Category: Education in Latvia

Higher education in Latvia is available at the college or high school. Access to higher education in Latvia is open to all holders of certificates of receipt of complete secondary education. However, the universities admission requirements determined according to the number of applications received. This may be the entrance exams in one or more subjects of profile (but not more than 4), the contest passports with an emphasis on majors or interviews. Applicants that have not been successful for admission to the places financed by the State may be taken on a contract basis. The country has completed the process of introducing centralized state exams in high school.

Colleges in Latvia

College (koledza) – this is the highest level of educational institution that implements the educational programs of the first level professional higher education.

Program first level professional higher education in Latvia offer learns the profession: bankers, entrepreneurs, information technology specialists, paralegals, engineers and technicians. The duration of study after secondary education – 2-3 years. These programs are for higher education “non-university” and are mainly aimed at obtaining professional knowledge and skills. But no study, no further work is not related to the research work.

Acquired qualification corresponds to the fourth level of professional qualifications: training, making it possible to perform hard work in a changing situation, to take responsibility for the allocation of resources, to organize and supervise the work of other professionals and / or workers.

High Schools in Latvia

High school (augstskola) – an educational institution of the higher level of program of professional higher education and second-level academic higher education.

Upon completion of the program of professional higher education in Latvia tier awarded fifth level professional qualification. This is the highest qualification that gives an opportunity to analyze and make decisions, design and / or plan, organize, direct, control, and / or conduct research work. Usually with professional qualifications you get a bachelor’s degree.

These programs are equal for higher education, “university type.” They focus on the scientific education and research, so basically offer programs of academic education and related professional programs.

Professional programs of higher education are entitled to professional qualifications, as well as a professional bachelor’s degree. Give this degree, if the duration of full-time training is a minimum of 4 years.

Academic higher education program gives the right to receive a bachelor’s degree in 3-4 years. After receiving a bachelor’s degree can continue their studies at degree or professional educational program of the university.

Education for the academic program is 1-2 years to obtain a degree in a total of 5-6 years are needed. The duration of the professional education program after earning a bachelor’s – 1-2 years.

Postgraduate program. Master’s degree gives the right to continue their studies in doctoral studies, which lasts 3-4 years.

To get an education in Latvia you do not have to learn the Latvian language. It’s enough to apply to the School of Business Turiba – education in English here, and the level of teaching and the quality of education is no different from all the other schools of Latvia.

In secondary education in Latvia, there are two types of programs:

• the overall average (its task – to prepare for further education)
• vocational secondary education program (focused on the professional qualification)

Implement educational programs or schools gymnasium

Secondary education is a full program of general education. High school – may partially implement the programs of basic education (from the seventh grade), necessarily – secondary education, with at least 2-3 of educational programs: the humanities, mathematics, etc.

The task of vocational secondary education in Latvia – to start their professional skills and the opportunity to continue their education at a higher level. Vocational secondary education is offered in vocational schools (arodskola) or vocational secondary schools (arodvidusskola).

Vocational schools offer programs with a duration of up to three years of study. They accept students as having a basic education, and in some cases – with incomplete primary education: students have the opportunity to obtain training in parallel to finish well and of primary education.

In the vocational school can be two levels of professional qualifications. The first level allows the graduate to perform basic work tasks under the control of the master. The second level – independently perform skilled work.

Graduates of these programs have the right to continue their education to obtain a third level of professional qualification or continue their education at equalizing education course of secondary education (lasting one year). Thus, they have the right to continue their education in programs of higher level.

Vocational High School (also called profgimnaziya or college – arodgimnazija vai tehnikums) offers vocational secondary education. Period of training after basic education is 4 years, after receiving vocational training of 1-2 years. These programs are focused on getting the third level qualifications, which allows you to perform such duties as the Executive / employee as the planning and organization of work. At this point, the graduate is able to take responsibility for the allocation of resources and the work of other artists.

The average full general education in Latvia includes the following main stages:

• basic education lasting nine years,
• the first stage of secondary education,
• the final cycle of secondary education, 3 years, carried out in the gymnasium.

High school education starts from the 10th class in the profile view class natural sciences, mathematics and humanities. Graduates who successfully complete the training and passed the state certification, receive a certificate of secondary education (Atestats par Visparejo Videjo Izglitibu), which gives access to enter higher education.

Basic vocational education (10-11) can be obtained in basic vocational schools and completed a certificate of Aplieciba par profesiionalo pamatlzglitibu.

Full secondary vocational education in Latvia

The duration of training is 4 years. While teaching at these institutions, after receiving basic education, the students, along with the development of the profession get secondary (complete) general education. Graduates of these schools receive a diploma of secondary vocational education (Diploms par profesionalo videjo izglitibu), which gives access to universities.

Higher eduction in Latvia

Access to higher education in Latvia is open to all holders of certificates of complete secondary education. However, the universities admission requirements determined according to the number of applications received. This may be the entrance exams in one or more subjects of profile (but not more than 4), the contest passports with an emphasis on majors or interviews.

In Latvia, there are two types of higher education. Law “On education”, adopted in 1991, established the difference between academic and professional educational programs, and adopted in December 2000, amendments to the law “On higher education” also established a distinction between universities and university-type non-university. The latter can only implement a professional training program, while the former can offer both academic and vocational programs.

Academic programs of higher education in Latvia (5 level ISCED) based on the study of fundamental and / or applied sciences; usually requires writing and sewn final work at the end of each of the steps leading to the award of a bachelor’s degree (Bakalaurs) and Masters (Magistrs).

Bachelor’s degree is awarded after completion of the first stage of university education. Duration of the program is 3-4 years or 120-160 Latvian credit / credits (180-240 ECTS units).

Master’s degree is awarded at the end of the second stage of academic higher education. Training programs can be designed for a 1-2 year training, ie 40-80 Latvian credits (60-120 ECTS units), for a total duration of training should be at least 5 years (200 Latvian credits). In medicine and dentistry (6 and 5 years, respectively) Bachelor and Master degrees are not provided, but the diplomas awarded a master’s degree are considered equal.

Master’s degree (or equivalent) is required for admission to the program leading to the award of a doctorate (Doktors), which is recognized in the international context as the degree of Ph.D. Programs provide training for 3-4 years, during which it is necessary to conduct independent scientific research, to pass the necessary examinations, published in scientific journals and international level to protect the prepared work.

In Latvia, there are several types of educational programs of higher education

Professional higher education programs is the first level (college courses) takes 2 years of study (80 teaching units) after receiving a complete secondary education. These programs are designed to prepare mid-level (level 4 vocational qualifications) for a wide range of specialties and end with the award of the Diploma of the first level of higher education.

Obtained at this level credits are taken into account in further education at the second level professional higher education leading to a diploma of the fifth level of professional qualifications.

Professional programs of higher education in Latvia is the second level which lasts 4 years (160 training units) after receiving a complete secondary education. These programs are considered to be final professional higher education and lead to a diploma of the second level of higher education.

In December 2000, the law “On higher education” was amended, under which it became possible to award a professional bachelor’s degree, if the total duration of the program is at least 4 years (160 Latvian training units, 240 ECTS units) and a professional master’s degree If the total duration of the program is at least 5 years, that is 200 Latvian academic units. Thus, the long process of reforming the education system has led to the creation of a symmetric system of degrees and qualifications.