Changes made to the admission requirements regarding the proof of the study language proficiency
Changes made to the admission requirements regarding the proof of the study language proficiency

In order to reduce the impact of the current crises on the opportunities of international students to apply for studies in Latvia, the amendments were made on 3 July to the admission requirements regarding the proof of the study language proficiency.

To apply for studies in Latvia, the admission requirements regarding the study language proficiency regulate that international students should hold an internationally recognized English proficiency certificate issued in the last five years. The score should be equal or higher than B2 level. 

As a result of the emerged restrictions in the past months, applicants have had more limited opportunities to timely provide the necessary internationally recognized English proficiency certificate, delaying the process of application to higher education institutions. 

Changes for secondary education graduates from the EU, EEA or Switzerland 

The new amendments regulate that the applicants, who have obtained secondary education in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and if the issued diploma includes the assessment of the study language proficiency, which is equivalent to B2 level or higher, are NOT required to provide an internationally recognized language proficiency certificate. These amendments apply for the academic year 2020/2021 and in the future permanently. 

Changes for the secondary education graduates from other countries

In the academic year 2020/2021, the level of the study language proficiency of the applicants from other countries except the EU, EEA or Switzerland, could either be proven by an internationally recognized language proficiency certificate or assessed by each Latvian higher education institution. 

The assessment by individual Latvian higher education institutions will be provided by applying a unified methodology based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The assessment will be organized remotely, using online tools.

International language certificate still accepted 

In the case, when an applicant can provide an internationally recognized language proficiency certificate proving level of study language equal or higher than B2, the requirement of the institutional assessment of the study language does not apply. 

Requirements for the applicants with the diploma or degree in the study language 

In the case, when an applicant has previously acquired the secondary or higher education in the study language, NO internationally recognized language proficiency certificate is required to be provided. 

Detailed information about the entrance requirements can be found here.

Currently the list of the study programmes provided on the Study in Latvia homepage includes such study languages as English, German or French. 

In the academic year 2019/2020, international students comprised 12% of all students in Latvia, out of which every 4th student was from the EU or EEA countries (11.9% were from Germany, 4.8% from Sweden, 2.1% from Norway).