In accordance with the bilateral and trilateral intergovernmental and interministerial agreements on co-operation in education and science, the State Education Development Agency (in Latvian Valsts izglītības attīstības aģentūra, abbr. VIAA) offers scholarships to foreign students and teaching staff from several countries for graduate and postgraduate studies and research work in state higher education institutions, as well as for participation in summer schools.
Only citizens from countries which have signed an agreement on co-operation in education and science can apply for the Latvian scholarship. These agreements can be found on the following web-sites:
http://izm.izm.gov.lv/starptautiska-sadarbiba/starpvaldibu-ligumi.html
http://izm.izm.gov.lv/starptautiska-sadarbiba/starpresoru-ligumi.html
In general, the tuition language in Latvian higher education institutions is Latvian; individual study programmes and subjects are taught also in English or other foreign languages.
The scholarship is granted only for full-time studies in Latvia, it is not granted for part-time or extramural studies.
Scholarships are granted for the time period up to 10 months. In special cases a scholarship may be extended for a longer period. The final decision on granting scholarships is made by VIAA.
Applications for scholarships for studies and research in the higher education institutions of the Republic of Latvia have to be sent to VIAA. 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, which will be announced on the web-site of VIAA in order to have sufficient time for the necessary administrative arrangements.
VIAA will inform the respective institutions or applicants themselves in writing whether they have been granted a scholarship or not.
In general, the following documents are necessary to apply for the Latvian scholarship for study and research stay:
- Application form.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Letter of motivation.
- Certified copies of diplomas, including the list of grades.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Letter of admission or invitation from the requested institution.
- Study or research plan.
The documents to be submitted must be issued or translated in Latvian or English. Please note that copies and translations of education documents, as well as letters of recommendation, if they are not issued in one of the two aforementioned languages, must be officially certified.
If you want to apply for the Latvian scholarship for participation in summer schools, please visit the respective web-pages (application deadlines vary depending on the organizer):
Baltic International Summer School (BISS) in Valmiera
International Summer School in Riga http://www.rtu.lv/content/view/3743/1727/lang,en/
Additional information on the scholarships granted by VIAA can be obtained in the International Cooperation Unit, External Cooperation and Corporate Management Unit, VIAA.
Contact persons:
Ms Valda Cepurīte-Bērziņa, Head of the International Cooperation Unit, telephone: 67814331; e-mail: valda.cepurite-berzina@viaa.gov.lv
Ms Aija JakoviÄa, Senior Specialist of the International Cooperation Unit, telephone: 67814331, e-mail: aija.jakovica@viaa.gov.lv
Contact address:
State Education Development Agency
Vaļņu iela 1
Riga, LV-1050
Latvia
Important web pages:
- 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/en/;
- information on foreign embassies in Latvia:
http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
