Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Junior or above
Location: Europe, Latvia
GPA: 3.0

Program Overview

The University of Latvia is a well-regarded research university on the edge of the beautiful medieval center of Riga. The University was established in 1919 and is a classical European university, with Faculties of Social Sciences, Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics and Medicine. Some of its areas of specialization include: Baltic Sea Region cultural and environmental studies; Latvian language; Russian language studies (all taught by native speakers); philology; computer science; mathematics, both pure and applied; cultural anthropology; education and teacher training; international business, economics; European Union studies.

As a newly-independent country, Latvia is patriotic and welcoming, and is engaged in a deep examination of its deep historical routes, including elements of people from the original Baltic tribes, Germans, Russians and Scandinavians. As a full member of the European Union, it welcomes many international students under the Erasmus Program which will make the UO student’s experience a truly international one in a gorgeous and welcoming Northern European setting.

Dates and Deadlines

 
Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Academic Year 2025-26 2/1/2025 Late August Late June
Fall-Winter Semester 2025-26 2/1/2025 Late August Late January
Spring Semester 2026 2/1/2025 Late January Late June

The application process for this program is competitive: GEO staff will review your application materials, and a decision about your enrollment will not be made until after the application deadline. In some cases, an interview is required. If your program requires an interview, you will be contacted with further details about this process after the application deadline. Early applications are encouraged.

Successful applicants will receive an exchange nomination from GEO. Selection will be based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and written statements. 

Applying for an exchange program involves 2 steps. If you receive a nomination from GEO, you will also need to complete the host university's application, which is administered and reviewed by your host university directly. Instructions will be provided after acceptance by GEO. The host university makes the final decision regarding acceptance into the program.

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

The University of Latvia has a number of faculties where students can take courses in the natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, education, psychology, business, and law. There are a number of courses offered in English. The University of Latvia is on a semester schedule. The fall semester starts in September and final exams end in January. The spring semester starts at the end of January and final exams are at the end of June or early July depending on the year. Students should note that final exams may be written, oral, or both. 

Latvia uses a different credit system. Typically a full load of credits for a semester is 20 credit points, and for a full year 40 credit points. The Latvian credit point system is compatible with ECTS (European Credits). The number of ECTS credits is found by multiplying the number of Latvian credit points by a factor of 1.5. And 1 ECTS = 0.75 UO credits. So students need to be sure to take 20 Latvian credits/30 ECTS credits during a semester at the University of Latvia. 

To find out more information, visit the University of Latvia's website. 

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Housing Description

Exchange students are guaranteed university housing provided they apply by the housing application deadline. University of Latvia has two dormitories dedicated to housing international students:

  • “Prima” is a nine-story building. The rent is dependent on the number of students living in the room. Most rooms house 2 students with a shared bathroom. Certain floors have rooms that will accommodate 3 student residents and some will accommodate up to 5 student residents. 
  • "Reznas” is a five-story building set aside just for exchange students. All rooms are doubles (2 students residents per room). There are 2 shared bathrooms and a kitchen area available on each floor.

These two dormitories are not in the city center where the main building of the University of Latvia is located. Students will need to take public transportation (about 20 minutes) to and from their dormitory daily. Riga has a very well-developed public transportation system (buses, trams, trolleys, etc.) making it very easy for students to get around.