The Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) has refused to provide the subjects and grades obtained by the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, during her university studies. The institution admits that there is a “general interest” in verifying the accuracy of the academic data that the leader has made public, but considers that this interest does not justify handing over her grades to a third party.
The resolution responds to a request for access to information submitted by Newtral.es in February 2023, after the Faculty of Information Sciences named Ayuso “illustrious alumni.”
The media outlet requested to know the subjects taken and the grades obtained during the Bachelor's degree in Journalism and the Master's in Political Communication and Protocol. The UCM has concluded that the protection of Ayuso's personal data must prevail over the public interest invoked in the request.
The Complutense recognizes public interest
The university differentiates in its resolution between the Personal Academic Certificate and the data it contains. Regarding the former, it maintains that it is a document that can only be requested by the student herself.
The UCM also analyzes whether it would be possible to separately provide the list of subjects and grades. At this point, it acknowledges that the requested information does not belong to the categories of specially protected data and that Ayuso's status as regional president grants her evident public relevance.
The university appreciates a general interest in verifying whether the academic information disclosed by the leader herself is correct. However, it limits that interest to the data that Ayuso has already decided to make public and does not extend it to her grades.
Among its arguments, the Complutense points out that there is no legal obligation to publish the grades, that these have not been voluntarily disclosed, and that the academic record does not constitute a requirement to access the Presidency of the Community of Madrid.
After weighing the right of access to information and the right to the protection of personal data, the academic institution has opted to deny the request.
Ayuso opposed delivering the grades
The resolution incorporates the allegations made by the Madrid president during the procedure. Ayuso argued that the information about her degree is already available on the Transparency Portal of the Community of Madrid.
It also stated that its qualifications are not related to the functioning of the regional Government, the provision of public services, or the management of public funds. According to its allegations, access to the file corresponds exclusively to its holder as it is personal information.
The request submitted by Newtral did not include other documents from Ayuso's administrative file as a student, but only the subjects taken and the grades obtained in the two specified trainings.
A procedure initiated three years ago
The request was initially submitted to the Community of Madrid, which denied access arguing that it was personal information and that the academic file was not necessary to hold the position of regional president.
Newtral appealed to the then Council of Transparency and Participation of the Community of Madrid. In September 2023, this body partially upheld the claim and determined that the information was not in the possession of the regional Executive, but of the Complutense University.
The Council did not order the direct publication of the grades. Its resolution established that the Community of Madrid should forward the request to the university so that it would be the one to decide on the substance of the matter.
The Madrid government appealed that decision to the High Court of Justice of Madrid and initially obtained a precautionary suspension of its execution. The procedure continued until the court confirmed that the UCM was the competent institution to resolve the request, without ruling on whether the grades should be delivered.
The university formally received the request on June 26, 2026, and granted Ayuso a deadline to make allegations before adopting its decision.
The resolution can still be appealed
The Complutense's refusal does not necessarily close the procedure. The resolution itself indicates that the decision can be appealed to the Council of Transparency and Data Protection of the Community of Madrid.
This body must assess, if it receives a complaint, whether the weighting carried out by the university between the public interest and the privacy of the Madrid president complies with the legislation on transparency and data protection.
Therefore, the Superior Court of Justice has not compelled the publication of Ayuso's academic record. The ruling only established which institution should respond to the request, while the Complutense has now decided to keep the grades confidential.