NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

III. Types and special sorts of final diplomas in higher education
Official diplomas are awarded upon the completion of degrees pursued at the universities dependent on the Catholic Church in
Spain. In accordance with the legal provisions prescribed by the appropriate agreement between Spain and the Holy See, these
diplomas take the same effects as those awarded by public universities, given that they have been granted civil effects by
means of a Royal State Decree. In this case, the diplomas bear the same denominations as those awarded by public
universities, and are issued on behalf of the king by the chancellor of the university at issue (until now, by the Ministry of
Education and Science). With regard to diplomas issued by universities dependent on the Catholic Church and which have not
been granted civil effects, they do not have official status.
The Ley Orgánica de Reforma Universitaria (law for the reform of
higher education) of 1983 regulates the possibility of creating private universities (under a regulation other than that of the
universities depending on the Catholic Church). Three universities of this kind have
already been created. Their diplomas will be issued by the chancellor or another person with a similarly preeminent post, and
will need to be approved by the government before they can have official status. The same regulations apply to private schools
of higher education that do not depend on any university. In this case, however, the school will need to integrate into a private
university or be assigned to a public one.