Based on bilateral and trilateral intergovernmental and interministerial agreements on co-operation in education and science, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, in the framework of its annual budget, offers scholarships to students and teaching staff of several countries for studies and research work in state higher education institutions, as well as for participation in summer schools.
The eligible countries whose citizens can apply for the Latvian scholarship are the following: Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Greece, Belgian Flanders Community and Belgian French Community, China, Estonia, Israel, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Hungary.
Studies in Latvian higher education institutions take place in the Latvian language; individual study programmes and subjects are taught also in English or other foreign languages.
The Ministry of Education and Science does not grant scholarships for part-time or extramural studies.
Scholarships are granted for the time period up to 10 months. In special cases a scholarship may be prolonged for a longer period. The final decision on granting scholarships is made by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia.
Applications for scholarships for the academic year 2008/2009 have to be sent to the Ministry by May 1, 2008. The Ministry of Education or other institution of the respective country responsible for scholarships nominates candidates for scholarships. Additional information on the scholarships can be obtained in these institutions.
Since students apply for the state financed budget study places in full-time study programmes, scholarships are granted only for studies in higher education institutions where the study places are financed by the state budget. It is important to submit documents by the deadline, because the Ministry of Education and Science needs time to negotiate with higher education institutions on the budget study places to be allocated for foreign exchange students.
Each year by 1st June the Ministry of Education and Science informs applicants in writing whether they have been granted a scholarship or not.
The following documents are necessary to apply for the Latvian scholarship for study and research stay:
1. 
Application form.
2. CV.
3. Letter of motivation.
4. Certified copies of diplomas, including the list of grades.
5. Two letters of recommendation.
6. Letter of admission or invitation from the requested institution.
7. One photograph.
8. Study or research plan.
The documents to be submitted must be issued or translated in Latvian, English or Russian. Please note that copies and translations of education documents, as well as letters of recommendation, if they are not issued in one of the three aforementioned languages, must be officially certified.
If you want to apply for the Latvian scholarship for participation in the summer schools, please visit their web-pages:
Baltic International Summer School (BISS) in Valmiera – http://biss.va.lv
International Summer School in Riga – www.rtu.lv/summerschool
Additional information on the scholarships granted by the Ministry of Education and Science can be obtained in the Division of International Relations, Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Education and Science.
Contact persons:
Ms MÄra Katvare, Head of the Division, telephone: 67047876, e-mail: mara.katvare@izm.gov.lv
Ms Maija Zvirbule, Senior Officer, e-mail: maija.zvirbule@izm.gov.lv
Contact address:
Ministry of Education and Science
Vaļņu iela 2
RÄ«ga LV-1050
Important Internet addresses:
– list of higher education institutions and colleges:
http://www.aiknc.lv/lv/list.php;
– information on the education system of the Republic of Latvia, on education related regulatory enactments, higher education institutions and on recognition of foreign diplomas in Latvia can be found at the home page of the Latvian Academic Information Centre: http://www.aic.lv;
– information on receiving residence permits is available at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs home page: http://www.ocma.gov.lv;
– information on foreign embassies in Latvia:
http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
