Latvia

⇑Universities

According to Study in Europe, Latvia has 29 higher education institutions and 24 colleges. You can choose between:

• universities (universitāte) – including the University of Latvia (Latvijas Universitāte) and Riga Technical University (Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte, RTU),
• universities of applied sciences – focused on preparing you for a profession,
• specialised higher education institutions – concentrating on one field,
• colleges (koledža) – shorter professional programmes.

More than 200 programmes are taught in English, so you will find something even without Latvian.

Universities in Latvia – profiles

⇑Study system

There are several types of degree, including professional ones:

• Bachelor (bakalaurs) – 3–4 years; a professional bachelor's takes at least 4 years,
• Master (maģistrs) – 1–2 years, also as a professional master's,
• Doctorate (PhD) – usually 3–4 years,
• long professional programmes – 5–6 years, single-cycle degrees leading straight to a master's-level qualification (e.g. dentistry – 5 years),
• short-cycle programmes (first-level professional higher education) – 2–3 years.

Latvia counts credits its own way: 1 Latvian credit point equals 1.5 ECTS, and one year of study is 40 Latvian credit points, i.e. 60 ECTS.

The main intake is for the academic year starting in September. Some universities also have a spring intake, with classes starting in February.

Latvia – bachelor's programmes
Latvia – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Latvia – master's programmes
Latvia – doctoral programmes

⇑Admission

There is no single system for international applicants – you apply directly to the university, through its online system. Procedures differ, so always read the rules of the university you choose.

Deadlines: for the autumn semester, applications usually run from March to July or August; for the spring semester, in November and December. For example, at the University of Latvia for 2026/27, EU citizens could apply until 16 August 2026, but for state-funded places only until 5 July 2026. If you come from outside the EU, apply early: after admission you still need a residence permit, and the university has to start the process (see: Residence and formalities).

The application fee at the University of Latvia is €170 and is not refunded. You upload, among other things:

• your secondary school leaving certificate and transcript – the original plus a notarised translation into English,
• a copy of your passport and a photo,
• a motivation letter and CV, if the programme requires them,
• proof of English.

The university then checks your foreign documents. Once you are admitted, you sign a study agreement and – if you have a fee-paying place – pay your tuition.

⇑Entrance exams

Whether you face an exam or an interview depends on the university and the programme. For example, for the University of Latvia's English-taught bachelor's in English, European Languages and Business Studies, applicants are ranked by their secondary school grades (including English, mathematics and the average), plus an online interview. Applicants from outside the EU also need a SAT score of at least 1200.

⇑Language

Most programmes are taught in Latvian. You can choose from more than 200 programmes in English – browse them in the Study in Latvia search engine.

For English-taught programmes you have to prove your English – the University of Latvia, for example, requires at least level B2. A certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL is enough, unless you studied in an English-speaking country. The programme description gives the minimum score.

⇑Residence and formalities

EU/EEA citizens enter with an ID card or passport – no visa is needed.

If you stay in Latvia for longer than 3 months, you can get an EU citizen registration certificate (reģistrācijas apliecība) from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde, PMLP). According to PMLP, registration is not required for stays of up to 6 months, e.g. for studies shorter than a year. Study in Latvia, on the other hand, says that EU citizens do not have to register, but a residence document is useful, for example when opening a bank account. If you are coming for a full degree, ask PMLP or your university's international office what you need to do.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence permit for studies. First, your university has to approve its invitation at PMLP. Then you apply for the permit – at a Latvian embassy or consulate abroad or, depending on your nationality, directly at PMLP in Latvia. You will need, among other things, your passport, the application form, a photo, your study agreement, proof of payment of the state fee and proof of funds – PMLP states €500 a month (checked in 2026). The permit is granted for your period of study plus four months; the card is issued for a year and renewed.

Health insurance: Study in Latvia lists it among the things to arrange before you leave. If you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and consider a private policy as well. Non-EU students need private health insurance for the residence permit – according to the EU Immigration Portal, with cover of at least €42,600, including repatriation.

⇑Tuition fees

Latvian universities have two kinds of places: state-funded (budžeta vietas), where you pay no tuition, and fee-paying. EU citizens can compete for state-funded places – at the University of Latvia there is a separate, earlier deadline for them. There are few such places: on the English-taught bachelor's in English, European Languages and Business Studies there are 23 state-funded places to 100 fee-paying ones.

The university sets the fee for fee-paying places. According to Study in Latvia, it ranges from less than €1,600 a year for some bachelor's programmes to €15,000 for dentistry. Rough annual fees:

• medicine and health sciences – €8,000–15,000,
• management and business – €2,000–6,000,
• engineering – €2,700–3,500,
• computer science – €1,800–3,800.

An example from a public university: at the University of Latvia, the bachelor's mentioned above costs €2,600 a year in 2026/27 for EU citizens and €3,500 for everyone else.

⇑Accommodation and living costs

Latvia is quite affordable. Study in Latvia estimates that a student spends on average €450–700 a month. Roughly:

• student residence or student hostel – €70–120 a month,
• room in a shared flat – €100–200; a flat of your own – €250–350,
• utilities and bills – €100–170,
• a meal in the city centre – €5–9; a lunch deal in a café – €3–5,
• student monthly transport pass – €5–15; single ticket – €2.

You can live in a university residence or rent privately. Start looking early and ask your university's coordinator for international students – they will help you with the formalities.

⇑Scholarships

The main programme is the Latvian state scholarship for studying at Latvian universities:

• €500 a month for bachelor's and master's students (up to 10 months), €700 for doctoral students (up to 11 months),
• for citizens of more than 30 countries that have cooperation agreements with Latvia – check whether your country is on the list,
• at bachelor's level you can only apply after at least one year of study at any university,
• applications run from 1 February to 1 April; the scholarship cannot be combined with other grants.

There is also Erasmus+ (a semester or year of exchange with your home university) and the universities' own programmes – the University of Latvia, for example, offers scholarships and student loans. You will find current calls on Study in Latvia – scholarships.

⇑Working while studying

EU/EEA citizens can work in Latvia without any permit, also while studying.

Students from outside the EU/EEA with a residence permit for studies have limits: according to the EU Immigration Portal, you may work up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours a week during holidays; master's and doctoral students may work up to 40 hours a week. After graduation you can apply for a residence permit of up to 9 months to look for a job or start a business.

Look for work at your university's careers office and on the European job portal EURES.

Latvia – why work there?
How to find a job abroad?

⇑Useful links

• Study in Europe – Latvia – the official country profile on the European Commission's portal,
• Study in Latvia – the State Education Development Agency's (VIAA) portal for international students: institutions, admission, fees, living costs,
• Study in Latvia – programmes – search engine for study programmes,
• Study in Latvia – scholarships – Latvian state scholarships,
• PMLP – the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: residence documents,
• PMLP – studies – residence permits for students from outside the EU,
• ENIC-NARIC – recognition of qualifications in Europe,
• Eurodesk – free information on studying, traineeships and volunteering in Europe.