Health Insurance
Includes medicine, dentistry, nursing and health-related studies; professional requirements apply.
Study in Latvia
Compare accredited institutions, programmes, tuition, living costs, admission requirements, residence-permit steps and student life in Latvia.
Usually 15 days; up to 60 days if extended
Visa Processing Time
About Studying in Latvia
Latvia is an EU, Schengen-area and euro-area country in Northern Europe, with Riga as its capital and Latvian as its official language. Its higher-education system follows the Bologna three-cycle structure and uses a national credit system compatible with ECTS. International students can find academic and professional programmes at universities, universities of applied sciences and colleges, including English-taught options in business, technology, engineering, health, medicine, sciences, arts and other fields.
The current AIKA register reviewed for this project contained 43 accredited higher education institutions and colleges. Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau counted 45 institutions operating in the 2025/26 academic year—24 universities and 21 colleges—because the two sources use different reporting definitions and dates. Students should verify both the institution and the intended study direction or programme in AIKA before applying.
Study costs are course-specific. Study in Latvia publishes a broad average tuition range of about EUR 2,800–15,000 per year, while its fee FAQ notes that individual programmes may fall below EUR 1,600 or reach EUR 25,600 for an Executive MBA. Average monthly living expenses are published at EUR 450–700, but housing choice and city can move the real total outside that range. Non-EU students studying for more than 90 days commonly need a temporary residence permit and, where required for entry, a long-stay D visa. Immigration evidence, fees and processing times must be rechecked immediately before application.
AIC credential recognition fee — EUR 54.60
Academic recognition — Foreign credentials are assessed by AIC and the institution makes the admission decision.
Capital
Riga
Language
Latvian; English is used in many international study programmes
Currency
EUR
Academic Year
Typical international-student calendar: 1 September to 30 June, with exams and provider-specific breaks
Intakes
Autumn intake starts in September; selected programmes offer a February spring intake
Why Study in Latvia?
European higher-education framework
Study in a Bologna-aligned three-cycle system with ECTS-compatible credits that support academic transparency and mobility.
English-taught programme choice
Compare international programmes in business, IT, engineering, health, sciences, social sciences, arts and other fields.
Public accreditation checks
Use AIKA to confirm the institution and then verify the intended programme or study direction before applying.
Moderate published living-cost range
Study in Latvia publishes average monthly expenses of EUR 450–700, although actual budgets vary by city and housing.
Distinct study locations
Choose Riga's larger study ecosystem or smaller settings such as Jelgava, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Ventspils and Valmiera.
Scholarship and mobility opportunities
Eligible partner-country students can apply for Latvian state scholarships, while ECTS supports exchange and mobility.
Latvia by the Numbers
1.845 million
Population
76.4 thousand
Tertiary students
11.9 thousand
Mobile students
43
Accredited institutions
Cost of Living & Visa
Monthly Living Costs
EUR 450–700 per month
Student Visa Guide
Visa guidance
EU/EEA/Swiss registration rules or, for other students, a temporary residence permit plus a long-stay D visa where required
Required document
Valid passport: Provide the required passport copy or original according to the submission route.
Required document
Residence-permit application form: Use the current prescribed form.
Required document
Photograph: Follow current technical requirements.
Required document
Study agreement: Agreement for study in Latvia at the accredited institution.
Required document
Approved invitation or sponsorship: The institution/inviter normally completes the required OCMA invitation stage before submission.
Required document
Financial evidence: Provide the amount and evidence required for the exact visa/residence stage. EUR 620 or EUR 780 monthly reference
Required document
Health insurance: Policy must meet the required coverage and period. Minimum liability EUR 42,600
Required document
Police/conviction statement: Required for applicants over 14 in the circumstances described by OCMA.
Required document
State-fee payment: Provide proof of the applicable fee payment.
Required document
Translations/legalisation: AIC, the institution or authorities may request translations and/or legalisation.
Processing time
Usually 15 days; up to 60 days if extended
Visa fee
EUR 90
Student Life & Practical Guidance
After Graduation
Study-period permit plus four months; some eligible master/doctoral graduates may request an additional nine-month job-search extension
Riga
Capital and largest higher-education centre, with the broadest institution, transport and service choice. Capital
Jelgava
Student city associated with life sciences, agriculture, forestry, food science, engineering and Jelgava Palace. About 40 km from Riga
Daugavpils
Regional university environment in south-eastern Latvia with humanities, sciences, education and other fields. Latgale
Liepāja
Baltic coastal study location with culture, creative fields, education, technology and maritime connections. Coastal city
Ventspils
Smaller coastal city with applied sciences, technology, languages and astronomy-related facilities. Coastal city
Valmiera
Smaller-city applied-sciences setting with small-group study and student accommodation highlighted by Study in Latvia. Vidzeme
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Admission Requirements
All applicants
Appropriate previous qualification and transcript, academic recognition, study-language proficiency, and any programme-specific test, interview, portfolio or prerequisite
How to Apply
1
Choose a programme and institution
Check AIKA status, language, intake, fee, campus and entry rules. Step 1
2
Submit the institution application
Use the institution's official online system and pay only published fees. Step 2
3
Wait for document recognition
The institution and AIC assess the foreign qualification. Step 3
4
Complete exam or interview
Complete any language assessment, subject test, interview, audition or portfolio review. Step 4
5
Receive study agreement and pay required tuition
Review conditions, refund terms and official payment recipient first. Step 5
6
Manage residence permit and visa
Complete invitation, insurance, finances, residence-permit and D-visa steps that apply. Step 6
Frequently Asked Questions
Riga is the capital and Latvia's largest higher-education centre.
Latvian is the official language. Many international programmes are taught in English, but students must confirm the language of the exact programme.
Latvia uses the euro, abbreviated EUR.
Autumn applications commonly run from March into July or August for studies starting in September. Selected programmes offer spring entry, with applications commonly in November or December for studies starting in February. Deadlines vary and may be earlier by citizenship.
The AIKA accredited register reviewed on 9 August 2026 contained 43 institutions and colleges. Official statistics counted 45 operating institutions in 2025/26. The figures differ because the sources use different definitions and dates.
Study in Latvia publishes average tuition of about EUR 2,800–15,000 per year. Individual programmes may fall below EUR 1,600 or reach EUR 25,600, so always use the institution's current programme fee.
Study in Latvia publishes average monthly living expenses of EUR 450–700. Actual costs depend on housing, city and lifestyle and may be higher.
Many institutions charge a non-refundable application fee of around EUR 150–200, but some charge no application fee. Check the exact programme and pay only through an official channel.
Applicants normally need an appropriate previous qualification and transcript, academic recognition, sufficient study-language proficiency and any institution-specific test, interview, portfolio or prerequisite.
Study in Latvia describes B2 or higher as the usual level. Its guidance gives typical examples such as IELTS 5.5–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 70–90, but the institution and programme set the actual requirement.
Usually yes for admission. The Academic Information Centre assesses foreign credentials, and the Latvian higher-education institution makes the final recognition/admission decision.
AIC states that its recognition statement is normally prepared within one month, but the period can extend to four months if additional information is required.
EU/EEA/Swiss students generally follow registration rules for stays beyond 90 days. Other students may need a temporary residence permit and, depending on nationality and route, a long-stay D visa. Confirm the exact process with the institution, Latvian mission and OCMA.
A complete long-stay D-visa application is normally decided within 15 calendar days. If further information or scrutiny is needed, processing may extend to a maximum of 60 days.
OCMA publishes temporary-residence-permit review within 30 days for the standard service, with 10-working-day and 5-working-day paid options. Appointment, university and document-preparation time is separate.
The published long-stay D-visa fee is EUR 90. OCMA lists EUR 160 for standard temporary-residence-permit review, EUR 280 for 10 working days and EUR 560 for 5 working days. Other card or service fees may apply.
The amount depends on the application stage. Current official pages show EUR 620 per month on the accredited-study residence-permit page and EUR 780 per month for visa stays exceeding 30 days. Recheck the exact current requirement before submission.
Yes for D-visa and residence-permit routes. PMLP states that the policy must meet specified medical and repatriation coverage with a minimum insurer liability of EUR 42,600 for the expected stay.
Current guidance commonly refers to up to 20 hours per week during study for students, with broader holiday or postgraduate rights in some cases. Your residence document and current PMLP conditions control.
Study in Latvia describes a four-month additional period after full-time study and a possible further nine-month job-search extension for eligible master/doctoral graduates. OCMA decides each case, and the extension is not guaranteed.
Yes, for citizens of eligible partner countries. Current guidance lists EUR 500 per month for bachelor/master students and EUR 700 for doctoral students, subject to conditions and annual competition.
Use AIKA's official higher-education register, then verify the intended programme or study direction. Institution-level status alone does not prove every programme's current status.
Yes. One Latvian credit point equals 1.5 ECTS, and a standard academic year is 40 Latvian credits or 60 ECTS.
There is no single best city. Riga has the largest study ecosystem, while Jelgava, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Ventspils and Valmiera offer different programme strengths and smaller-city settings. Choose by programme, accreditation, cost and fit.
Use QS or Times Higher Education as secondary comparison tools and keep the publisher and year visible. Accreditation, programme status, language, fees, outcomes and professional recognition matter separately.
