Studying In the Latvia

About Latvia

Latvia is a great place to study. They have excellent education in various fields, from social sciences to medicine. Latvia is a rich country and ranks high in terms of human development. It's also part of the European Union. Interestingly, it has a lot of students compared to its population size.

Latvia is working on becoming a smarter economy by investing in science and technology. They want to shift from a labour-intensive economy to a knowledge-based one. The government plans to spend 1.5% of its GDP on research and development by 2020, with half of the money coming from private businesses. Latvia focuses on areas where they already have a strong scientific background, like organic chemistry, medical chemistry, genetic engineering, physics, materials science, and information technologies. They're really good at inventing things, especially in medical chemistry.

In 2012, Latvia was rated first in the Environmental Performance Index and fourth in the Sustainable Society Index. They also have super-fast internet, one of the fastest in the world!

Studying in Latvia

If you want to study in Latvia, you're in luck. They offer a wide range of graduate and postgraduate programs in English. Since Latvia is part of the European Union, its qualifications are recognized internationally. Their education system uses an American credit system, and their facilities meet high standards.

Here's a cool thing: as a student, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week to help cover your expenses. Postgraduate programs often come with paid internships. Living costs are reasonable, and tuition fees are affordable. The government even provides medical insurance, and you can usually find accommodation on campus.

Latvia is in the Schengen area, so you can travel around Europe while studying there. You don't necessarily need IELTS if you're good at English. Another perk is that your spouse can work full-time, and you can enjoy extracurricular activities.

The Latvian higher education system is divided into three levels: bachelor's studies, master's studies, and doctoral studies. You can get a bachelor's degree in three to four years, and a master's degree takes one to two years.

Students Visa Requirements

Visa and residence permit

If you're an international student, you'll need a visa and a residence permit. Your foreign qualifications must be evaluated by the Academic Information Centre in Latvia to see if they're valid. Visas and residence permits are usually part of the application process. If your qualifications are approved and you're accepted by a university, they'll help you get the necessary visas and permits for your studies in Latvia.

Documents Required:

• Photo
• Copy of passport (original must be presented when applying in person)
• Copy of the study agreement with the university (original must be presented)
• Copy of Education/ Degree Certificate or Diploma and Transcripts of records/marks (originals must be presented and legalized with APOSTILLE if applicable)
• Copy of academic recognition of the foreign qualification (sent by the receiving university)
• Proof of study fee payment (provided by the receiving university)
• A statement on punishability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country (legalized with APOSTILLE if applicable)
• Bank statement confirming sufficient financial means or living expenses for staying in Latvia during the validity period of the residence permit (equivalent to 320 EUR per month)
• Rental agreement or a guarantee letter from the university regarding the prospective place of residence
• Statement on fluorography or x-ray examination results (required upon arrival in Riga)
• Health insurance for the entire validity period of the residence permit (required upon arrival in Riga)