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General rules

General rules

1.1. Postgraduate study programme - second cycle higher education study programs and first cycle higher education study programs, which can be implemented after obtaining the first cycle higher education - enrolment requirement is a corresponding previous education certified by a previous education diploma. Education is specified in the study programme requirements.

1.2. Ranking of applicants is done by using a 1000-point scale, calculated using a formula, in which the following criteria can be added up:

1.2.1. entrance examination, specifying: entrance examination (coefficient x maximum amount of points = maximum amount of obtainable points);

1.2.2. a grade in the previous education diploma, specifying: name of the grade (coefficient x maximum amount of points = maximum amount of obtainable points);

1.2.3. evaluation of experience, specifying: type of experience (coefficient x maximum amount of points = maximum amount of obtainable points).

1.3. If the previous education diploma does not specify the required competition criteria for the study programme enrolment – a mark in finals – the criteria is then replaced with the weighted average grade.

1.4. If the previous education diploma does not specify the required competition criteria for the study programme enrolment – the total mark of finals – then the criteria is replaced with the average grade grade of finals (if the finals consist of a Thesis and/or final examinations) or the grade of Thesis or an examination (if the finals consist of only a thesis or an examination).

1.5. If the previous education diploma does not specify the required competition criteria for the study programme enrolment – the weighted average grade – then it is calculated using the calculation procedures defined by University of Latvia (LU) (defined by LU 29.05.2002 order No. 1/66 „Par vienota diploma pielikuma sagatavošanu un ieviešanu LU” (“About a unified diploma supplement preparation and implementation within LU”)). If the previous education diploma does not specify the course credit point amount, the calculation of weighted average mark takes the study course amount of hours into account. If the previous education diploma does not specify neither the amount of study course credit points nor the hour amount, then the weighted average mark is calculated using the study course grades.

1.6. If the final grades of the previous education diploma are determined by a 5-point scale, they are compared to grades on a 10-point scale. An acquired grade 5 (excellently) is compared to final grade 9 (excellently), grade 4 (good) – to grade 7 (good), grade 3 (average) – to grade 5 (average).

1.7. The rights to a registration avoiding competition are awarded to the 2024/2025 academic year LU graduates in accordance with study programme rules.

1.8. Persons who have acquired the rights to a registration avoiding competition are provided with 50% state-funded study places of all the study programme state-funded study places (LU approved study places only). If the number of state-funded study places is uneven, then the largest amount of study places are awarded to the persons who acquired the rights to registration avoiding competition.

1.9. If the applicant number applying for registration avoiding competition is higher than the corresponding state-funded study place amount, a competition is held taking the weighted average grade (60%) and total grade of finals (40%) of previous studies into account.

1.10. Applicants who do not acquire the rights to registration avoiding competition can claim a study place in the common procedures.

1.11. Foreigners who have acquired previous education abroad need to verify the corresponding language proficiency when applying for study programmes with English, German, French, Russian, Spanish or Italian study languages. This can be done with international language test results (certified by a document issued in the last five years) listed in article 1.12. with the exception being, when previous education is acquired in the corresponding language.

1.12. Language proficiency is verified by the following international test results:

1.12.1. English:

1.12.1.1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-based at 72 points minimum (Master`s degree programme „English Studies” – 90 points minimum);

1.12.1.2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Essential - at least 8 points (Master`s degree programme “English Studies” – at least 10 points)

1.12.1.3.  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 5,5 points minimum (Master`s degree programme „Epidemiology and Medical Statistics” – 5,5 points minimum; Master`s degree programme „English Studies” – 7 points minimum);

1.12.1.4. Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) any level;

1.12.1.5. Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) any level;

1.12.1.6.  Cambridge English: First (FCE) – B (does not apply to the Master`s degree programme „English Studies”);

1.12.1.7. Pearson Test of English (PTE) General B2 minimum (Master`s degree programme „English Studies” – C1 minimum);

1.12.1.8. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: at least 51 point; (Master`s degree programme “English Studies” – at least 67points);

1.12.1.9. LanguageCert International ESOL at least Level Communicator B2 (Written and Spoken exams) (Master`s degree programme „English Studies” – Expert C1 minimum);

1.12.2. German:

1.12.2.1. Das Deutsche Sprachdiplom (DSD) der Kultusministerkonferenz 2nd degree;

1.12.2.2.  Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) 2nd degree minimum;

1.12.2.3.  Der Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF) 4th degree in all sections minimum;

1.12.2.4. Goethe – Zertifikat B2 minimum;

1.12.3. French:

1.12.3.1. Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) B2;

1.12.3.2.  Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) C1 minimum;

1.12.3.3.  Test de connaissance du français (TCF) 400 points minimum;

1.12.3.4.  Test d’Evaluation du Français (TEF) 541 points minimum;

1.12.4. Spanish:

1.12.4.1. Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) B2 minimum;

1.12.5. Italian:

1.12.5.1. Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera dell’Universita per Stranieri di Siena (CILS) B2 minimum;

1.12.5.2. Certificati di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana (Perugia) (CELI) B2 minimum;

1.12.5.3. Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri (PLIDA) B2 minimum;

1.12.6. Russian:

1.12.6.1. Тест по русскому как иностранному (ТРКИ), in English – TRFL, B2 minimum;

1.13. Foreigners who have received previous education abroad must take part in an online interview in which their motivation to study at the University of Latvia and the sincerity of their intentions are clarified.