Universities in Latvia

Based in northern Europe and sharing borders with Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus, Latvia is an untapped destination for travelers and students alike. This country offers many reasons to visit, from beautiful old towns, traditional food and vast areas of protected nature to explore, including 4 national parks. Latvia is an affordable EU nation for international students to consider, with a high quality education system and good universities to choose from.

The types of University

Higher education providers in Latvia can be divided into the following categories:

• State universities – There are 6 publicly funded universities in Latvia, with a focus on research output. These include University of Latvia, Riga Technical University and University of Daugavpils.
• State colleges – There are 10 publicly funded colleges in Latvia, including Latvian Maritime Academy, Latvian Academy of Art and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.
• Colleges & vocational schools – There are several non-university style colleges and vocational schools in Latvia, including Riga Aeronautical Institute, Turība University and Riga Graduate School of Law.

Language of instruction

The official and most widely spoken language of Latvia is Latvian, which is the primary language of tuition in the universities and colleges in the country.

International students who don’t speak any Latvian also have the option of taking courses taught in the English language, for example Daugavpils University and the University of Latvia both offer a selection of degree courses entirely taught in English.

Popular student cities in Latvia

• Jelgava – Located centrally in Latvia, Jelgava is a historic city based on the Lielupe river, with both contemporary and classical architecture to enjoy, along with parks and museums. One of the largest cities in Latvia, students may wish to consider studying at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, which places a particular emphasis on subjects related to agriculture, forestry, engineering and economics.
• Daugavpils – Laying on the river of Daugava in the south east of Latvia is the city of Daugavpils, which is the second largest city in the country. A truly historic city, tracing its beginnings back to 1275, it has lots of historical architecture for visitors to admire. Surrounded by pretty countryside, this city is home to the University of Daugavpils, one of the biggest state universities in Latvia. 
• Liepāja – Sitting on the west coast of the country, the port city of Liepāja is a popular destination for tourists, boasting abandoned military forts to explore, the fine white sands of Liepāja beach and plenty of cultural experiences to enjoy. It is also a European Capital of Culture for 2027. Students will be keen to learn more about the University of Liepāja, a large public university of the city which offers many degree courses taught in English.
• Riga – Latvia’s capital city, based centrally in the country on the river Daugava, is home to over 600,000 inhabitants, including over 75,000 students. It is Latvia’s largest city, boasting a beautiful historical old town which is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Riga is also a modern city, with vibrant culture and food scenes and wonderful nearby beaches to enjoy. As well as being a popular tourist destination, Riga is also home to several of the countries higher education institutions, including the public universities Riga Technical University, Riga Stradiņš University and Riga Technical University.

Table of the top ranked universities in Latvia

We have compiled a list of some of the top universities and higher education providers in Latvia to browse below. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see what courses are available for international students.