Latvia has as an independent country of the Baltic region in Northern Europe since 1991, when it separated from the Soviet Union. Since then, Latvia has experienced changes regarding its economy, which is ranked in the Human Development Index as the 41st in the world. It also has an incredibly rich culture. In fact, Riga, its capital, was the European Capital of Culture in 2014.
The word Latvia comes from Latvija, which happens to be the name of Latgalians, an ancient tribe of the Indo-European Baltic region. Latvia, along with Lithuania, is one of the two countries where Baltic languages are still spoken. Actually, Latvian is their official language. The original culture of this country endured time thanks to its language, its folk songs, and dances.
Latvia is the perfect place for someone looking for a peaceful and temperate seasonal type of climate. This country is also known for being eco-friendly. It has a privileged flora and panoramas of meadows, forests, swamps, and pastures. When it comes to its fauna, Latvian people have been responsible because the population of deer and elk has increased thanks to conservation measures.
This makes Latvia the perfect destination for those who want to go through their university experience close to nature and within a fascinating culture.
Affordable Schools in Latvia for International Students
1. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology (LLU)
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology (LLU) is also known by its former name of Latvia University of Agriculture. It was founded in 1991 as an official university, but it was born in 1919 as the Department of Agriculture of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Latvia.
The programs at this cheap university in Latvia focus on environmental and sustainable development. It currently has eight faculties: veterinary medicine, agriculture, forest, economics and social development, environment, civil engineering, information technologies, engineering, and food technologies.
The admission process has eight steps and is explained in detail here. It includes entrance exams and the payment of an application fee. LLU also has student residences. The monthly rent goes from € 125.
Tuition fees for undergraduate students start from € 2,500 per year (Economics and other subjects), and for a Master’s, € 3,000 per year (Information Technologies and other subjects).
2. Daugavpils University
Daugavpils University is among the most relevant universities in Latvia. It is a public university founded in 1921 and is a member of the European University Association. It is comprised of five faculties social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, education and management, and music and arts.
In order to apply for degree studies at this cheap university in Latvia, you need to fill out the Application Form and attach documents. These include a copy of a secondary school diploma, a copy of the passport, a bank confirmation of the registration fee payment, and a document that certifies knowledge of the English language. To learn more and check which programs are available in English, visit the Admissions section.
Annual tuition fees start from € 2,800 for bachelor’s, from € 3,100 for Master’s, and € 3,700 for doctoral. Visit the studies and admission section to get more details about immigration procedures, dates, and more.
3. Liepaja University
Liepaja University is located in the Kurzeme region and was founded in 1954. It is comprised of four faculties: management and social sciences, science and engineering, pedagogy and social work, and humanitarian sciences and arts. It also has institutes of management sciences, science and innovative technologies, humanities, and educational sciences.
This cheap university in Latvia offers different programs in English, which include four bachelor’s degree programs, four master’s degree programs, and three doctoral degree programs. They also have a center for languages in case you want to take a program in Latvian but don’t speak it yet.
Visit their admissions section to learn how to apply to this university. You will also find information about immigration and visas for different nationalities on their website. The tuition fee starts from € 3,000 per year (computer science) for Bachelor’s and € 3,500 per year (educational sciences) for Master’s.
4. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
This institution, located in Ventspils, was established in 1997 as a scientific institution and autonomous state university college. It has three faculties: information technologies, economics and management, and translation studies. It runs both Bachelor’s and Master’s study programs.
There are programs in English at affordable prices with opportunities to study majors such as Computer Science, Business Administration, Translation, Languages and Intercultural Communication, and International Business and Export Management. For non-EU students, the tuition fees go from 3,000 EUR (Computer Science) to 5,000 EUR (Start-up Management) for Bachelor’s, 3,500 EUR (Strategic Intercultural Communication) to 4,400 EUR (Computer Science), and 5,610 EUR for doctoral degree.
There is a general application procedure for all English-taught study programs to follow at this cheap university in Latvia. It is compulsory to submit documents such as Secondary or Higher education certificates, English proficiency certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, Longman Language Test, or London Language Test), a copy of the passport, CV, and a photo.
Check their student guides and immigration section to learn more.
5. University of Latvia (UL)
The University of Latvia is a public university founded in 1919 and is located in Riga, the capital of Latvia. It is on the list of the 1,000 Best Universities of the World, in the 801st position (QS World University Rankings).
Their website has a lot of information about admissions, which includes documents required, legal procedures, etc. Visit their international students’ section to discover more.
Tuition fees depend on your nationality and by subjects. For non-EU students, tuition fees for a bachelor’s start from € 3,100/year (Industrial Engineering and Management and other subjects) and for a Master’s, € 3,200/year (Cultural and Social Anthropology and other subjects). The tuition fees for other subjects, especially for STEM fields, get more expensive. For EU students, the tuition fee is a few hundred euros less than the non-EU fees.
6. Riga Stradins University (RSU)
The Riga Stradins University (RSU) started as a medical institute called Riga Medical Institute in 1950, and it wasn’t until 1998 that it became a university. Nowadays, it graduates specialists in Medicine and Pharmacy, Nursing, Rehabilitation, Social Sciences, and Public Health.
There are nine faculties of European studies, pharmacy, law, communication, medicine, rehabilitation, public health and social care, dentistry, and continuing education. It also has two departments of international students and humanities, a language center, and a Red Cross Medical College.
Application for studies in English at Riga Stradins University can be made in person or via e-mail. A registration fee must be paid, and documents must be brought to RSU.
Tuition fees change depending on the year of the program you are studying at this cheap university in Latvia. For first-year undergraduate students, the tuition goes from € 3,200 (International Business and Start-up Entrepreneurship) to € 15,500 (Dentistry). For Master’s students, the tuition fee goes from € 3,000 (International Governance & Diplomacy) to € 4,500 (Health Management). For Doctoral students, it goes from € 6,000 (Social Sciences) to € 20,000 (Health Care).
7. Riga Technical University (RTU)
Riga Technical University (RTU) is the only polytechnic university in Latvia and is internationally recognized. RTU’s students are educated to conduct advanced research in technology and scientific areas.
RTU has an amazing student social life structure as it has artistic groups for singing and acting and sports teams. They also have activities such as the Freshman Party and Career Days.
The university is divided into nine faculties: architecture, civil engineering, computer science and information technology, e-learning, technologies and humanities, electronics and telecommunications, power and electrical engineering, engineering economics and management, mechanical engineering, transport and aeronautics, materials science, and applied chemistry.
These faculties offer various programs in English. Check their admissions section to learn more about application procedures. Tuition fees depend on the subject you are studying and vary from 3,250 EUR to 5,800 EUR per year for bachelor’s and 3,000 EUR to 5,890 EUR per year for Master’s.
FAQS About Studying in Latvia
What Degrees Can I Take at Universities in Latvia?
There are two types of higher or tertiary education in Latvia: non-university-type institutions and university-type institutions.
University-type institutions in Latvia offer Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral diplomas. Universities have both professional and academic programs. In these Latvian university-type institutions there are universities and colleges that are both public and private.
The structure of Latvian study programs of professional higher education has a system that comprises internships outside educational institutions, study courses, state exams, and the defense of a Bachelor thesis.
How Is the Application Process at Latvian Universities?
In order to be admitted to Latvian universities, international students must fill out online application forms. A few universities have entrance exams that usually can be taken online. It is also important to have a validated upper or secondary education certification of studies.
Students must speak and understand well the language of instruction and show proof of it.
What Is the Language of Instruction at Latvian Universities?
The language of instruction in Latvia’s education system is Latvian, which is the state language. However, there are many possibilities to study in a foreign language.
Universities are used to welcoming international students. That’s why there are many programs that are completely taught in English.
If you’d like to take the challenge, there are language programs of Latvian for international students.
Are Universities in Latvia Expensive for International Students?
Tuition fees vary from university to university and from major to major. It also depends on the region and your nationality. For example, studying in the capital would be more expensive than studying in the countryside.
In general, most majors cost between € 2,000 (approx. 2,200 USD) and € 8,000 (8,785 USD approx.) Those related to health are the most expensive and can cost up to € 15,000 (16,470 USD approx.) per year. Relatively, there are many cheap universities in Latvia.
Is Living in Latvia Expensive?
The costs of living in Latvia depend on the area of housing. If you rent a small apartment with only one bedroom, the price of rent goes from € 250 – 350. This is true for the capital city, but other regions are much cheaper.
Food is also affordable. Depending on your habits, your monthly budget for groceries should be between € 120 – 200. Eating in a fast food restaurant can cost up to 6 USD while having lunch at a restaurant in the business district can cost up to 10 USD.
If you use public transportation every day, € 50 (55 USD) should be enough.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in Latvia was helpful. To know more about studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
