Each country has a different educational system. This causes that if we want to study in another country we must equate the courses, titles or studies obtained in New Zealand with those of the destination country, in this case Spain. This equivalence process is called homologation or validation, and it’s what we are going to explain in this post: how to homologate studies being New Zealander.
WHO MUST HOMOLOGATE TO STUDY IN SPAIN?
All people who want to study outside of New Zealand, either to continue studies or to start new ones, must homologate or validate their previous degrees. This process is mandatory and necessary, in addition to other requirements that may be requested to study in Spain as a New Zelander citizen. Even if we do not intend to study, the ideal is to have the homologation in case in the future we are asked for a job or public opposition in Spain.
WHAT STEPS ARE REQUIRED TO HOMOLOGATE OR VALIDATE NEW ZEALANDER STUDIES?
The first thing you need to do is understand the requirements to gain admission to the institution you want in Spain. So, if you’re dealing with secondary studies or High School, the main step is to complete High School and start the process.
If you’re dealing with university procedures, there are several options depending on whether you have completed your degree or not. If you have completed your degree, the process is similar to High School. However, if you haven’t completed your degree and wish to continue your studies in Spain, there are different options, such as validating your studies through subject recognition or starting anew.
You can learn more about these options, advantages, and benefits in each case in the post about how to continue studies in Spain by our colleagues at Escuela PCE.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS NECESSARY TO HOMOLOGATE STUDIES?
- Original and certified copy of the title, which must have the Apostille of The Hague.
- Original and certified copy of the qualification certificate, which must have the Apostille of The Hague.
- Original and certified copy of the study plan (in the case of university approvals), which includes all the detailed information on the subjects and which must have the Apostille of The Hague.
- Sworn translation of the original apostilled documents.
- Certified copy of passport or document.
- Payment of Form 079 fees.
- Fill in the Application Form for each case. If it is for university or non-university studies.
NEW ZEALANDER SECONDARY STUDIES EQUIVALENCE IN SPAIN
Currently, baccalaureate degrees in Spain (1st and 2nd) are equivalent to 11th, 12th and 13th of High School.
WHERE ARE THE PROCEDURES DONE TO HOMOLOGATE THE BACCALAUREATE AND OTHER DEGREES?
There are three options to process the titles:
- Onsite. If you are in Spain, in the General Registry of the Ministry of Education, in the Areas of High Education Inspection, except if you are in Galicia, the Basque Country and Catalonia, which is carried out in the Education Council of these communities. If you are in New Zealand, at the Spanish consulates, making an appointment.
- On-line. Only for university homologations, through the website of the Ministry of Universities.
- LegalSpain. The best option if you want everything to go well and not have any setbacks. This option allows you to stop worrying and do the homologation through a specific agency in these procedures. We are experts in all types of approval and validation processes.
HOW LONG DOES THE HOMOLOGATION PROCESS OF NEW ZEALANDER STUDIES TAKE?
The baccalaureate homologation process can take between 5 and 9 months and university degrees between 6 and 15 months. These times are average, and will depend on the agreements between countries and the Spanish consulate, since the more work they have, the more delay it can generate.
WHY SHOULD HOMOLOGATE DOCUMENTS AND TITLES WITH LEGALSPAIN?
As can be seen, there can be many procedures that are necessary to obtain a homologation or validation of our titles. In addition, the time to obtain the resolution depends a lot on the consulate and if it quickly sends the documents to Spain, something that does not usually happen. Registration units abroad often make mistakes and this affects the student’s records. Therefore, if you want to gain time, process security, save money and comfort, it is best to entrust and delegate these processes to specialized agencies such as LegalSpain. We can coordinate all aspects so that you can have the necessary peace of mind and you only have to worry about deciding what to study and where to do it.
