LATVIA AND STUDY IN LATVIA

A national guide to higher education in Latvia for international students.
A public national body, managed by the State Education Development Agency

State Education Development Agency
1 Valnu street, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
Website: www.studyinlatvia.lv
E-mail: studyinlatvia@viaa.gov.lv

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StudyLatvia
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HIGHER EDUCATION FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

LATVIAN HIGHER EDUCATION AND
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN FIGURES

79 38829

A ll students

HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN LATVIA
Universities and other higher education institutionsoffer both academic and professional study programmes.
Academic degree
2 year s
Professional degreeand professional
qualificatio n

Higher education
institutions (HEIs)
Academic degree
3-4 year s
Professional degreeand professional
qualificatio n

16 State-established
11 Private

International students
10 764 (14%)

2 Branches of foreignHEIs

Degree students
9495 (~12%)

Professional highereducation
programmes

1-2 years
ISECED 7 | EQF 7

3rd4 years
ISECED 6 | EQF 6

2nd

2-3 years
ISECED 5 | EQF 519 Colleges

Short mobility students
1269 (~2%)

Doctor`s degree

3-4 year sISECED 8 | EQF 8

112 State-establishedl eycst ccl eg cyLon

7 Privatecyclecycle

Long cycle professional
programmes
Medicine, dentistry,veterinary
5-6 year s

ISECED 7 | EQF 7

The Latvian higher education system is a part of theBOLOGNA PROCESS , and follows the 3-cycle system:

MAIN STUDY AREAS

The 1 st cycle includes short cycle programmes and academic or professional
Bachelor’s degree programmes.
The 2 ndThe 3 rd cycle includes Doctor’s degree programmes.

Credit point system is compatible with ECTS
BusinessAdministrationLanguageStudies

ComputerScienceMusicStudies

Economics

NaturalSciences

EngineeringSocialSciences

Healthcare& Medicine

Other studyareas

1 academic year = 40 Latvian credit points/60 ECTS
Academic bachelor’s degree

180–240 ECTS

Professional bachelor’s degree

240 ECTS

Academic master’s degree

120 ECTS

Professional master’s degree

120 ECTSLong cycle professional programmes

300-360 ECTSENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
General requirements
Previous education

TUITION FEES
The range is from less than €1,600 per year in certain bachelor’s degree
programmes (3–4 years of studies) to €15,000 per year for a degree inRecognition of diploma – assessed by the Latvian recognition institution
the Academic Information Centre (ENIC/NARIC).
– mostly English, must be equal
or higher than B2 according to the CEFRL levels.

education institutions.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE
1FIND A STUDY PROGRAMME AND A UNIVERSITY

2

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Find it at www.studyinlatvia.lv

Collect all documents, provide translation and digital copies, process yourapplication, and prepare for application payment.

3

WAIT FOR RECOGNITION OF YOUR DOCUMENTS

4

PREPARE FOR EXAMS AND AN INTERVIEW
from university of study place offer.

5RECEIVE A STUDY AGREEMENT AND PAY THE TUITION FEE

Healthcare& Medicine

BusinessAdministration& Management

Engineering

ComputerScience€8,000 – €15,000€2,000 – €6,000€2,700 – €3,500€1 ,800 – €3,800

LATVIAN STATE SCHOLARSHIPS ANDFELLOWSHIPS
Latvian state scholarships are
granted to students, researchers
and teaching staff for:
Degree studies
Research work
Participation in summer schools

MANAGE A VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT
Get an invitation number for visa or residence permit from the university andapply at the Embassy of Latvia in your country.

at viaa.gov.lv/scholarships

ERASMUS+ PROGRAMMEInternational students studying in Latvia may participate in:Study mobility
partner country.

6Nationals of about 40 countries canapply. The annual call for applications
is from 1 February to 1 April.

Traineeship mobility
programme or partner country.
Recent graduate mobility