Study in Latvia

• Your university files an invitation with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs; you then apply for a residence permit for study (plus a visa if needed) at a Latvian embassy.
• Show funds equal to the national minimum monthly wage for each month of study, and health insurance of at least EUR 42,600.
• Students may work up to 20 hours a week during term and full-time during study holidays.
• After graduating you can apply for a temporary residence permit of up to 9 months to look for work or start a business.

• A completed secondary school certificate for bachelor's, or a relevant bachelor's degree for master's
• English-taught programs: IELTS, TOEFL or another test the university accepts; Latvian-taught programs: Latvian proficiency or a preparatory language year
• Foreign school certificates and degrees usually need recognition by the national authority
• Official transcripts and certificates, with certified translations if they are not in English or Latvian
• Apply through the university's online application (many use DreamApply)
• For the residence permit: passport, the university's invitation, proof of funds at the minimum-wage level and health insurance

Riga hosts most of Latvia's universities and international students, with one of Europe's largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings and an affordable centre. English-taught medicine and engineering are the main draws. The beaches at Jūrmala are a short train ride away, and buses to Tallinn and Vilnius are cheap. Winters are long, dark and cold, and part-time work is capped at 20 hours a week in term.