Miguel Angel Pollino – CEO of LegalSpain
"If you have completed your high school studies outside of Spain and want to access a Spanish public university, you need UNEDasiss Accreditation." It is the official document that certifies that your previous studies meet the requirements for access to the Spanish university system and that allows universities to evaluate your application.
It's not the same as the validation of a high school diploma, although both processes are related. Confusing them is one of the most frequent and costly mistakes international students make.
In this guide we explain exactly What is UNEDasiss Accreditation?who needs it, what documents are required, what the deadlines are, and how to avoid mistakes that delay or block the process."
UNEDasiss Accreditation It is a digital certificate issued by the UNED (National University of Distance Education) that accredits international students to participate in the admission processes for university degrees in Spain.
This document contains all the relevant information from the student's academic record—admission grade, high school track (if applicable), and PCE exam results (if taken)—and is directly available to Spanish universities through the UNEDasiss digital platform. Students do not need to submit it physically to each university: it can be uploaded to university pre-registration portals, and institutions with agreements with UNED can access it directly.
It depends on the destination university. Spanish public universities require it and use it as the primary admission document for international students. Some private universities also require it. However, some universities do not require it or have their own admission criteria for foreign students, so it is always essential to check the specific requirements of the university you wish to attend.
This is the most common misconception. Many students believe these are alternative procedures when in reality they can be complementary.
The most frequent case of confusion: A Latin American student (outside of Colombia) who needs to have their high school diploma validated might think that validation is all they need. However, many universities will also require UNEDasiss accreditation to calculate their admission score and allow them to participate in the pre-registration process. These are two separate procedures that often go hand in hand.
If you have any doubts about which procedure you need depending on your specific situation, consult us before starting.
Baccalaureate approval | UNEDasiss accreditation | |
| What it recognizes | That your foreign high school diploma is equivalent to the Spanish high school diploma | That you meet the requirements for admission to a Spanish university |
| Who processes it | Ministry of Education | UNED (through the UNEDasiss platform) |
| For whom is it mandatory? | Students from non-EU countries without an agreement | Student |
This is where the most confusion arises. UNEDasiss is not only for European or Colombian students, as many believe. Four different student profiles can apply:
These are the students historically associated with UNEDasiss. They include students from all European Union countries, Colombia, China, and other countries with educational reciprocity agreements with Spain.
These students do not need to validate their high school diploma: UNEDasiss is their direct route to access to Spanish universities.
Holders of the IB Diploma also have access to Spanish universities through UNEDasiss accreditation, without the need for official recognition. It is important that the program is the full IB Diploma Standard track and that a minimum of 24 points has been achieved.
Students who have obtained (or are in the process of obtaining) the validation of their foreign high school diploma as equivalent to the Spanish high school diploma can and should also apply for UNEDasiss Accreditation. In this case, validation and UNEDasiss are complementary, not alternative, procedures.
Important: Final accreditation is not required to apply for UNEDasiss or to take the PCE exams. It is sufficient to have initiated the accreditation process. Accreditation is issued provisionally and becomes final upon presentation of the accreditation certificate. However, some Autonomous Communities require that the accreditation process be completed at the time of pre-registration at their universities.
The UNEDasiss is not a single document: It is an accreditation that can include different services depending on the requirements of the host university. It is essential to request exactly the services that the university you wish to access requires, no more and no less.
Important recommendation: Although the application period for accreditation is open until November, starting the process in February or March is essential if you want to take the PCE exams in the regular May session or participate in the first allocation of university places in June. Leaving the process until the last months of the year means missing the most important pre-registration deadlines.
Procedure | Estimated deadline 2026 |
| Opening of the accreditation application period | February 2026 |
| Application deadline closes | November 2026 |
| Ordinary PCE Call | End of May 2026 |
| Extraordinary PCE Call | Early September 2026 |
The required documentation varies depending on the student's profile (EU, exchange program, accreditation, etc.). This is the general documentation:
Note: UNEDasiss may request additional documentation or clarification during the process. Responding promptly and accurately is essential to avoid missing the pre-registration deadlines.
Before applying for anything, check what specific services the university you want to attend requires. Each university has its own criteria. Requesting too many services means paying more; requesting too few may leave your application incomplete.
Gather your degree, academic certificate, apostilles, translations, and any additional documents relevant to your profile. This is the step where most mistakes are made and where LegalSpain can make a bigger difference.
The application is made exclusively electronically through the UNEDasiss website or through an authorized managing entity such as LegalSpainThere is no in-person processing.
Add the exact services you need according to your university's requirements. Payment must be completed for the request to be processed.
Once the application has been completed and paid for, the required documentation must be sent to UNEDasiss according to the system's instructions.
If your university requires PCE or you want to improve your admission grade, you must register within the deadlines of each call (ordinary in May, extraordinary in September).
Once accreditation is issued, partner universities have direct access to it. With the accreditation in hand, you can begin the pre-registration process at your chosen university.
En LegalSpain We accompany students throughout the entire process of obtaining UNEDasiss Accreditation, from the initial review of your situation to the confirmation of final accreditation.
What the service includes:
Service price: From €160. The price may vary depending on the UNEDasiss services you need to contract and whether the process is managed in combination with the validation of the baccalaureate.
It is a digital certificate issued by UNED that accredits international students to participate in the admissions processes for undergraduate degrees at most Spanish universities. It includes the student's entrance exam score, high school track, and PCE test results, if applicable.
This document is primarily required for students from the European Union, Colombia, and China, as well as for those holding an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and those who have obtained or are in the process of having their high school diploma recognized in Spain. If you completed your high school studies outside of Spain and wish to attend a Spanish university, you will most likely need this document.
No. They are separate procedures with different functions. Validation recognizes that your foreign high school diploma is equivalent to the Spanish high school diploma. UNEDasiss certifies that you meet the university entrance requirements and calculates your admission score. In many cases, both procedures are necessary and complementary.
No. It is sufficient to have initiated the homologation process. Accreditation is issued provisionally and becomes definitive when the final homologation credential is presented to UNEDasiss.
Yes, through the Specific Competency Tests (PCE). These are exams organized by the UNED (National University of Distance Education) on specific subjects that allow you to raise your admission score by up to 14 points. They are especially important for accessing degrees with high entry requirements.
The application period for accreditation opens in February and remains open until November. However, to be eligible to take the PCE exams in the regular May session, you must have applied for accreditation well in advance. We recommend starting the process no later than February or March.
No. Public universities do require it, but some universities don't require it for all students or have their own admissions systems. It's essential to check the admissions criteria of your chosen university before starting the application process.
For EU students, accreditations issued from 2025 onwards do not expire, although PCE (Professional Qualification Certificates) and recognitions are valid for three academic years following their issuance. For students from education systems outside the EU or without a reciprocity agreement, accreditation is valid for two years from the date of issue.
Yes. The application is done entirely electronically and can be processed from any country. LegalSpain Process the accreditation on your behalf regardless of your location.
UNEDasiss accreditation is often just one step in the process of gaining admission to a Spanish university. Depending on your situation, you may also need:
Don't know what procedure you need? Tell us about your case and we'll advise you without obligation.