This article aims to add to the discussion occurring within the context of diverse Brazilian universities that are authorized to certify stricto sensu (master and doctoral) studies, when they are faced with documents that generate diplomas obtained abroad. The text derives from the analysis of documents pertaining to 32 requests for acknowledgement in the field of education, resulting in the identification of problems in the following areas: minutes of thesis and dissertation defenses, curriculum vitae of the members of the examination board, curriculum vitae of the advising professor and his/her participation in the defense, and the abstract of the work. The analysis revealed dissimilar conditions between obtaining graduate degrees in Brazil and abroad, which brings into question the principle of study equivalence.