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Study in Latvia

The Latvian educational system comprises pre-school education, 9-year basic education, upper-secondary education and higher education. Formal post-secondary non-tertiary education in Latvia is classified within the secondary education level.

Universities and other higher education institutions run both academic and professional programmes, e.g. lawyer, teacher, translator, marine mechanic etc. Bachelor's (bakalaurs) and master's (maģistrs) degrees are awarded in both academic and professional higher education programmes. Graduates of both types of bachelor's and master’s degrees have access to further studies.

Latvia is using a national credit point system in higher education. One Latvian national credit point is defined as a one-week full-time study workload. The average full-time workload of an academic year in most higher education programmes is 40 credits. The Latvian credit point system is compatible with ECTS. The number of ECTS credits is found by multiplying the number of Latvian credit points by a factor of 1.5.

Study in Latvia is a land of lakes, forest and coast; an unspoilt wilderness in northern Europe nestled among its neighboring Baltic states.

Latvian people feel a strong sense of cultural identity and Latvian festivals and folk tales have been passed down for many hundreds of years. The nation’s capital, Riga, home to one third of the country’s population, is a modern, culturally diverse European city. Riga is rightly famous for its amazing wooden buildings, concert halls and the winding streets of its Unesco heritage medieval Old Town.

Built on a natural harbour at the mouth of the river Daugava, Riga is an ancient trading hub (Vikings once passed through here to trade with Byzantium) and the city has long been a bridge between east and west. That cultural diversity has continued and is still celebrated there today.

Despite its relatively small population Riga is home to no less than six universities including The University of Latvia and the Riga Technical University. Latvia welcomes foreign students, and 10 per cent of graduates in Latvia are Erasmus students form other European countries.

1. For residents of other countries

Citizens and non-citizens of the Republic of Latvia
Citizens of the European Union member states
Citizens of the European Economic Area or Swiss Confederation, permanent residents of the European Community
Persons who have a permanent residence permit
Foreign citizens who do not have a permanent residence permit have the right to study in compliance with p.83 of the Law on Institutions of Higher Education.

Document Checklist for Study Abroad

Standard application form
Passport copy
Foreign passport
2 photographs (3x4 size)
A copy of the full secondary education with grades
A copy of the bachelor`s degree and diploma supplement with grades (if any)
A copy of the professional diploma and diploma supplement with grades (if any)

Per 1 study year
Full-time
Professional bachelor’s degree study programmes
Business administration Business administration in tourism Information systems	EUR 3000 EUR 2500 (for students from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia)
Master’s degree study programmes
Business administration (2 years) Computer systems	EUR 3300
Doctor's degree study programme
Business administration	EUR 3600

A copy of the master diploma and diploma supplement with grades (if any)
Persons who successfully completed Enrollment assessment procedure.

Entry Requirements:

For the pre-Masters courses, typical entry requirements are at least 3 years of higher education and UK IELTS 5.5 (minimum of 5.0 in all skills).

If you do not meet the English language entry level but have at let UKVI IELTS 4.5 (minimum 4.0 in all skills) you can do a course that includes extended English and skills (EES).

Intake:

Students may be able to start in spring (January – April), summer (May – August) or autumn (September – November)

1^st level professional higher education study programmes.
Professional bachelor’s study programmes.
Professional master’s study programmes.
Doctoral programme.

full-time: day (8:30 – 16:00), evening (17:30 – 21:30)

Latvian
Russian
English

To study at universities, you shall submit the documents proving your previous education, which shall meet the requirements of the Republic of Latvia for study programmes.

Important Information

Prices

Registration fee: 300 EUR

may be applicable special conditions in accordance to the country of residence of the applicant. Please contact coordinators of International Relations Department for detailed information.

Accommodation: ISMA offers an attractive variety of accommodation to the students of other towns and countries

All diplomas issued by other countries should be submitted by ISMA to the Academic Information Centre. to get approval of its authenticity.

Scanned copies of all the available documents must be sent to ISMA Admission board by.

*All documents of previous education must be translated in English and legally approved by the notary except the cases if documents are in Russian, Ukrainian or Belorussian

In accordance with Provisions for admission and Enrollment assessment the following persons can enroll:

Persons with secondary education.
Persons with incomplete higher education.
Persons with higher education diploma, and master’s degrees have access to further studies.

Latvia is using a national credit point system in higher education. One Latvian national credit point is defined as a one-week full-time study workload. The average full-time workload of an academic year in most higher education programmes is 40 credits. The Latvian credit point system is compatible with ECTS. The number of ECTS credits is found by multiplying the number of Latvian credit points by a factor of 1.5.

Academic programmes leading to a bachelor's degree

compulsory subjects - not less than 50 national credit points (75 ECTS)
Electives not less than 20 national credit points (30 ECTS)
Thesis not less than 10 national credit points (15 ECTS)
The remainder is left for students as free electives.

The duration of full-time studies is 6 - 8 semesters (3-4 years).

Academic programmes leading to a master degree

the thesis is not less than 20 national credit points (30 ECTS)
the compulsory part of the programme includes theoretical aspects of the specific field of scientific discipline – not less than 30 national credit points (45 ECTS)
and the practical application of theory in solving actual problems – not less than 15 national credit points (22,5 ECTS).

The duration of full-time studies is 4 semesters (2 years) and requires at least 5 years total length of bachelor and master studies. The objectives of academic higher education are to prepare graduates for independent research, as well as to provide theoretical background for professional activities. Academic education programmes are implemented according to the national standard of academic education.

Professional programmes leading to a professional bachelor's degree

general courses – not less than 20 national credit points (30 ECTS).
theoretical courses of the chosen field – not less than 36 national credit points (54 ECTS).
specialized courses – not less than 60 national credit points (90 ECTS).
optional courses – not less 6 national credit points (9 ECTS).
practical placement – not less than 26 national credit points (39 ECTS).
and state examinations including thesis – not less than 12 national credit points (18 ECTS).

The duration of full-time studies is 8 semesters (4 years).