Latvia can suit students who want an international education in a relatively compact setting, with time to get to know a city and the people around them. English-taught degrees include computing, business, healthcare and specialist master’s study, with Riga providing a starting point for many applicants.
The most useful comparison is not simply whether Latvia is “cheap”. It is whether a particular programme gives you the learning, experience and daily life you want at a cost you can sustain. This guide brings those questions together.
Anerkannt: 18. Oktober 2026. Tuition examples marked 2026–27 come from the institution’s fee schedule. Living-cost calculations are illustrative, and future admissions and funding calls have their own conditions.
Studying in Latvia at a glance
- Währung: euro.
- Teaching language: English-taught bachelor’s and master’s options are available; select the English route for the particular course.
- Course costs: business and computing can have very different fee structures from medicine and dentistry.
- Living costs: accommodation, utilities and the housing contract are central to a realistic budget.
- Scholarship planning: the next announced Latvian state scholarship application period is 1 February–1 April 2027.
Can you study in Latvia in English?
Yes. The European Commission’s Latvia study profile points to a range of English-taught programmes and the national programme database. English is available at both bachelor’s and master’s level, but it belongs to a particular route, not necessarily to every programme at an institution.
Use the course page to understand the lectures, assessments, practical placements and any language modules. This is particularly helpful for courses involving patients, clients or work in local organisations. English-language teaching and learning some Latvian can complement each other well.
When comparing options, write down the subjects you want to learn and the kind of work you enjoy. A course with substantial mathematics and programming offers a different experience from a business programme based on discussion, presentations and projects. Neither is automatically better; the fit matters.
English-taught degree examples
Computer Science at the University of Latvia
Die University of Latvia’s English-taught Computer Science bachelor’s programme is full-time in Riga, running over eight semesters and carrying 240 ECTS. The published structure includes a substantial foundation in computing and mathematics and a 4.5-month placement in an IT organisation.
For a prospective student, that placement is worth exploring in detail. Ask what kinds of projects students work on, how placements are arranged and how the experience connects with the later specialisation. The purpose is to see how classroom learning becomes something you can apply.
Business and entrepreneurship
Rīga Stradiņš University, or RSU, lists International Business and Start-up Entrepreneurship among its English-taught undergraduate options. Its 2026–27 fee schedule gives annual tuition of €3,300 for each of the three years.
If entrepreneurship interests you, compare the opportunities to develop an idea, work in a team and receive feedback. You do not need to know exactly which business you will create before starting. A good course can help you discover the problems and sectors that interest you.
Health Management at master’s level
RSU’s Health Management programme, offered jointly with RISEBA, is taught in English in Riga over two years and carries 120 ECTS. It brings together healthcare, economics and management, with group work, practical tasks and a thesis.
It is an example of a specialist master’s for students who want to connect knowledge across fields. The entry background and course content are more useful for deciding suitability than the word “management” alone. Look at how the modules relate to the organisations or challenges you would like to work with.
Medicine, dentistry and further choices
RSU also publishes English-taught Medicine and Dentistry routes. These involve longer commitments and significantly higher tuition than the business example. Compare the full programme costs and the clinical learning experience, including how language learning supports practical work.
The national study information also provides routes to institutions such as Riga Technical University and other universities and specialist schools. Build a shortlist around a subject and degree level, then look at the campus, teaching approach and opportunities for experience. There is no need to apply everywhere to make a thoughtful choice.
Tuition fees and extra costs
Use a dated institution fee schedule rather than an old country-wide average. RSU’s published 2026–27 English-programme fees include:
- International Business and Start-up Entrepreneurship: €3,300 a year, listed across three years.
- Health Management: €4,500 a year, listed across two years.
- Medicine: €13,500 a year, listed across six years.
- Dentistry: €15,500 a year, listed across five years.
The same schedule generally lists a €100 application fee, with a specified reduced category, and a separate €1,800 registration administration fee for new Medicine and Dentistry students. These are useful reminders to compare more than tuition alone.
Ask each institution for the fee category that applies to you, when payments fall due and which costs are included. If a course includes an overseas placement or an optional year elsewhere, budget that part separately. Fees at one university do not establish the price of the same subject at another.
Living costs and accommodation
The national Study in Latvia cost guidance gives a general monthly living estimate of €450–€700. Treat it as orientation rather than a guarantee. Your rent, housing availability and utility bills can change the total substantially.
Begin with a real accommodation option. A dormitory bed, a room in a shared flat and an apartment to yourself are different products. Ask what furniture is provided, how many people share the kitchen or bathroom, whether utilities are included and how long the contract runs.
Beispielmäßiger monatlicher Haushalt: €350 for accommodation, €100 for utilities, €250 for food, €20 for transport, €20 for a phone, €50 for insurance and €110 for personal spending and a reserve gives €900. This is a chosen planning scenario, not an official average or proof-of-funds requirement. A confirmed subsidised room may reduce it; private accommodation and individual preferences may increase it.
Twelve months at €900 is €10,800. Adding the €3,300 business tuition example produces a subtotal of €14,100 before application fees, travel, deposits and other arrival costs. A medical student needs a different calculation because the tuition and initial charges are much higher.
Do not forget the months outside the teaching calendar. If your rental agreement lasts a year, a ten-month living budget leaves a gap. Our study-abroad cost guide helps you build the full-year picture.
Latvian scholarships and the next application window
Die Latvian state scholarship programme is administered by VIAA. Eligibility is linked to the published list of participating countries and the conditions for the relevant study or summer-school route. It is not automatically available to every international student.
VIAA has announced that the next state scholarship call will run from 1 February to 1 April 2027. The 2026–27 selection has already been completed. If you are planning for the next academic year, put the announced window in your calendar and use the new call for its final eligibility, documents and funding terms.
Universities may also have fee reductions or their own awards. Look at the financial effect of each offer: whether it reduces tuition, contributes towards living expenses or covers a particular period of study. A scholarship application and a university application may be separate processes.
Browse our growing Stipendienverzeichnis alongside those official sources. Keep an alternative budget ready while decisions are pending, so an award improves your choices rather than becoming the only thing holding the plan together.
So bewerben Sie sich
Start with the programme’s entry requirements and the route for your previous education. A bachelor’s application normally centres on your school qualification and relevant subjects; a master’s application also considers your prior degree and any specified background.
Universities set their own English requirements and selection procedures. The University of Latvia’s Computer Science page, for example, describes mathematics requirements, an interview and additional test conditions for certain educational backgrounds. That is why one general “Latvia admission requirement” cannot tell every applicant what they need.
Prepare your qualification documents, transcripts, language evidence and any requested portfolio, references or motivation statement. Ask the admissions office about document preparation before paying for unnecessary translations or sending originals.
Use the current intake calendar to plan backwards. Leave time for the application result, any payment required for the offer, accommodation and immigration arrangements. In autumn 2026, information about a past September intake is not evidence that applications for the next one are open.
Visas and residence
Your nationality and length of stay determine the route. The EU Immigration Portal’s student guidance for Latvia explains the non-EU route, while the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs sets out the study residence documentation.
Work with the university’s international office on its invitation and the sequence of visa or permit steps. Prepare for evidence of study, financial means and appropriate insurance. Use the amount and documents required for your application at the time you submit it, rather than copying an old monthly figure from a guide.
EU/EEA applicants have different entry arrangements, but should still ask about residence registration for a longer stay. Sorting this out early makes arrival much simpler.
Working while studying and gaining experience
The EU study guidance describes a usual limit of 20 hours a week during study and 40 hours in holidays for the relevant non-EU student route. The European Commission’s country profile distinguishes full-time master’s and doctoral students, who may have broader work permission. The conditions on your own visa or residence status and your level of study are what matter.
Work can add useful experience and income, but avoid building the first-year budget around a job you have not found. Language, timetable and the local opportunities available all influence what is realistic. A practical course or clinical placement can also be demanding even when the calendar seems to contain free hours.
Ask about career services, course projects and internships early. A placement can help you understand a sector, build confidence and meet people who approach problems differently. It is part of your development, rather than simply a box to fill before graduation.
Student life and finding your place
Riga offers a city setting with study, culture and social life within reach, while Latvia also gives you opportunities to explore beyond the capital. Decide what helps you feel at home: living near classmates, a manageable commute, access to sport or a quiet place to concentrate.
Attend orientation and join an activity before your routine becomes fixed. A student society, language exchange, music group or project team can make the first few weeks much easier. Learning abroad includes the confidence that comes from navigating a new place and forming relationships beyond your usual circle.
Common questions about studying in Latvia
Is Latvia a low-cost study destination?
It can offer manageable options, but the course and housing choice matter. A business degree and a six-year medical degree have very different budgets. Compare the full annual cost rather than the lowest tuition figure in a search result.
Can I study a master’s in English?
Yes. Health Management at RSU and RISEBA is one example. Explore the national programme database for other subjects and read the required academic background for each course.
Are the government scholarships open now?
The next announced application period is 1 February–1 April 2027. The 2026–27 selection is complete. Use VIAA’s new call when it opens for the final conditions.
Continue with studying in Estonia, explore other Länderführer, or learn how to compare English-taught programmes.