Latvian education is especially popular among people from Russia and the CIS: Russian is not less common in universities than English, and diplomas from local universities are highly valued in other European countries. An equally important advantage of studying in Latvia is the residence permit, which all foreign applicants receive.
The higher education system in Latvia
Higher education diplomas in Latvia are issued by colleges or universities. College provides applied vocational education. Neither the study itself nor the work after graduation is in any way connected with research activities. Education in Latvian colleges is aimed at obtaining real skills, skills, and knowledge in a particular area, for example, banking, IT technologies, engineering and technology, law, entrepreneurship. To get a bachelor’s degree, you need to study for 2 years, for a master’s degree you need 3 years.
The university, or high school, provides academic education. Education in this type of university is focused on scientific and research work. Latvian universities offer standard levels of higher education: bachelor’s degree (3-4 years of study), master’s degree (2 years), a doctoral degree (3-4 years).
Thanks to the use of the common European system of transferring credits – ECTS, it will be easy for foreign students to continue their studies in Latvia, and then in another European country.
Top universities in Latvia
- University of Latvia
One of the biggest universities not only in Latvia but also in the Baltic countries which are existed for almost a century. Founded in 1919. As at the start of the last century, today the University of Latvia is the main intellectual and scientific center of the country. At present, over 14 thousand students, of which more than 600 are foreigners, are trained within the walls of the university, and about 1.5 thousand teachers work.
The structure of the university includes 13 faculties and more than 20 research institutes. More than 500 cooperation contracts have been signed with 326 educational institutions from 31 European countries. Students have more than 130 study programs, including the areas of medicine, law, management, philosophy, economics, humanities, and social sciences.
- Riga Technical University
The first university for the exercise of qualified technicians in the Baltics. The official date of the foundation of the university is 1862. The training process uses the most modern technologies and an innovative approach, which allows graduating real professionals who are ready to fill the gaps in the local labor market and work for the use of the Latvian economy.
The Riga Technical University includes 8 departments, superior areas of study are architecture, civil engineering, information technology, transport, mechanical engineering, electronics, and some other areas. The university collaborates with more than 300 educational institutions in Europe. Foreigners have programs in English at their disposal.
- Latvian University of Agriculture
The history of the university begins in 1863. It is rated the most prestigious educational institution in Latvia for preparing future agricultural workers. The university includes 8 faculties, including engineering, forestry, information technology, veterinary medicine, food technology, economics and social development, environmental protection and civil engineering, agriculture.
A wide range of programs is presented in English. For instance, a bachelor’s degree can be achieved in the field of economics, information technology, public administration, and computing. The structure of the university holds advanced research institutes and laboratories.