Vicerrectorado de Estudios

Thank you for your interest in the University of Murcia. Please take into account these general rules for international applicants:

  • University degrees issued within the EU or in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, do not need to be legalized.
  • All other University degrees: the documents have to be legalized, with the Apostille of the Hague or through Diplomatic Channels.
  • International applicants must supply certified translations of all documents not in Spanish.
  • Remember that if your degree has been issued outside the European Higher Education Area, you will have to apply for the verification of the level of your studies before applying for admission (see question 5).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. What ́s the difference between a "Máster Oficial" or "Máster Universitario", and a "Máster Propio"?
  2. Can I access Official Master ́s studies with a Bachelor ́s degree?
  3. When and how to apply for admission?
  4. Language requirements for international students
  5. Do I have to obtain the accreditation or equivalence on my academic credentials ("homologación") to study a Master or Doctoral programme at the University of Murcia?
  6. What is the verification of an equivalent level of studies?
  7. What ́s the difference between obtaining the accreditation or equivalence of my academic credentials ("homologación"), and the verification of an equivalent level of studies?
  8. Documents required for students with degrees issued within the EHEA to be enrolled in Master ́s studies at the University of Murcia
  9. Documents required for students with degrees issued outside the EEHA to be enrolled in Master ́s studies at the University of Murcia
  10. How much do Master programmes cost?
  11. Where can I obtain information about timetables, classrooms, programmes, start dates, etc.?
  12. Is there a minimum number of credits I have to take?
  13. Scholarships
  14. What ́s the equivalence of the academic credentials or "Homologación"?
  15. What do I have to do to obtain the equivalence of the academic credentials or "Homologación"?
  16. How to legalize documents
  17. How to obtain the certified (sworn) translation
  18. Contact the Postgraduate Office of the University of Murcia

1. What ́s the difference between a "Máster Oficial" or "Máster Universitario", and a "Máster Propio"?

"Máster Oficial" or "Máster Universitario" means an official Master programme approved and recognized by the Spanish regulations, and therefore, in the whole European Higher Education Area. It grants full academic and proffessional effects. Admission to a Master programme requires a successfully completed university degree.

Official Master programmes are focused on professional specialization or research, and give access to Doctoral programmes. The Master programmes last one or two academic years, i.e., between 60 and 120 European credits ECTS*. These FAQ ́s are about these type of Masters.

You can find the Official Master programmes offered by the University of Murcia here.

*1 credit ECTS = 25-30 hours of work: 10 hours of attendance (lectures, seminars) and at least 15 hours of self- study.

"Máster Propio" means a university-specific degree that is not recognized as offcial according to the Spanish regulations, but holds weight in the work environment, since it is oriented towards an advanced professional specialization. For this reason, these courses do not give access to Doctoral programmes. Admission to a Master Propio also requires a successfully completed university degree. There are different university-specific degrees, such as Masters, Postgraduate courses and Seminars. You can find information about the University of Murcia specific degrees (non official) here: https://casiopea.um.es/cursospe/index.jsp

2. Can I access Official Master ́s studies with a Bachelor ́s degree?

Admission to a Master programme requires a successfully completed university degree. Each specific Master's programme may require Bachelor ́s or Graduate (4 years) degree. Please consult the specific Master you intend to study.

3. When and how to apply for admission?

Applications for degree programmes have to be made within the admission deadline. There is a first deadline from March to May, and a second one in July. If there are vacancies left, there will be a new deadline in September. Please consult the specific dates on the website.

For Master programmes, you need to apply through the on-line pre-application, attaching the required documents in electronic format. 

Remember that if your degree has been issued outside the EHEA, you will have to apply first for the verification of an equivalent level of studies (see question 5).

4. Language requirements for international students

Unless required for a specific Master programme, applicants do not need to present proof of their knowledge of Spanish. However, it is clear that students must be proficient in Spanish in order to follow the lectures and academic activities and to pass the examinations.

5. Do I have to obtain the accreditation or equivalence on my academic credentials ("homologación") to study a Master programme at the University of Murcia?

Not necessarily. If your degree has been issued by a University within the European Higher Education Area, you will have to submit your degree and academic transcript properly legalized (if needed) with its certified translation into Spanish. Additional documents might be required for specific studies.

If your degree has been issued by a University outside the European Higher Education Area, you don ́t need to obtain the equivalence of your degree; you can request the University of Murcia to verify the level of your studies (it is called "Comprobación de Nivel de Formación"); if that verification is positive, with this positive resolution you will be able to apply for admission to a Master programme.

Please consult this link and following questions for more information

6. What is the verification of an equivalent level of studies?

It is not an exam. If your degree has been issued by a University outside the European Higher Education Area, we would need some specific documents to check that your university degree is adequate to study a Master programme at our university (it is called "Comprobación de nivel de formación de estudios"). You must send or bring us your academic documents (properly legalized and translated). You will need the positive resolution allowing you to access postgraduate studies at the University of Murcia, to apply for admission.

Please bear in mind that the processing will take some weeks so you need to send the documents in advance in order to have the resolution on time to apply within the admission deadline.

  • Who examines the documents and decides on the verification?

Your academic documents will be examined by the Commission corresponding to your field of study. If the report is positive, the resolution will be authorised by the General Doctoral Commission of the University of Murcia To find the application form and information about the required documents, please consult this link and the following questions.

7. What ́s the difference between obtaining the accreditation or equivalence of my academic credentials ("homologación"), and the verification of an equivalent level of studies?

Obtaining the recognition or equivalence of a foreign university degree ("homologación"), means that it is recognised as equivalent to an official Spanish university degree, with full academic and professional effects in the whole country, and therefore in the European Higher Education Area (please consult questions 18 and 19 for more information).

The verification of an equivalent level of studies is a procedure for the University of Murcia for degrees issued outside the EHEA, which consists of checking that your level of studies is adequate in order to study a Master course or a Doctoral programme at our University. It is only necessary if you want to study at our University. It does not grant any other academic or proffessional effect, nor does it imply that you will later be admitted to the specific Master/Doctoral programme.

Please consult the following questions for more infomation.

8. Documents required for students with degrees issued within the EHEA to enrol on Master ́s studies at the University of Murcia

To apply for admission, the first thing you will need to do is to register using the online pre-application attaching the required documents in electronic format, within the established deadline.

On-line pre-application: https://preinscripcionposgrado.um.es

Documents required:

  1. COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT
  2. UNIVERSITY DEGREE with its certified translation into Spanish.
  3. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT of your university degree (a document which certifies the official length of the study programme; completed subjects, hours per subject and marks) with its certified translation into Spanish.

Legalization is not required for documents issued within the EU or in Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein Legalization is required for documents issued in all other countries.

If you are admitted to the Master programme, you will have to register at the Secretary of the Faculty, bringing your original documents, within the established deadline.

9. Documents required for students with degrees issued outside the EEHA to enrol on Master programmes at the University of Murcia

We would need some specific documents to check that your university degree is adequate to study a Master programme in our university ( it is called "Comprobación de nivel de formación de estudios", see question 5). You must send or bring us your academic documents (properly legalized and translated). You will need the positive resolution allowing you to access postgraduate studies at the University of Murcia, to apply for admission.

Please bear in mind that the processing will take some weeks so you need to send the documents in advance in order to have the resoluction on time to apply within the the admission deadline.

Please send or bring the following documents to the Postgraduate Office (Edificio Rector Soler, 3a planta, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, CP 30100 Murcia, Spain):

  1. COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT
  2. COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM that you can find here
  3. UNIVERSITY DEGREE properly legalized with its certified translation into Spanish.
  4. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT of your university degree (a document which certifies the official length of the study programme; completed subjects, hours per subject and marks) properly legalized with its certified translation into Spanish.
  5. CERTIFICATION ISSUED BY YOUR UNIVERSITY which states that your degree allows you to study a Master programme in the country where the degree is issued, properly legalized with its certified translation into Spanish. This is not necessary for students coming from China, since there is an agreement with this country.
  •  Requirements about the documents
  1. The documents have to be properly legalized (with the Apostille of The Hague Accords or through diplomatic channels).
  2. All the documents you bring or send must be originals or copies with the original legalization (original Apostille or original stamp of the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in your country).
  3. Certified translations of all documents not in Spanish is needed.
  • How to legalize the documents
  1. With the Apostille of the Hague Accords for States signatory to the Convention. You can consult Member States and where to obtain it here: http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.authorities&cid=41
  • Through diplomatic channels for the rest of the countries:
  1. Ministry of Education for education degrees and correspondent Ministry for birth and nationality certificates
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the documents were issued
  3. Spanish Consulate or Embassy in that country
  • Where to present the documents

Once the documents are legalized and officially translated, you should bring or send them to the Postgraduate Office:

Universidad de Murcia Área de Gestión Académica
Sección de Posgrado Edificio Rector Soler, 3ª planta
30100 Campus de Espinardo – Murcia - España

  • When will the verification be ready?

These verifications are processed and resolved as soon as possible, though the process might take a few weeks. You will need the positive resolution to apply for admission to the Master programme.

10. How much do Master programmes cost?

TThis dependes on the specific Master Programme and on the Public Fees for ECTS credit approved for each academic year ( academic year 2011/2012: the general fee for each ECTS credit is 30, 68€, but there are Master  programmes with specific fees). Please consult the Public Fees here here

11. Where can I obtain information about timetables, classrooms, programmes, start dates, etc.?

This information is available on the web site of the specific Master programme, in the Secretary of the Faculty and on the website of the Faculty where the Master is taught (see section "Estudios"): http://www.um.es/estructura/centros/

12. Is there a minimum number of credits I have to take?

In general, to allow part-time studies, during the first year of a Master's Programme you need to take at least 30 ECTS credits, but you should consult the website of the specific programme.

13. Scholarships

The University of Murcia offers scholarships for Master programmes. International students may apply if they fulfill the general requirements of the announcement and:

  • Nationals of Member States of the EU must declare their taxes in Spain (previous year ́s declaration is required)
  • Nationals of all other countries must have residence permit in Spain

Please consult the Scholarships Office of the University of Murcia

Telephone: +34 868 88 3316
E-mail: becas@um.es

The National Ministry of Education also offers scholarships for Master and Doctoral programmes:
http://www.educacion.es/horizontales/servicios/becas-ayudas-subvenciones.html

14. What ́s the equivalence of the academic credentials or "Homologación"?

"Homologación" means obtaining the recognition of a foreign university degree as equivalent to an official Spanish university degree, with full academic and professional effects throughout the whole country, and therefore in the European Higher Education Area. This is a procedure that requires the study of every individual case and may take a few months.

  • In Spain, for undergraduate degrees, you must go to the national Ministry of Education. You can go to its delegation in Murcia:

Edificio MOPU – Alta Inspección de Educación – 3ª planta
Avenida Alfonso X
Phone: +34 968 989 359

  • For postgraduate degrees (Master and Doctoral degrees) you can go to any Spanish University. "Reconocimiento profesional" is a procedure to recognize your degree only to practice professions which require formal qualifications; this last procedure is only applicable for degrees from EU and EEA.

15. What do I have to do to obtain the equivalence of the academic credentials or "Homologación" of a Master or Doctoral degree?

You must bring all yor academic documents properly legalized and translated (see questions 7,8,10,11 for information about documents) to the Postgraduate Office. We strongly recommend you to bring as much information as possible about the studies you want the recognition for: the Program of study, with the stamp of your university, clear certification of the hours per subject and the total amount of hours of the programme, etc.

This is a procedure that requires the study of every individual case. If you wish to obtain a first evaluation regarding the possibility to obtain this equivalence before you send or bring us any physical document, you can send them in electronic format (no legalization needed) to 3rciclo@um.es

For Doctoral programmes: if your Doctoral degree was issued before the system of the EHEA, and you don ́t have any Master or Pre-Doctoral courses, you should ask for the supervisor of your Doctoral Programme for a certificate of the general contents of your "Doctoral training". 

16. How to legalize documents

With the Apostille of the Hague Accords for States signatory to the Convention. You can consult Member States and where to obtain it here: http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.authorities&cid=41

Through diplomatic channels for the rest of the countries:

  1. Ministry of Education for education degrees and correspondent Ministry for birth and nationality certificates
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the documents were issued
  3. Spanish Consulate or Embassy in that country

Degrees issued in China:

  1. Notary and legal translator, usally designed by the notary himself. 
  2. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  3. Embassy or Consulate of Spain in China

17. How to obtain the certified (sworn) translation

18. Contact the Postgraduate Office of the University of Murcia

Universidad de Murcia
Área de Gestión Académica
Sección de Postgrado
Edificio Rector Soler, 3ª planta
Campus de Espinardo 30100 – Murcia
Teléfono: (+34) 868 88 4294
E-mail: 3rciclo@um.es