Professional higher education diploma or higher professional qualification diploma – long cycle

Latvia

Key features

  • Qualification: Profesionālās augstākās izglītības diploms vai augstākās profesionālās kvalifikācijas diploms
  • Qualification in English: Professional higher education diploma or higher professional qualification diploma
  • EQF level: 7
  • Cycle: Long cycle
  • Thesis required: State examination, including the graduation thesis (at least 18 ECTS)
  • Nominal length: 5-6 years or at least 300 ECTS
  • Access requirement: General or vocational secondary education
  • Access to further study: Doctoral programmes

Programmes

These study programmes are in the field of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy (duration 5 and 6 years); graduates may continue studies in doctoral programmes. Graduates are awarded with the relevant diploma and the Latvian professional qualification level 5 (highest specialist qualification which provides for practical performance as well as abilities to plan and perform research and scientific work), i.e. EQF/LQF level 7.

Degree titles

  • Latvian: [Field/profession] kvalifikāciju
  • English: Degree of [field/profession]

Examples : ārsta grādu (degree of medical doctor), zobārsta grādu (degree of dentist), farmaceita grādu (degree of pharmacist).

Learning outcomes

Knowledge (knowledge and comprehension)

  • Able to demonstrate advanced or extensive knowledge and understanding, a part of which conforms to the most recent findings in the concrete branch of science or professional field and which provide the basis for creative thinking or research, inter alia, working in the interface of various fields

Skills (ability to apply knowledge, communication, general skills)

  • Able to use independently theory, methods and problem solving skills to perform research or artistic activities, or highly qualified professional functions
  • Able to provide arguments when explaining or discussing complex or systemic aspects of the concrete branch of science or professional field both to specialists and non-specialists
  • Able to guide independently the improvement of one’s own competences and specialisation, to assume responsibility for the results of staff and group work and analyse them, to perform business activities, innovations in the concrete branch of science or profession, to perform work, research or further learning under complex or unpredictable conditions, if necessary, change them, using new approaches

Competence (analysis, synthesis and assessment)

  • Able to define independently and critically analyse complex scientific and professional problems, substantiate decisions and, if necessary, carry out additional analysis
  • Able to integrate knowledge of various fields, contribute to the creation of new knowledge, research or the development of new professional working methods, demonstrate understanding and ethical responsibility for the possible impact of the scientific results or professional activity on environment and society