Universidad de Cantabria in Santander and Staffordshire University were members of the historical Erasmus Mundus economics consortium. Graduates of the earlier International Trade and European Integration programme could receive a joint award listing several university partners. Universidad de Cantabria has also named Coventry University among its doctoral cotutelle partners. In either case, start by looking at how your award was issued.
UK degrees linked to Universidad de Cantabria
| UK awarding institution | Degree or route |
|---|---|
| Staffordshire University (now University of Staffordshire) | Historical joint Erasmus Mundus Master of Arts in Economics of International Trade and European Integration. The consortium later ran the Economics of Globalisation and European Integration programme. |
| Coventry University | Doctoral cotutelle arrangements with Universidad de Cantabria. Consult the individual agreement for the degree documents issued. |
Consortium history and changes in participating universities · Academic profile documenting an award from the earlier joint master’s · Universidad de Cantabria’s announcement on doctoral cotutelles
Homologation or Declaration of Equivalence in Spain
Homologation (Homologación) is the route for an eligible foreign university degree that is being assessed against a Spanish university qualification giving access to a regulated profession covered by the procedure. Check the profession and its specific academic requirements.
Declaration of Equivalence (Declaración de Equivalencia) recognises the academic level of an eligible foreign university qualification as Spanish Grado or Máster for academic and administrative purposes. The receiving institution decides what evidence it requires for the intended use. Conditions for both procedures under Royal Decree 889/2022
A joint degree can appear on one diploma with several universities named on it. For the Spanish procedure, check how the award is recorded and the country responsible for the academic document to be legalised. These details matter particularly if the same consortium issued diplomas in different formats across cohorts. Article 4 of Royal Decree 889/2022 · Spanish Register of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT)
The Ministry provides the application guidance on Valida-TE. Check the latest status of its online filing service before submitting. Ministry’s Valida-TE portal · Ministry’s online filing notices
For a foreign doctorate, the equivalence procedure is handled by a Spanish university. Ask its doctoral school which documents it needs from Coventry. Second additional provision of Royal Decree 889/2022
Documents to gather if you studied through Universidad de Cantabria
For the economics master’s, keep the joint diploma and its supplement or transcript. Check which partner issued or can authenticate each document. If you completed a cotutelle with Coventry, keep the signed cotutelle agreement and any separate UK certificate or official award letter. Where you already hold a Spanish award, ask the receiving body which additional document it needs for your particular purpose.
- Degree certificate. Obtain the final award certificate or official confirmation of its issue.
- Academic record. Request the official transcript showing the programme duration, modules taken and workload. Where the Ministry accepts a Diploma Supplement, check that it contains the required information.
- Supporting documents. Keep any credit-transfer record or cohort-specific agreement the Ministry needs. Arrange official Spanish translations where required.
The degree certificate and academic record are listed separately in the Spanish documentation requirements. When both UK documents require legalisation, we generally prepare each with its own apostille. Documentation requirements under Article 13 · Official guidance on sworn translation
Can a joint master’s diploma be apostilled in the UK?
The answer depends on who issued the document and where its signature can be verified. Send us the full diploma, including the signatures and any issuing details. We can check whether a UK university can verify it for the UK apostille route.
UK solicitor certification and FCDO apostilles
Solicitor certification with confirmation of authenticity
Our UK solicitor verifies the document with the issuing university or through its official verification channel, then certifies it and includes the authenticity statement recommended by the Spanish Ministry.
“I have verified the authenticity of this document with the issuing institution.”
Spanish Ministry instructions for UK academic documents · Ginkgo Advisory’s UK solicitor certification service
Express paper apostille in 2 working days
For eligible documents ready for express submission, the estimated turnaround for our FCDO paper apostille stage is 2 working days. Allow separate time for the university’s verification, solicitor certification and delivery. Ginkgo Advisory’s paper apostille service
EU-qualified electronic signature and FCDO e-Apostille
For eligible documents, our solicitor electronically signs the certification using an EU qualified electronic signature (QES). We submit the signed PDF to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for an e-Apostille. The Ministry accepts electronic apostilles with a readable CSV verification code or QR code. Keep the original PDF for submission. Ginkgo Advisory’s e-Apostille service · GOV.UK apostille guidance
Request a quote for your UK academic documents
Send Ginkgo Advisory legible copies of the degree certificate and academic record, the year of award and any instructions or deadline you have received. We can check the issuer, confirm the verification route and quote for the documents you need. Request a quote · info@ginkgoadvisory.com