Foreign university grades in Spain: what a grade-equivalence statement shows
A grade-equivalence statement converts foreign university marks. Prepare your transcript and understand how this differs from recognition of your qualification.
The statement concerns your marks
The declaración de equivalencia de nota media, or DENM, is intended for procedures that assess the average of foreign university studies. The ministry provides an application to generate it. Check its purpose and official access point.
Do not confuse it with a decision recognising the qualification itself. Keep your diploma, transcript, grade statement and any recognition decisions as separate documents. You can then identify the missing item when an institution asks for one.
Use the original grading scale
The official guide explains that original marks are entered and converted through the application. This is not a simple proportional calculation. Read the ministry’s DENM guide.
Look for the grading scale, passing grade and course workload where shown on your transcript. If the issuing university used different scales during your studies, flag that question before completing the statement. Do not alter marks to fit a scale that was not used for your qualification.
Check the statement against your records
- Match the qualification and institution names to the transcript.
- Check courses, marks and credits or workload without mixing units.
- Identify recognised courses or courses without numerical marks.
- Check that the transcript has no missing pages.
- Keep the statement with the record used to complete it.
For uncertain entries, ask a precise question about what the notation means and how to record it. A grading-scale image found online is not a substitute for the explanation accompanying your own transcript.
Read the receiving institution’s instructions
Check which document it accepts, when it is needed and how to submit it. Save those instructions. If you apply to several programmes, keep a table of destinations and documents sent so that you do not accidentally reuse an incomplete version.
For an initial enquiry about your plans in Spain, explain why the statement has been requested and which studies you completed. Full academic records can be reviewed later through an agreed channel.
Official sources
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