Study in LATVIA
Looking back 2004
Rasel Ahmed, Cumilla.
1 st Bangladeshi student at Grodno State Medical University in Belarus, Now Austrian Citizen
Study in LATVIA
Latvia, country of northeastern Europe and the middle of the three Baltic states. Latvia is a member of the United Nations, European Union, Council of Europe, NATO, OECD, OSCE, IMF, and WTO.
It is also a member of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and Nordic Investment Bank. It was a member of the League of Nations (1921–1946). Latvia is part of the Schengen Area and joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2014. The Central Bank of the Republic of Latvia is the centre of the banking system.
Latvia lies along the shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, and it is bounded by Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and Lithuania to the south.
The official language of Latvia is Latvian; however, nearly one-third of the population speaks Russian. Smaller numbers speak Romany, the Indo-Aryan language of the Roma (Gypsies), and Yiddish, a Germanic language.
The majority of Latvians adhere to Christianity—mainly Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. About one-fourth of Latvians consider themselves nonreligious.
- Popular Universities : The University of Ljubljana is the most prestigious university in Latvia.
- Capital: Riga
- Population : 1.9 million
- Currency :EURO
- Website: studyinlatvia@viaa.gov.lv
Cost of living in Latvia
| Cost of living | One person | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total with rent | $864 | $2133 |
| Without rent | $454 | $1480 |
| Rent & Utilities | $410 | $653 |
| Food | $293 | $782 |
| Transport | $65.1 | $171 |
| Monthly salary after tax | $941 | |
| GDP per capita | $17737 | |
| Human freedom index | 8.51 | |
| Life expectancy | 75.4 | |
| English speaking % | 45.9% | |
| Population | 1.91M |
The cost of living in Latvia is $864, which is 1.08 times less expensive than the world average. Latvia ranked 81st out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 35th best country to live in. The average salary after taxes in Latvia is $941, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1.1 months.
WHY LATVIA?
Located in North Eastern Europe, by the Baltic Sea, Latvia has always been a multi-ethnic country, rich in different cultural and education traditions, and sees its role as a bridge between the East and the West. The higher education institutions in Latvia are members of international cooperation within many different fields of study.
1. Cultural
Latvia is not renown for a world-class culinary tradition, but the food, influenced by German or Russian cooking, is simple, hearty and filling. Riga has an overwhelming choice of places to eat in all price ranges. Many restaurants now offer discounts and ‘happy hours’ to attract visitors, so eating in Riga shouldn’t be a problem any time of the day – or night.
As cities go, Riga is pretty peaceful. Touring the city on foot or by bike is a great way to get to know your way around, and there are lots of eateries on the way. Generally the food is good quality and extremely cheap. Beets are served up in every possible way imaginable, and a meal of baked salmon, beet salad and bread, followed by cake for dessert, in a cozy bistro will set you back around $5.00!
There are companies offering walking and cycling tours all over the city, or you can go it alone. Places worth visiting on the food trail are the Riga Central Market (especially the old warehouse – Maskavas iela – behind the fish pavilion) and Hospitalis, one of the newer attractions of Riga; a crazy hospital-themed restaurant where you can sit in a dentist’s chairs, be spoonfed while in a strait-jacket or have food served from trolleys by surgical instruments.
Make sure you visit the landmark buildings that used to house one of the biggest markets in Europe. The five enormous former Zeppelin hangars were converted into market halls in 1930 and have retained their traditional division into different types of food for sale.
Buy fish, meat, dairy, bread and vegetables inside and clothes, CDs and appliances outside. You might not pick up any exclusive fashion items or souvenirs, but a visit to the giant Bazaar will give you a feel for local everyday life.
2. A great education system
In Latvia, there are both state-financed and fee-paying higher education. Public grants and scholarships are available for top students.
Latvia offers two levels of higher education programs – academic and professional (for example translators, bank staff, business lawyers, pilots etc.). University-type higher education institutions offer both academic and professional education, while the “non-university type” institutions provide only professional education.
Academic higher education in Latvia follows the Bologna system and is divided into three levels: Bachelor’s studies, Master’s studies, and Doctoral studies. A Bachelor degree takes three or four years, while a Master’s degree will take one or two years.
Only graduates holding a Master’s degree or equivalent higher education diploma may take up doctoral studies. These last three to four years, involving advanced studies, examinations and the preparation and defense of a doctoral thesis.
3.Location
Riga is the capital city of Latvia and also the largest city in the Baltic State Region.
You might not have ever heard of Latvia, but you might have seen pictures of elegant men and woman strolling arm in arm along the tiny streets of Riga, which is a mix of Russian glamour and elegant Art Nouveau boulevards!
Riga is a metropolis pulsing with life, romantic walks, live music and celebration. It’s a well preserved medieval city which still shows traces of its religious and Romanesque past and in 2014 was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the uniqueness of its architecture in the “old town” and as one of the European Capitals of Culture.
4. Architecture
All European cities have impressive architecture, but did you know that Riga has the largest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe? Wander around and marvel at the work of Latvian architects of the late 19th/early 20th centuries on over 800 buildings. The main streets to view are Elizabetes, Alberta, Strelnieku, and Antonijas. One of the finest buildings is the 1904-built Riga Graduate School of Law at Alberta 13 and while there, you may as well pop into the Art Nouveau Museum at number 12. Whether you prefer art nouveau, romanesque, gothic or baroque architectural style, you can find it all here.
5. Locals and language Travel
The language spoken in Latvia is Latvian, but most people speak English, often with an interesting mix of accents; American English, Swedish and Dutch. Oh, and they also have a warm sense of humour! Pretty much every European capital city has an “old” part of town and a “new” part of town. Cities taken over by the Soviet Union were able to hold onto the “traditional look” mainly due to the lack of interest in changing it, and a lack of finance. These capital cities still retain the feel and look of centuries past, when royal or local aristocrats would probably chop people’s heads off, but would also walk the cobbled streets or ride across them and hunt for “spoil.”
TUTION FEE
The cost of studies depends on the institution and the course of study. The costs range from 1,300 EUR per year in training for social work (4 years of study) to 13,000 EUR per year for a degree in Dentistry (5 years) and up to 22,000 EUR for Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Detailed information on tuition fees is provided with each study programme description in the studyinlatvia.eu database.
How to Apply for Study Visa
1. Applicant can schedule their appointment after uploading the requested documents at the Hello Verify webpage. They will receive confirmation once all documents are successfully uploaded. Applicants who are unable to book an appointment online need to contact the VFS Global India Call Center (+91-22-67866025) to schedule an appointment
2. Applicants have to submit the visa application at the assigned VFS Global Latvia visa application centre in India.
3. All student applicants need to appear for the interview at the VFS Global Latvia Visa application centre with the Embassy of Latvia in India. The date and time slot of the interview will be allocated by the VFS Global Latvia Visa application centres when submitting the visa application. This interview can be either through video call or in person.
Academic year
The academic year in most of the higher educational institutions starts at the beginning of September, there are 40 weeks divided into 2 semesters.
Autumn semester:
lectures: September to December
exams: December / January
holiday: Christmas-time
Spring semester: lectures: February to the end of May
exams: May / June
holidays: July-August
Required DOCUMENTS for Indian Students
- A filled Long Stay Visa Application Form of the Republic of Latvia.
- One passport size photo (size 35mm x 45 mm), taken during visa submission
- A Valid Passport
- Copies of the identification and information pages of previously issued visas (if any)
- OCMA approved invitation.
- Study Agreement
- Written certification issued by the higher education institution or college
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Proof of Accommodation
- Proof of Sponsorship
- Proof of the Previous Education
- Ticket Reservation
- Travel Medical Insurance of minimum coverage of 42,600 EUR.
- Visa fee of 60 EUR ( (Masters and PhD students exempted)
- Hello Verify confirmation slip
