1. Higher Education in LATVIA
Mobility in Bulgaria
12/09/ /09/2016
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2. Diagram of the national education system
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3. Access to higher education.
All holders of general secondary education certificates and vocational education diplomas are eligible for admission to higher education.
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4. The Law on Higher Education Establishments (1995) sets a difference between academic and professional institutions of higher education and programmes and between university and non- university type institutions or programmes.
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5. Types of Higher Education Institutions
In Latvia, tertiary education programmes are provided by:
• university type institutions,
• non-university type institutions,
• colleges.
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6. Four determinant criteria for a university status
implementation of bachelor, master and doctor study programmes; assertion of doctoral thesis occurs annually,
at least half of persons elected in academic posts hold a doctor’s degree,
institution issues scientific publications and
establishes scientific institutions or units in the main scientific disciplines corresponding to the implemented study programmes.
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7. First Cycle Programmes
Higher academic education programmes last three or four years for Bachelor degree. Academic Bachelor degree allows continuing studies in the same or a related branch of science in Master programme.
Professional higher education is divided into first and second-level professional higher education. • First-level professional higher education programmes are short-cycle programmes or college programmes and are mainly aimed at preparing specialists for the labour market. These short-cycle programmes last two or three years. • Second level professional higher education programmes lead to professional Bachelor's degree. These programmes encompassing first-level studies last at least four years.
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8. The amount of full-time and part-time Bachelor study programmes is from 120 to 160 credit points including at least 10 credit points for Bachelor thesis. (1 Latvian credit point is equal to 40 student work hours and 1.5 ECTS credit point)
The study programme is divided into compulsory (at least 50 credit points), restricted optional (at least 20 credit points) and optional courses.
Professional higher education Bachelor study programmes (second-level professional higher education programmes) last at least 160 credit points. The structure of study programmes consists of study courses, internship outside educational institution and state examinations including development and defence of Bachelor or Diploma thesis.
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9. Education programmes are available in the following study fields:
• Education, • Humanities and Arts, • Social Sciences, Business and Law • Natural Sciences, Mathematics and IT, • Engineering, Production and Construction, • Agriculture, • Health and Welfare, • Services (for example, personal services, such as hotel, restaurant, beauty treatment etc., transport services, environmental protection and civil and military defence).
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10. Graduates receive:
after academic Bachelor study programme - a diploma certifying Bachelor’s degree and a Diploma Supplement.
after professional higher education Bachelor study programmes – a diploma certifying the Professional Bachelor degree and fifth-level professional qualification;
after professional higher education study programmes – fifth-level professional qualification. The Diploma Supplement is also issued.
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11. Short-Cycle Higher Education
The Vocational Education Law (1999) stipulates professional higher education at two levels and first are first level higher professional education or college programmes.
First level higher professional education programmes (2-3 years after upper-secondary education) are available at college and higher educational institution.
The volume of programmes in credit points is, of which general courses constitute minimum 20 credits, courses in speciality – minimum 36 credits, training practice – minimum 16 credits, diploma paper minimum 8 credits.
Graduates receive a certificate on professional qualification verifying fourth-level professional qualification.
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12. First level higher education programmes are available in the following study fields:
• Humanities and Arts,
• Social Sciences, Business and Law
• Natural Sciences, Mathematics and IT,
• Engineering, Production and Construction,
• Agriculture,
• Health and Welfare,
• Services (for example, personal services, such as hotel, restaurant, beauty treatment etc., transport services, environmental protection and civil and military defense).
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13. Second Cycle Programmes
Master’s degree is awarded after the second stage of academic education and requires total duration of university studies 5-7 years. The duration of Master’s programmes is 1-2 years.
Degrees in medicine and dentistry (6 and 5 years of studies respectively), are considered equal to Master’s degree.
Only candidates with Bachelor degree or at least four-year studies leading to professional qualification are eligible to second-level professional higher education programmes offered as Master or Professional (higher level of studies after an academic degree) programmes.
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14. The amount of Master study programmes is 80 credit points including at least 20 credit points for Master thesis. The compulsory content of Master programmes includes research on theoretical conclusions (at least 30 credit points) of the respective area in the field or sub-field of science and approbation of theoretical conclusions (at least 15 credit points) currently important in the field or sub field of science.
Graduates receive a diploma certifying the professional Master degree; graduates with previous academic education also obtain fifth-level professional qualification.
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15. Master’s education programmes are available in the following study fields:
• Humanities and Arts,
• Social Sciences, Business and Law
• Natural Sciences, Mathematics and IT,
• Engineering, Production and Construction,
• Agriculture,
• Health and Welfare,
• Services (for example, personal services, such as hotel, restaurant, beauty treatment etc., transport services, environmental protection and civil and military defense).
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16. Third Cycle (PhD) Programmes
The objective of doctoral studies programmes is to obtain an internationally recognized doctoral degree in a branch of science and to acquire principles of research organization and management. Only university-type institution universitāte may run doctoral programmes.
The access to doctoral studies is granted to holders of Masters’ degree (both academic or professional) or an equivalent.
Doctoral study activities last three or four years for Doctoral scientific degree.
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17. Doctoral candidates are usually affiliated to faculties / institutes.
The amount of full-time Doctoral programme is credit points (of which credit points are awarded for teaching a certain number of courses).
Generally, doctoral status candidates in Latvia are considered as students.
Doctoral candidates are usually affiliated to faculties / institutes.
Graduates receive a Doctor’s diploma.
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18. The doctoral programmes are offered in the following fields:
• Social Sciences and Law
• Humanities and Arts
• Natural Sciences
• Technical Sciences
• Medicine
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19. State universities and higher educational institutions
Daugavpils University
Latvia University of Agriculture
Riga Stradiņš University Riga Technical University
University of Latvia
University of Liepāja
Latvian Academy of Art
BA School of Business and Finance
Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music
Latvian Academy of Culture
Latvian Academy of Sport Education
Latvian Maritime Academy
National Defence Academy of Latvia
Rezekne Higher Education Institution
Riga Teacher Training and Educational
Management Academy
Ventspils University College
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
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20. Non-university type colleges
State colleges
Daugavpils Medical College
Fire Safety and Civil Defence College
Jēkabpils Agribusiness College
Latvian Cultural College at the Latvian Academy of
Culture
Liepāja Maritime College
Malnava College
Olaine Mechanics and Technology College
Red Cross Medical College at Riga Stradiņš University
Riga 1st Medical College
Riga Building College
Riga Business College at the BA School of Business and
Finance
Riga Medical College at the University of Latvia
Riga Technical College
State Agency for Social Integration College
State Border Guard College
State Police College
Stradiņš Medical College at the University of Latvia
Non-university type colleges
Baltic International Academy (including the Baltic Psychology and Management College)
College of Economics and Culture
International School of Practical Psychology
ISMA University
Latvian Christian Academy
Luther Academy
Riga Aeronautical Institute
Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL)
Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration
School of Social Technologies
Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
Transport and Telecommunication Institute
Turība University
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21. Colleges established with legal personality
Albert College
Christian Leadership College
College of Accounting and Finance
College of Business Administration
College of Law
Cosmetology College
Latvian College of Business
Novikontas Maritime College
Foreign university affiliates
Newport University CED, Latvia, affiliated with the Tomsk State University
Riga Higher Institute of Religious Sciences, under the Pontifical Lateran University
Riga Institute of Theology, under the Pontifical Lateran University
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23. Faculty of Engineering
Study programmes
PhD in Sociotechnical Systems Modelling (in Latvian and English)
Master in Sociotechnical Systems Modelling (in Latvian and English)
Bachelor in Information Technologies (in Latvian and English)
College level programme in Information Technologies
College level programme in Mechatronics
College level programme in Wooden Houses and Eco-building
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24. Faculty of Society and Science
Study programmes
Master in Business Environment Administration (in Latvian and English)
Bachelor in Business Administration
Master in Governance and Communication
Bachelor in Communication and Public Relations
Bachelor in Media Studies and Journalism
Bachelor in Governance and Innovation
Master in Strategic Tourism Management
Joint Masters in International Tourism Events Management
Bachelor in Tourism Organisation and Management
Bachelor programme 'Tourist Guide – Travel and Event Manager'
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25. Thank you for your attention!
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