• A temporary award certificate
• A university completion letter
• Proof that the degree is being issued
• An official transcript confirming all credits
• A European Diploma Supplement

UV accepts a temporary certificate with an official transcript where the final diploma is not yet available.

However, the applicant must still meet the applicable legalisation rules for foreign documents.

Do English Documents Need Translation?

Normally, no.

UV accepts supporting documents issued in:

• Catalan
• Spanish
• English
• French
• Italian
• Portuguese

Therefore, a UK degree certificate and transcript issued in English will not normally need an official translation.

Documents in another language require an official translation into Spanish or Catalan.

Where legalisation applies, the applicant must complete the Apostille process before arranging the translation. The translation must include the Apostille and all related legalisation wording.

Paper Apostille or e-Apostille for UV?

The FCDO offers both paper Apostilles and e-Apostilles.

A paper Apostille attaches to a physical document. By contrast, an e-Apostille forms part of an electronically signed PDF.

Paper Apostille

A paper Apostille may provide the safer route because UV states that the Apostille must appear on the original academic document.

This format may suit applicants where:

• The university issued a paper degree
• The transcript contains an original signature or stamp
• UV may inspect the originals
• The programme requires paper documents
• UV has not confirmed acceptance of an e-Apostille

Electronic Apostille

An e-Apostille may work where:

• The UK university issued a genuine electronic document
• The record contains a valid digital signature
• Our solicitor signs the document electronically
• UV accepts an electronic original
• The complete legalised PDF can be uploaded and verified

However, UV’s general guidance focuses on an Apostille placed on the original. Applicants should therefore obtain written confirmation before relying only on an e-Apostille.

Regulated Master’s Programmes

Some UV programmes impose additional requirements.

For the Master’s Degree in Legal Practice and Representation, applicants with foreign law degrees must obtain Spanish homologation. This rule applies even where the qualification comes from an EHEA education system.

Meanwhile, foreign psychology graduates who apply for the Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology must first obtain a favourable accreditation decision. The degree and transcript must also follow the relevant legalisation requirements.

Therefore, an Apostille does not replace:

• Homologation
• Professional recognition
• A programme-specific access assessment
• Subject or credit checks
• Language requirements

Verification, Certification and Apostille Explained

These stages perform different functions.

Degree verification checks the academic award against an official university source.

Solicitor certification records the solicitor’s findings and confirms the document or signature.

The FCDO Apostille authenticates the UK public official’s signature, stamp or seal.

The Apostille does not assess the applicant’s marks or guarantee admission to the University of Valencia.

Two-Working-Day Express FCDO Apostille

Ginkgo Advisory offers a two-working-day express FCDO Apostille option for suitable documents.

The two-working-day period applies to the FCDO stage after we have completed verification and prepared the documents.

Before submission, we may need to:

• Review UV’s programme requirements
• Verify the degree
• Verify the transcript
• Obtain the graduate’s consent
• Check electronic signatures
• Prepare enhanced solicitor certification
• Confirm the original-document route
• Choose a paper or electronic Apostille

Therefore, the total processing time depends on the verification method and document format.

Our University of Valencia Document Process

Step 1: Send us the UV requirements

Please provide:

• The full master’s programme name
• The pre-enrolment instructions
• The document checklist
• Any email from the programme administrator
• Your application deadline

Step 2: Send copies of your documents

Send clear copies of:

• Your degree certificate
• Your academic transcript
• Any Diploma Supplement
• Any provisional award document
• Any grading-scale statement

Step 3: Identify the verification route

We determine whether we can use:

• HEDD
• Parchment
• Digitary CORE
• Another secure platform
• A QR code
• A digital signature
• Direct university confirmation

Step 4: Confirm the original-document route

We check:

• Whether the degree and transcript are paper originals
• Whether UV accepts an electronic original
• Whether the documents require separate Apostilles
• Whether the programme requires a certified copy later

Step 5: Complete verification and certification

Our solicitor verifies the academic documents and prepares suitable enhanced certification.

Step 6: Obtain the FCDO Apostilles

We submit the correctly prepared documents to the FCDO.

A two-working-day express option is available for suitable documents.

Step 7: Arrange delivery

We can return the documents to:

• The United Kingdom
• Spain
• Hong Kong
• Another international destination

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a UK degree need an Apostille for the University of Valencia?

Yes, in most cases. UV expressly places the United Kingdom under its Hague Apostille route.

Do I need to Apostille both my degree and transcript?

Yes. UV requires both documents to complete the legalisation process.

Must I complete the Apostille before applying?

Yes. UV states that it may exclude applications that do not include the required Apostille or legalisation.

Is the UK still part of the EHEA?

Yes. Therefore, a UK applicant normally avoids UV’s non-EHEA equivalence-study fee. However, the documents still need an Apostille.

Must the Apostille appear on the original?

UV’s general guidance states that the Apostille must be stamped on the original academic document.

Can I Apostille a solicitor-certified photocopy?

Do not rely on this route without UV’s written approval. UV’s central rule focuses on an Apostille attached to the original.

Can one Apostille cover the degree and transcript?

Possibly, but separate Apostilles usually provide the clearer and safer route.

Can a UK solicitor verify and certify my degree?

Yes. Our solicitor can verify suitable academic records and prepare enhanced certification for the FCDO process.

Does the Apostille prove that my degree is genuine?

No. Degree verification addresses academic authenticity. The Apostille authenticates the UK public official’s signature.

Does UV require a Spanish grade conversion?

Yes. Applicants should submit the appropriate ten-point grade-equivalence document.

Do English documents need translation?

Normally not. UV accepts academic documents issued in English.

Can I use an e-Apostille?

Possibly, but applicants should obtain written confirmation because UV’s general rule refers to an Apostille on the original document.

Can I apply before receiving my final diploma?

In some cases, yes. UV may accept a temporary award certificate with an official transcript.

Do regulated master’s programmes use different rules?

Yes. Legal Practice requires homologation of a foreign law degree, while General Health Psychology requires a separate accreditation decision.

How quickly can the Apostille be completed?

We offer a two-working-day express FCDO option after verification and document preparation.

Contact Ginkgo Advisory

To request a quotation, please send:

• Your UK degree certificate
• Your academic transcript
• The full University of Valencia programme name
• The pre-enrolment checklist
• Any request for certification or legalisation
• Your application deadline
• Your return-delivery city and postcode

We will confirm the correct verification, certification and Apostille route.