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Academic year
The academic year begins in September and is over towards the end of June or in the first half of July. As a general rule, it comprises 40 weeks of lectures, seminars and practical work and is mainly divided into 2 semesters. In some faculties students also have to undergo practical training in summer. Students are enrolled on one of various courses offered. Please follow the link on the upper right corner to see the academic calendar for current or upcoming academic year.
Registration for study semester and study courses
The semester starts with the registration week, which is held in the first week of September/February. Each semester students must register for the next study session, mandatory and elective courses. The registration for study courses consist of two steps – application and confirmation of the registration. To apply for a course, access University of Latvia Information System (LUIS) with your login and password provided in the registration certificate or request a new password at the Student Services.
The students, who are registered for the semester, have the rights to register for the study courses acquisition.
The students register automatically for the mandatory courses planned in the relevant semester, when they register for the semester.
The students register individually in the Information System of the University of Latvia for the study courses acquisition of the elective parts (parts B and C) of their study programme:
- during registration week and first study week of the semester – for the study programme elective courses (part B);
- during registration week and first week of the semester – for the elective courses (part C) coordinated by Student service and faculties;
- during the second week of the semester – for the free study places in courses coordinated by other study programmes.
The amount of the study courses that has been selected by a student in each of the elective parts (parts B and C) in different semesters can differ by two credits from the amount of the elective part that is envisaged by the programme. The amount of study courses acquired during the study year must correspond to that envisaged by the programme.
UL regulations on registration for study semester and courses
Credit transfer
For students coming from to the University of Latvia with previous university experience it is possible to transfer some of their academic credits by submitting the transcript of records and application to the programme director. The better the previous study programme compares with the programme offered at the UL, the more credits can be transferred. University of Latvia accepts transfer students that wish to move from their home institution to UL and obtain a degree here. Only students having been studied for at least 1 year and having obtained at least 60 ECTS points may be considered as transfer students. The programme director decides the level of studies that the student may enter and the amount of credits that can be transferred.
Tests and exams
Examination sessions take place at the end of each semester (i.e. in January and in June - July). Students are usually given 3 - 5 days to prepare for each examination.
Students are examined separately in each subject and the total number of examinations in a semester is usually between four and six. Candidates who fail in a course (semester) examination can generally try to sit again during the session or afterwards. In principle, an examination cannot be repeated more than twice. In the case of failure, the student has to repeat a study year. The student is given a deadline to pass the examinations before the beginning of the next academic year.
Final examinations are usually arranged as joint examinations covering several subjects, which are relevant to the main field of study.
Theoretical examinations are held in a written or oral form. In some fields e.g. in medicine, practical examinations are important. Students are examined by a single examiner or by an examination board. If the student is successful in all the examinations of the session, he/she is allowed to continue the following semester.
An examination board chaired by an outstanding academic or a professional person from outside the institution conducts the final examinations. In some cases, especially if the programme prepares an individual for work in a regulated profession, the final examinations may be arranged as State examinations.
Marking System
In Latvia's higher education a ten-point grading system prevails, where 10 is the maximum and 4 is the pass mark (In some cases where studies lead to a qualification in a regulated profession, e.g. in medical specialties, the universities may consider mark 4 as a failure). Explanation of the grading system and approximate comparison to ECTS grades are given below.
Grade | Meaning | Comments | Estimated corresponding ECTS grade |
10 | Izcili (with distinction) | Knowledge of the student is substantially higher than the estimated normal level | A |
9 | Teicami (excellent) | Knowledge of the student is higher than the estimated normal level | A |
8 | Ļoti labi (very good) | Knowledge corresponds to the highest expected level | B |
7 | Labi (good)
| The student has mastered the subject deeply and with understanding, is progressing within the expected limits, but makes minor mistakes | C |
6 | Gandrīz labi (almost good) | The student has generally succeeded in the course within the required limits, but he or she is either merely reproducing the knowledge rather than actively using it, or making more substantial mistakes | D |
5 | Viduvēji (satisfactory) | Awarded to students, who are progressing within the limits of their individual abilities, generally are not behind the appropriate age group, but make substantial mistakes and reproduce the facts rather than analyze them | E |
4 | Gandrīz viduvēji (almost satisfactory)
| The very last positive grade. Awarded to students, who do their best but still make grave mistakes and just reproduce most of the relevant material | E/FX |
3 - 1 | Neapmierinoši (unsatisfactory) | Marks of different levels for students whose records are below the expected | Fail |
Exam failure and academic debts
During the exam session students are allowed to retake an exam three times for additional fees, where the third examination is supervised by the board of examiners. If the student fails to pass the exam during the exam session, the academic debt must be solved during the upcoming semesters.
The students, whose total amount of academic failures after spring semester exceeds 6 credits and who intend to continue their studies, write an application and prepare a schedule to clear failed academic standing and submit it to the faculty dean during the registration week.The dean of the faculty makes a decision:
- to register student for the next semester. Should the total amount of academic failures exceed 10 credits student shall be registered for the previous semester;
- to exmatriculate student due to non-fulfilment of Study Agreement obligations.
If the debt exceeds 10 cp., students should take an academic leave of absence and register as course attendees. Only students that have been registered as course attendees to retake the failed study courses may settle the academic debt during the academic leave of absence. The fees for retaking the course or exam are given In the pricing list below.
Academic leave of absence
As a degree student you may apply for a leave of absence if unexpected difficulties or complications occur and you are not able to continue follow a normal course of study. You must have passed one semester (20 credit points), before you are eligible to apply for a leave of absence.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens - please note that during the leave of absence your residence permit won’t be prolonged.