Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Latvia

The Latvian State Scholarship

Latvia's main scholarship for foreign students is the Latvian State Scholarship, run by the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) through the Study in Latvia portal. It funds citizens of partner countries with which Latvia has a bilateral cooperation agreement, currently around 39 eligible countries, to study for a full year at bachelor's, master's or doctoral level, or to take a shorter research fellowship or summer school place.

The list of eligible countries changes from year to year and mixes both EU and non-EU nations, so check the current list on the Study in Latvia scholarships page before you plan around it. Applications open through an annual call, and by the time you read this the call for the 2026/2027 academic year is already closed, so watch for the next round if you plan to apply.

What the official pages do not tell you

Study in Latvia publishes the monthly amount of the state scholarship: 500 EUR for bachelor's and master's students and 700 EUR for PhD students, as of October 2026. Confirm the stipend amount and what it covers directly with VIAA or your home country's contact point before you rely on it as your main funding source.

Applying for the state scholarship

You apply for the Latvian State Scholarship through the annual call published on the Study in Latvia scholarships page, run by VIAA. You typically need your academic transcripts, a CV and a motivation letter, plus two letters of recommendation, a study plan and a confirmation letter from your Latvian university. Submit everything before the call closes, since VIAA does not review late applications.

University-level scholarships and discounts

Individual universities run their own financial aid on top of the state scholarship. The BA School of Business and Finance offers a 20% discount on some master's programs for EU/EEA, Swiss and UK applicants, cutting the annual fee from 2,250 EUR to 1,800 EUR, according to BSA . Other universities, including RTU, RSU and the University of Latvia, publish their own merit scholarships and tuition reductions on their admissions pages, so check your target program directly.

Erasmus+ funding for EU students

If you study at a university in another EU country, ask your home university's international office about an Erasmus+ exchange to Latvia. Erasmus+ pays a monthly grant on top of your normal tuition arrangement at home, with the exact amount set by your home country's national agency and your income group. This route suits a semester or year abroad rather than a full degree taken in Latvia.

Erasmus Mundus and other EU-wide funding

Beyond bilateral Erasmus+ exchanges, some Latvian universities take part in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, EU-funded programs that award full scholarships to selected students from any country, taught across two or more European universities together. Search the Erasmus Mundus catalogue for joint programs that include a Latvian partner if you want funding that covers your whole master's degree rather than one exchange semester.

Working while you study

If you hold an EU/EEA or Swiss passport, you work in Latvia under the same rules as Latvian citizens. If you come from outside the EU/EEA, your residence permit sets an hour limit for term-time work, so confirm the exact limit with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs before you take a job. Either way, income from part-time work rarely covers a full budget on its own, so treat it as a supplement to scholarships or savings rather than your main funding plan.

Combining funding sources

Nothing stops you from applying to more than one scholarship or discount at once, as long as each program's rules allow it. Check each scholarship's terms for exclusivity clauses before you count on stacking a state scholarship with a university discount, since some funding bodies require exclusive support and will withdraw an offer if you accept another one.

Documents to have ready before you apply for funding

• Valid passport and, where relevant, proof of your nationality's eligibility for the state scholarship.

• Recent academic transcripts and your degree certificate or current enrollment proof.

• A motivation letter explaining your study plan in Latvia.

• Bank details ready for any grant that pays out as a monthly stipend rather than a fee waiver.

State study and student loans

Latvia also runs a state-guaranteed loan system for tuition and living costs, arranged through partner banks. This route mainly serves Latvian residents rather than incoming European students, so most students moving to Latvia from another European country rely on scholarships, Erasmus+ funding, or savings and family support instead.

How to plan your funding

• Check the current eligible country list on the Study in Latvia scholarships page before you count on the state scholarship.

• Contact your target university's international office directly about merit scholarships and tuition discounts.

• Ask your home university about Erasmus+ or bilateral exchange agreements with Latvian universities.

• Budget for full tuition and living costs as your default plan, and treat any scholarship as a bonus rather than a guarantee.