How Higher Education Works in Latvia: Degrees, Universities and the Academic Year
By Muntasir • Published Jul 15, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Education Planning, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides
Latvia runs a Bologna-style system with bachelor, master and doctoral degrees, taught mostly in Latvian and English across state and private universities. The academic year has two semesters, from September to June, and grades use a 10-point scale.
🎓 Bachelor: 3-4 years, 180-240 ECTS
🎓 Master: 1-2 years, 60-120 ECTS, needs a bachelor's degree
🎓 Doctoral: 2-3 years full time, needs a master's degree
⏱️ Autumn semester: September to January
⏱️ Spring semester: February to June
Medicine, dentistry and veterinary studies run as one long 5-6 year cycle
Types of higher education institutions
Latvia has both state and private higher education institutions, split between universities and colleges. Universities offer the full range of bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs, while colleges focus on shorter, professional first-cycle programs. The largest state universities are the University of Latvia (LU), Riga Technical University (RTU), Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), according to Study in Latvia .
Private institutions play a large role too. Turiba University, RISEBA, the BA School of Business and Finance (BSA) and the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) all run English-taught programs aimed at international students, alongside the state universities.
How Latvian universities rank internationally
Latvia's two largest state universities appear in global rankings alongside institutions across Europe. Riga Technical University sits in the QS World University Rankings band 761-770, and the University of Latvia sits in the 801-850 band, according to Study in Latvia . Rankings shift each year, so treat them as one data point alongside your own research into a program's content and staff.
Universities vs colleges: which track fits you
If you want an academic bachelor's degree that leads naturally into a master's and then a doctorate, a university program is the standard route. If you want a shorter, practice-focused qualification aimed straight at a job, a professional bachelor's at a college or university of applied sciences gets you there in a similar timeframe, with more hands-on training and a mandatory work placement built into the program.
Checking a program's accreditation
Not every institution offering a degree in Latvia runs an accredited program. Before you apply, confirm that your chosen university and specific program appear on the state register of accredited higher education institutions and programs, maintained by Latvia's Ministry of Education and Science. An accredited program is the only kind that leads to a diploma recognized elsewhere in Europe.
Bachelor, master and doctoral degrees
Latvia follows the Bologna three-cycle structure, the same model used across most of Europe. This makes credits and degrees easy to transfer if you continue your studies in another EU or EEA country later.
| Cycle | Duration | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor (academic) | 3-4 years | 180-240 |
| Bachelor (professional) | 4 years minimum | 240+ |
| Master | 1-2 years | 60-120 (300 total with bachelor) |
| Doctoral | 2-3 years full time | Requires a master's degree |
| Long cycle (medicine, dentistry, veterinary) | 5-6 years | No separate bachelor stage |
A master's program requires a bachelor's degree in the same or a related field, according to Study in Latvia . Doctoral admission requires a master's degree or an equivalent qualification.
Credits: Latvian points and ECTS
Latvia uses its own national credit point system alongside ECTS. One Latvian credit point equals one week of full-time study workload, and a full academic year adds up to 40 Latvian credits. To convert to ECTS, multiply Latvian credit points by 1.5, so a 40-credit year equals 60 ECTS, matching the standard European full-time year.
Academic year and semester dates
The academic year starts in September and runs about 40 weeks across two semesters, according to Study in Latvia .
Autumn semester: lectures run September to December, exams follow in December and January, then a Christmas break.
Spring semester: lectures run February to the end of May, exams follow in May and June.
Summer break runs July and August.
Language of instruction
Most programs teach in Latvian, but the number of English-taught bachelor's and master's programs keeps growing, especially at RTU, RSU, LU and the private universities. Some programs also teach in Russian. Whatever the teaching language, you need enough proficiency in it to follow lectures and exams, and each institution sets its own way of checking this rather than requiring one standard test, according to Study in Latvia .
Grading scale
Latvian universities grade on a 10-point scale, where 4 is the lowest passing grade and 10 is the maximum. This differs from the letter grades or percentage systems used in some other European countries, so keep it in mind when you compare your transcript across institutions.
Doctoral study in Latvia
A Latvian doctorate centers on original research supervised by academic staff, ending in a public defence of your dissertation, the same format used across the European Higher Education Area. Most doctoral students combine coursework in the first year with independent research afterward, and many programs expect you to publish articles before you defend.
How this fits into the wider European system
Because Latvia follows the Bologna process, its bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees carry the same recognition as equivalent degrees anywhere in the European Higher Education Area. This makes it straightforward to move between Latvia and another European country for further study, an exchange semester or a job that requires a recognized qualification. Every graduate also receives a Diploma Supplement, a standard European document that explains your qualification in a format employers and universities in other countries recognize.