The Hague Convention (1961) is an International Treaty that aims to ease the authentication process of documents, so they can be used abroad. Thus, the Apostille is a formal act that ensures the authenticity of public acts issued in a contracting State and shall be presented in the territory of another contracting State of the same Convention, conferring them probative value. LSDM needs the Hague Apostille in certificates of educational attainment (secondary education for undergraduate applicants or a bachelor’s degree certificate for master's applicants) to ensure these are valid in their countries of origin.