Latvia

1. Diagram of the Latvian higher education system

Diagram of the Latvian higher education system

2. Types of higher educational institutions

National nameEnglish nameAccreditation of institutionEQF/NQFTypes of qualifications offered
AugstskolaInstitution of higher educationHigher Education Council5-8All types of higher education qualifications
AkadēmijaAcademyHigher Education Council5-8All types of higher education qualifications
UniversitāteUniversityHigher Education Council5-8All types of higher education qualifications
KoledžaCollegeHigher Education Council5First level professional higher education diploma

Titles of HEIs are stipulated by the Law on Institutions of Higher Education (last amended on 12 September 2013):

Information about accredited study fields is under preparation.

3. Types of higher education

QualificationQualification in EnglishEQF/ NQF level, cycleLength/ECTSAccess requirementAccess to further study
Pirmā līmeņa profesionālās augstākās izglītības diplomsFirst level professional higher education diploma5, short cycle120-180 ECTSGeneral or vocational secondary educationStudies at bachelor, professional bachelor or second level professional higher education programmes. NB! When enrolling the same branch bachelor programme, part of credit points can be transferred from previous studies
Bakalaura diplomsBachelor’s diploma6, 1st cycle180-240 ECTSGeneral or vocational secondary educationStudies at master, professional master or second level professional higher education programmes
Profesionālās augstākās izglītības diploms vai augstākās profesionālās kvalifikācijas diplomsProfessional higher education diploma or higher professional qualification diploma6, 1st cycleat least 240 ECTS, total duration of HE studies at least 4 yearsFirst level professional higher educationMaster studies
Profesionālās augstākās izglītības diploms vai augstākās profesionālās kvalifikācijas diplomsProfessional higher education diploma or higher professional qualification diploma6, 1st cycleat least 60 ECTS, total duration of HE studies at least 4 yearsAcademic or professional Bachelor’s degree, second level professional higher educationMaster studies
Profesionālā bakalaura diploms un augstākās profesionālās kvalifikācijas diplomsProfessional Bachelor’s diploma and higher professional qualification diploma6, 1st cycleat least 240 ECTSGeneral or vocational secondary educationMaster studies
Maģistra diplomsMaster’s diploma7, 2nd cycleat least 60 ECTS, total duration of HE full time studies at least 5 yearsAcademic or professional Bachelor’s degree, second level professional higher educationDoctoral studies
Profesionālā maģistra diploms un augstākās profesionālās kvalifikācijas diplomsProfessional Master’s diploma and higher professional qualification diploma7, 2nd cycleat least 60 ECTS, total duration of HE studies at least 5 yearsAcademic or professional Bachelor’s degree, second level professional higher education (after at least 4 year full time studies)Doctoral studies
Profesionālās augstākās izglītības diploms vai augstākās profesionālās kvalifikācijas diplomsProfessional higher education diploma or higher professional qualification diploma7, 2nd cycleat least 300 ECTSGeneral or vocational secondary educationDoctoral studies (after medical studies medical residency)
Doktora diplomsDoctoral diploma8, 3rd cycle180 ECTSAcademic or professional Master’s degreen.a.

The system of higher education comprises academic higher education (akadēmiskā augstākā izglītība) leading to a degree and professional higher education (profesionālā augstākā izglītība) leading to a degree and professional qualification. The aim of academic higher education is to prepare for independent research activities and to provide theoretical basis for professional activities.

The aim of professional higher education is to ensure the acquisition of in-depth knowledge in a concrete field, ensuring the graduates’ ability to develop or improve systems, products and technologies and to prepare the graduates for creative, research and pedagogical work in this field.

In HE Latvian credit points (CP) are used, which are defined as the amount of one-week workload of full-time studies. The average workload for one year of full-time studies is 40 CP. The Latvian credit point system is compatible with ECTS. Recalculating the Latvian CP into the ECTS credits, the amount of Latvian CP has to be multiplied by 1.5.

4. Qualifications framework

The Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF) is established and has been presented to the EQF Advisory Group in 2011. It consists of eight levels. Descriptors of the LQF are based on learning outcomes. The framework includes formal (general/academic and vocational/professional) education: basic, secondary and higher.

In 2010, the LQF level descriptors were included in the Cabinet of Ministers “Regulations on the classification of Latvian education” (2008). Similar to the EQF, they are expressed as:

  • Knowledge (knowledge and comprehension),
  • Skills (ability to apply knowledge, communication, general skills) and
  • Competence (analysis, synthesis and assessment).

LQF was legally strengthened by the Amendments  to the Education Law in June 2015, which defined LQF and provided general level descriptors.

The Latvian higher education framework, which is a part of the LQF, is based on three Bologna cycles: bachelor, master and doctor. The cycle descriptors are based on learning outcomes.

The Cabinet of Ministers “Regulations on the classification of Latvian education”:

The Latvian referencing report (second version, May 2012) is available here:

5. Quality assurance and accreditation

Accreditation is carried out according to the Law on Higher Education Institutions (1995), article 9, which stipulates the general accreditation principles of higher education institutions (HEI). Only those higher educational establishments which have received license and offer state accredited study programmes have the right to issue HE qualifications recognised in Latvia.

Institutional accreditation

Higher Education Council (Augstākās izglītības padome) is responsible for higher education quality. The Higher Education Council takes decision on the accreditation of higher education institution as a whole and submits it to the MoES for approval.

Programme accreditation

In 2012, a new HE accreditation and quality management model was implemented – from accreditation of separate study programmes to the accreditation study fields (According to the Cabinet of Ministers “Regulations for accreditation of higher education institutions, colleges and study fields”, 2012). The Agency responsible for organization of the accreditation process for study fields is the Academic Information Centre (since July 1, 2015).

6. Upper secondary qualifications giving access to higher education

TitleSpecialisationFurther studies
Secondary school (vidusskola)General secondary educationAll first cycle programmes
Gymnasium (ģimnāzija)General secondary educationAll first cycle programmes
Evening school (vakarskola)General secondary educationAll first cycle programmes
Vocational secondary school (profesionālā vidusskola)Vocational secondary educationAll first cycle programmes
Technical school (tehnikums)Vocational secondary educationAll first cycle programmes
Some colleges (koledža)Vocational secondary educationAll first cycle programmes

All secondary education students (both vocational and general) take final state centralized exams in Latvian, Math, foreign language and one in optional study subject (student’s choice). Students receive a certificate of general secondary education (vispārējās vidējās izglītības sertifikāts), which – together with certificate of general secondary education (atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību) or diploma of vocational secondary education (diploms par profesionālo vidējo izglītību) – gives the right to enrol higher education programmes.

7. Useful links