Latvia 2013/14 - student fees and grants

National student fee

Students studying on state subsidised places do not pay fees. 55 % of 1st cycle students and 40 % of 2nd cycle students pay fees.

The majority of students, including those enrolled in evening courses, distance courses or courses offered jointly with other universities pay fees.

Fee amounts vary by field and course load. Each higher education institution can set its own fees. The fees range from LVL 680 to 3 400 per year for full-time studies and from LVL 630 to 1 460 for part-time studies in the 1st cycle. In the 2nd cycle fees range from LVL 800 to 4 582 for full-time studies and from LVL 640 to 2 288 for part-time studies per year. For college programmes or short-cycle programmes (ISCED 5B) the fees range from LVL 550 to 900. However, some of the higher education institutions apply a diversified tuition fee amount throughout the study years, i.e. usually the fee in the first year of studies is the lowest.

The amounts of fees for international students may differ in some study programmes (e.g. medicine, dentistry, engineering) and range from LVL 980 to 7 028 (2012/13) in the 1st cycle. In the 2nd cycle, fees range from LVL 1 100 to 8 434 for full-time studies and from LVL 650 to 6 470 (2012/13) for part-time studies per year. The students from EU and EEA are treated as home students.

Student grants

Public grants to cover tuition fees are allocated on the basis of academic merit. These grants are primarily available in priority areas; currently natural sciences, computer sciences and engineering.

Other public grants are traditionally available based on academic merit. Recently, more need-based criteria are taken into account. Disabled or orphaned students with families, from large families or in economic need are treated favourably. State budget grants are LVL 70/month (per 10 months) for the first and second cycle. Approximately 4 000 students receive state budget grants each semester (11.5 % of students studying in the state subsidized study places) (2012/13). Higher grants are available through the European Social Fund activities supporting the implementation of Master’s study programmes (specifically for students in the following priority study fields: natural science, mathematics, IT, engineering, health care, environmental sciences and creative industries). In 2012/13, 40.8 % of full time Master students in these priority study fields received this grant.

Loans

Two types of loans exist. The first is to cover tuition costs and the second to cover living costs with a cap of LVL 120/month. Loans need to be paid back 12 months after the end of the degree programme. 11 % of students take out loans (2012/13).

Tax benefit for student's parents

Tax benefits awarded to parents and students (payers of personal income tax) of LVL 150 per year to recover the part of the annual funds invested in health care and education. Also, a parent has relief of personal income tax for a child while she or he continues the acquisition of higher education, but not longer than until student reaches 24 years of age.

Family allowances

No family allowances.