One of the most frequent questions among foreign students who want to access a Spanish university is this: do I have to validate my high school diploma or do I have to process the UNEDasiss credential? They are two different procedures: they serve similar but not identical purposes, and confusing them can cost you months of work.
The good news is that the answer depends on specific, objective factors: the country where you studied and what you want to do in Spain. This article explains it clearly so you know exactly what you need in your situation.
What is high school diploma validation?
High school diploma validation is the procedure by which the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport of Spain It acknowledges that your foreign high school diploma is equivalent to the Spanish Bachiller. Once obtained, your qualification has full academic validity in Spain: you can access public and private universities, higher-level vocational training cycles, competitive examinations and higher artistic studies.
The Ministry of Education manages the accreditation process; there is no annual deadline for applying for it, and its validity is permanent: once granted, it does not expire or need to be renewed.
What is the UNEDasiss credential?
The credential UNEDasiss It is a document issued by the UNED (National University of Distance Education) which certifies that a student with a foreign qualification meets the academic requirements to access the Spanish university system. In addition to certifying access, the UNEDasiss credential includes an admission grade calculated from the grades in your foreign academic record, and can optionally be supplemented with the grades from the Specific Competency Tests (PCE). If you wish to prepare, we recommend PCE School, the leading academy in this preparation.
Unlike accreditation, the UNEDasiss credential has an annual call for applications: it must be requested each year for the course you wish to access, and the admission grade it generates is the one used to compete for university places.
The key differences between the two procedures
| Baccalaureate approval | UNEDasiss credential | |
| Who manages it | Ministry of Education |
UNED |
|
For whom it is |
Students from countries outside the EU (with some exceptions) |
Students from the EU, China, Colombia and holders of the IB Diploma |
|
Generate admission note |
Not directly |
Yes |
|
Terms of validity |
Permanent | 2 years, depending on the country |
| Resolution period | 3 - 9 months |
Weeks (annual call with fixed dates) |
|
It allows access to FP |
Yes | Not directly |
| It allows access to competitive examinations | Yes |
No |
Which one do I need based on my situation?
You need high school diploma validation if:
You are a student from a country outside the European Union and you do not hold an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. This is the case for the vast majority of Latin American students: Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and many others.
You also need accreditation if, in addition to university admission, you want to use your degree to access advanced vocational training programs, take competitive public service exams, or pursue higher artistic studies. The UNEDasiss credential is only valid for university admission; accreditation has a broader scope.
You need the UNEDasiss credential if:
Are you a student from a country in the European Union or the European Economic Area, or have passed the Saber 11 or ICFES Colombia exams, or hold an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, or a Chinese high school diploma? In these cases, your path to university admission in Spain is not necessarily through the official recognition of your high school diploma; instead, you may use the UNEDasiss credential. This is because these educational systems have specific agreements or conventions with Spain that establish a different procedure than the general recognition process.
The special case of Colombia
Colombia deserves special mention because it generates a lot of confusion. Despite being a Latin American country and not belonging to the European Union, Colombian students can access Spanish universities through the UNEDasiss credential, not necessarily through homologation. This is due to a specific bilateral agreement between Spain and Colombia. However, if a Colombian citizen wishes to use their high school diploma for purposes other than university admission (such as competitive exams, vocational training, or higher artistic studies), they will still need to have it officially recognized. This is the same as for any European, IB, or other students mentioned previously.
Can I have both documents?
Yes, they are not mutually exclusive. Some students first process the homologation to have their degree recognized permanently and, in addition, process the UNEDasiss credential to obtain an admission grade with which to compete for places in universities with high demand.
It is important to understand that all students who need validation and want to access public universities will generally also need the UNEDasiss accreditation process.
It is also important to note that for students with agreements who can have their studies accredited through UNEDasiss without formal recognition, accreditation is not mandatory. In many cases, obtaining recognition (even though it is not required) and taking a structure of 4 or 6 PCE exams allows them to achieve a higher entrance score than with recognition alone.
What happens if I process the wrong one?
If you submit an application for accreditation when what you need is the UNEDasiss credential (or vice versa), The most likely outcome is an unfavorable ruling or inadmissibility....with the loss of time and money that this entails. That's why it's essential to correctly identify your path before starting any procedure.
If you have any doubts about which procedure applies to your specific situation, in LegalSpain We can analyze your situation and advise you without obligation. We handle both high school diploma validation and UNEDasiss accreditation, and the first thing we always do is confirm the correct procedure for each case.
Quick summary: Homologation or UNEDasiss?
- If you are a student from Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, or another Latin American country not listed below: high school equivalency.
- If you are Colombian: UNEDasiss credential for university access (validation if you need the degree for other purposes or it benefits your access grade).
- If you are a citizen of the EU or EEA: UNEDasiss credential (Validation is valuable if it benefits your entrance grade).
- If you have the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: UNEDasiss credential (Validation is valuable if it benefits your entrance grade).
- If you have a Chinese high school diploma: UNEDasiss credential (Validation is valuable if it benefits your entrance grade).
- If you're not sure: ask us And we'll tell you in minutes.
Frequently asked questions about the UNEDasiss Credential and High School Diploma Recognition
Does the UNEDasiss credential replace the high school diploma validation?
For university admission, yes: students who can obtain the UNEDasiss credential do not need official recognition to enter university. However, the UNEDasiss credential does not have the same validity as official recognition for other uses (vocational training, competitive examinations, artistic studies), so in some cases it may be advisable to also obtain official recognition. Students who complete the recognition process and wish to access public universities will almost certainly also need to complete the accreditation process through UNED, along with entrance exams.
How long does the UNEDasiss credential take compared to the homologation process?
The UNEDasiss credential has annual exam sessions with fixed dates and is processed in weeks, not months. High school diploma validation, on the other hand, can take between 3 and 9 months. For students who have access to the UNEDasiss route, the processing times are significantly shorter.
Can I use my high school diploma equivalency to access university if I am Colombian?
Yes, it's possible. If you passed the Saber 11 or ICFES exams with a score of 200 or higher (in a session after 2012), you can apply for the UNEDasiss credential, but it might be more advantageous to have your qualifications officially recognized because your final admission score will benefit you.
Does the validation of a high school diploma have an admission grade?
Not directly. The validation process recognizes your qualification as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato and provides a grade for your Bachillerato level on the Spanish scale, but it doesn't generate an admission score for competing for university places. To obtain an admission score, students with validation must take the University Entrance Exams in Spain.
