Study in Latvia - FUTURE EDU ABROAD PVT LTD

Why Study in Latvia

Study in Latvia, Latvia is one of Europe’s hidden gems for higher education: With its safe and welcoming cities and spectacular coastline, it is ideal for students and visitors alike. Located on the Baltic Sea, Latvia is somewhat of a crossroads between East and West, and in this cosmopolitan country, a lot of languages are spoken – Latvian, Russian, German, and of course English.

Latvia has had a turbulent past, being incorporated into Russia for most of the last 700 years. It had a brief fling with independence after World War I, but the Singing Revolution brought about the changes needed to make it an autonomous state in 1991. It is quite a small country with a population of around two million. Its capital Riga has a rich cultural heritage, including opera, ballet, art galleries, and museums.

climate in Latvia

The average annual air temperature in Latvia is +5.9°C. The year’s warmest month is July, its average temperature is +17.0°C and average maximum temperature +21.5°C. The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperatures are -4.6 and -4.7°C

Study Abroad in Latvia

If you’re curious by nature, interested in research, or simply come up with innovative ideas all the time, Latvia is the perfect place for you. The country has a long history of investing in research and making important developments in fields like smart materials, bio-medicine, wind tunnels, cancer treatment, etc.

Academic Structure in Latvia

There is academic and professional higher education in Latvia. Most of the institutions of higher education offer both academic and professional higher education qualifications. Academic higher education programs are focused on preparing graduates for independent research, as well as providing theoretical background for professional activities. Academic education programs are implemented according to the national standard of academic education. They usually comprise a thesis at the end of each stage and lead to a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree.

Higher Education Programs in Latvia

Focus on providing in-depth knowledge in a particular field and preparing graduates for the design or improvement of systems, products, and technologies. Students are prepared to be able to conduct creative, research and teaching activities. In total, the duration of professional/vocational study programs is not less than 4 years after secondary education and not less than 2 years after college education.

Population: Around 1 800 000 People.

Capital: Riga

Membership: EU, Schengen Area, Eurozone, UN, Council of Europe, NATO, OECD, WTO.

Timezone: GMT +2

Geography:Latvia lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The country’s territory is mostly made up of low-lying forested plains, with lakes and swamps dotting the countryside.

Neighbors: Latvia is bordered by Estonia in the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the southeast.

Languages: The official language is Latvian. Additional spoken languages are Russian, English, and German

Language of Study in Latvia

Although the official state language is Latvian, international students can easily get around with a command of Russian and English, as a large part of the population of Riga is Russian-speaking, and English is used in the bigger cities.

In public universities, the language of instruction is usually Latvian but also includes courses in English for foreign students. There are almost 200 international study programs (Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D.) and courses taught entirely in English for those who want to study abroad in Latvia. You can usually find Russian-taught courses in private universities.

There are no unified language requirements aimed at foreign students in Latvia. An advantage of studying abroad in Latvia is that most higher education institutions do not strictly define the need for internationally recognized language tests (although some schools ask for IELTS, PTE Academic, or TOEFL).

Language skills are usually checked during the interview process of prospective students. The higher education establishment may organize its formal testing for language skills.

General Application Requirement

The admission office of the perspective university will assist you during the application process and will inform you about specific application requirements and necessary documents.

While applying for studies the following documents shall be sent to the admission office of the chosen university:

Education/Degree Certificate or Diploma

Transcripts of records/marks (all education documents shall be translated into English)
English language proficiency certificates (IELTS, TOEFL or equivalents) or the perspective University exam (if applicable)
Copy of ID or passport
Motivation Letter or/and CV

Universities and Colleges in Latvia

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (9 Masters)

Liepaja University (3 Masters)

Riga Stradins University (6 Masters)

University of Latvia (11 Masters)

Turiba University (3 Masters)

Riga Graduate School of Law (6 Masters)

Transport and Telecommunication Institute (4 Masters)

ISMA University of Applied Sciences (2 Masters)

Riga Technical University (37 Masters)

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transport and Aeronautics (5 Masters)

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (5 Masters)

Affordable Education in Latvia

Most of the programmes at Latvian higher education institutions charge tuition fees, but compared to competitive countries, Latvia’s undergraduate tuition fees are relatively cheap.

The tuition fees vary greatly, depending on the institution and the study programme. In international study programmes, the fees vary from 1,500 and 15,000 euros per academic year. Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences study fees are one of the lowest between universities in Latvia – 1,500 and 3,000 euro per year.

Living costs vary between cities, in the capital city it can be much higher than in region, for example accommodation in Valmiera costs from 90 euros (student hostel), but in Riga from 150 and higher. Transportation costs starting from 25 euros, food – from 200 euro per month.

At Latvian public universities, most study programs cost between 1,550 and 6,000 EUR per academic year, which is much more affordable than fees in other popular study destinations. Medical degrees can reach up to 15,000 EUR, and business courses, like Executive MBAs, have the highest fees — up to 25,600 EUR per year.

How to Choose Latvian University

There are many universities, colleges and institutions to choose from in Latvia, not only those who are located in capital city Riga, but also in region. Most colleges and universities in Latvia are publicly funded and accredited which means that you will receive the highest source of education to help you to obtain a job after studies.

The Latvian higher education system differs between academic and professional degree programmes. The academic programmes tend to be more theoretically oriented, the professional courses train for concrete professions. In both branches, you can acquire Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Diploma obtained in Latvia is highly appreciated not only in Europe, but also around the world.

To find your study program check websites of universities where you mostly can find all necessary information.

Weather in Latvia

If you’re planning to study in Latvia you should be prepared to live in colder weather for several months.

Latvia is located in the temperate climate zone and therefore has four pronounced seasons. Travelers visiting Latvia can enjoy a real winter with subzero temperatures and snow, spring floods, warm summers, and colorful autumns.

The winter in Latvia usually lasts from mid-December to the beginning of March. Air temperature can vary from +5 degrees Celsius all the way down to -30 degrees. Now it is more typical to have warmer winters in Latvia. Anyway, you will need a good winter jacket, a hat, scarf, gloves, water proof winter boots, etc.

In Latvia, the spring may begin already at the end of February or as late as in late April, and the spring season lasts until the beginning of June. The average air temperature in spring is 0 to +15 degrees.

The summer in Latvia starts in June and continues until September. The average air temperature in the summer is around +19 degrees, but on some days it may rise to +30 degrees. The latter half of the summer may bring sudden thunderstorms.

Autumn in Latvia lasts from September to December. The average air temperature decreases from +10 degrees in September to 0 degrees in November.

Sometime at the beginning of the autumn, there is an Indian summer when temperatures rise to up to +20 degrees, whereas the first snow may fall already in October or November.

Gateway to Europe

As a student in Latvia, you have the opportunity to work in or travel to and experience Europe as all major European Economies are within a short distance with easy and affordable connectivity.

Stay Back Option

Stay Back Period: After completing your studies in Latvia, you are allowed to stay back in the country for a certain period to search for employment. As of the knowledge cutoff date of this article in 2021, international graduates are eligible for a stay back period of six months to find a job in Latvia.

Latvian Student Visa Checklist

The requirements for a student visa in Latvia will differ based on whether the prospective student is a EU/EEA citizen or not.

Students from the EU/EEA do not need a visa to enter Latvia. Citizens from Russia, Belarus, Georgia, China and other countries need a visa to enter Latvia. These people are granted a Schengen visa, allowing them to stay in Latvia and other Schengen countries. Additionally, there are also countries outside of the EU/EEA whose citizens can take advantage of the same privilege.

However, do take note that above mentioned individuals can only stay up to 90 days in Latvia within a six-month period. As such, students planning to stay for a longer time are advised to apply for a residence permit before arriving or within their first 90 days of stay in the country.

Please do note that there may be additional requirements depending on the chosen university so it is highly recommended to also check in with the university’s international coordinator.

Documents necessary to apply for a visa or residence permit:

A letter of invitation from the chosen university
The application form which can be found here
A copy of the applicant’s passport (bring the original for presentation). Passport must be still be valid for a minimum of three months after the planned length of stay
One photo (3×4 cm)
Proof of sufficient funding (minimum of EUR 430) per month: original statement from the bank, stamped and signed plus a copy of the bank card (considered valid for 3 months from approval date)
A document certifying the place of accommodation (considered valid for 3 months from approval date)
Copy of a study agreement with the university
State processing fee

The entire residence permit process will take more than 40 days.

Upon receiving the permit, students will need to present a health insurance policy (valid for all Schengen countries), and both the original and copied versions of fluorography or x-ray results issued by a reputable institution in Latvia.

Latvia is a natural paradise

Over half of Latvia’s territory is covered by forests, which blend in beautifully with the over 500 km of coastline and clean beaches. We recommend visiting popular sites, such as the Gauja National Park, the Kemeri National Park, the Gutmanala cave, Raznas nacionalais, Lake Razna, the Vermane Garden, etc.

Work While Studying in Latvia (Latvia Work Permit for Students)

If you’re from India, you will need a work permit if you want to combine studying with working in Latvia.

Here you see the rules for getting a part-time work permit.

You do not need a work permit to work part-time in Latvia.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

You can apply for the work permit if you have:

A valid residence permit.

Must be enrolled full-time at a university in Latvia.

DURATION OF WORK PERMIT

1 YEAR

Your work permit will be valid for as long as you have a student visa. You will have to renew your residence permit every year.

MAX. HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK

20 HOURS/WEEK

You will be allowed to work 20 hours per week. You can work fulltime during winter and summer breaks.

EXTRA INFORMATION

Most jobs require speaking Latvian or Russian.