Pre-Trial Investigation

The program offers comprehensive knowledge in law and its sub-disciplines, with a strong emphasis on in-depth learning of criminal law and other specialized areas that enhance investigative competencies. Throughout the programme, students will develop key attributes such as responsibility, initiative, conscientiousness, and punctuality, supporting their overall personal growth. They will also cultivate essential skills in analysis, presentation, and reasoning, which are critical for investigative work. In addition to theoretical studies, the programme provides practical training in criminal investigation.

Before enrolling, students must enter into an agreement with the Ministry of the Interior regarding the financing of their studies and subsequent employment in investigative bodies. They are required to commit to an employment relationship and work within the investigative bodies for five years after graduation. Graduates will have opportunities to work in investigative institutions such as the State Police and Anti-Corruption agency.

Conditions of admission 

General Conditions

- Completion of secondary education.

Criteria for applicants who completed secondary education from 2004 onwards:
- Centralised Examination (CE) in Latvian.*

- CE in English, French, or German.*

- CE in Mathematics.*

- Annual grade in History, or Social Studies and History, or History and Social Studies, or Social Studies .

- Average of the CE aggregate grades as a percentage of the applicant’s pass marks in all subjects.*

*Note: The EU does not require a specific CE level for admission, but conversion coefficients are applied to ensure result comparability:

• A coefficient of 0.75 is applied to exams at the optimal learning level, equating them to the highest learning level exams.
• A coefficient of 0.50 is used for exams at the general learning content level, equated to the higher content level.
• CE results obtained before 2022 are equated with the optimal learning level and weighted by 0.75.

- For applicants who completed secondary education before 2008, the centralised exam in mathematics may be substituted with the annual grade in mathematics or the average grade in algebra and geometry from the secondary school leaving certificate.

Competition criteria for applicants who completed secondary education before 2003, those who completed education abroad, and those exempt from CE:

• Annual average grade in Latvian language and literature.
• Annual grade in English, French, or German.
• Annual grade in History or Social Studies and History, or History and Social Studies, or Social Studies.
• Annual grade in Mathematics (or average grade in Algebra and Geometry).
• Annual average grade in compulsory subjects.

Additional Points for Full-time Students:

- In 2025, individuals passing the final examination of the UL Young Lawyers University with at least 70% will receive 50 additional points.

- In 2024 and 2025, winners of the 1st-3rd grade diploma in the social sciences branch of the Latvian National Student Conference will receive 40 additional points.

- Additional points for full-time students are awarded for 1st - 3rd place winners of the UL Young Lawyers University final test in 2025.

Citizens who have volunteered for and completed national defence service and meet the programme’s admission conditions will be offered state-funded study places without competition, provided they apply no later than two years after completing their service and are in the Retirement Reserve.

Special Conditions:

For admission to full-time studies, the applicant must:

1. Be a Latvian citizen.
2. Not be convicted of a criminal offence, regardless of whether the conviction has been expunged or quashed.
3. Not be convicted of a deliberate criminal offence, with exemption from a sentence.
4. Has not been held criminally liable for committing an intentional criminal offense, except in cases where the individual was prosecuted but the criminal proceedings were terminated on rehabilitative grounds.
5. Not be under guardianship.
6. Be no older than 35 years.

For admission to part-time studies, the applicant must be in service with the Latvian investigative authorities. Applicants are matriculated in line with the “Internal Security Academy” consortium’s conditions and the Ministry of the Interior’s list, considering the selection requirements and evaluation criteria set by investigative bodies.

An agreement concerning the financing of the studies and subsequent employment at the investigating authority (for full-time studies) or the costs associated with the official’s education (for part-time studies) is established between the student and the relevant investigating authority in the Republic of Latvia.

The programme has been developed within the framework of the Internal Security Academy (ISA). ISA is an consortium of several institutions (the Ministry of the Interior, State Police College, Riga Stradiņš University, and the University of Latvia) with a common goal: to pool resources and train highly qualified specialists to work in Latvian law enforcement institutions.

FAQ about Full-Time Studies

• What is an investigator, and what does she/he do?
  An investigator in criminal law is an official of an investigative authority who conducts pre-trial investigations in criminal proceedings. The professional standard for an investigator can be found here.
   
• Is an investigator the same as a police officer?
  No, they are not synonymous. Various investigative bodies exist in Latvia, including the State Police, the State Security Service, the Internal Security Board of the State Revenue Service, the Military Police, the Prison Administration, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, the Tax and Customs Police of the State Revenue Service, the State Border Guard Service, and the Internal Security Bureau. All these institutions have personnel who act as investigators. Therefore, it is incorrect to equate the terms investigator and police officer. Moreover, even in investigative bodies that include ‘police’ in their name, not everyone working there is an investigator. Investigators perform specific functions unique to their profession, as outlined in the professional standard for investigators (criminal law).
   
• Will I already be in the police during my studies?
  No, full-time studies do not require the student to have a working or service relationship with an investigative body.
   
• When am I obliged to start working for an investigative body? 
  You will begin an employment (service) relationship with an investigative body after graduating from the programme. This is detailed in the Financing Agreement between the State Police and the student, as stipulated in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation of 23.01.2007 (https://likumi.lv/ta/id/152072-studiju-liguma-obligati-ietveramie-noteikumi).
   
• Do I have to join the police as an investigator after the programme? 
  According to the Funding Agreement, specified in Paragraph 9 of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation of 23.01.2007 (https://likumi.lv/ta/id/152072-studiju-liguma-obligati-ietveramie-noteikumi), within six months of graduating from the University of Latvia, the student must start a employment (service) relationship with either the State Police or any other investigative institution in the performance of investigative functions. Thus, even though the Funding Agreement is concluded with the State Police, the conditions of the agreement will be fulfilled if the graduate begins work in any investigative institution, not just the State Police.
   
• In which cases I would have to reimburse my tuition fees? 
  This is detailed in the Financing Agreement, as laid down in point 9 of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation of 23.01.2007 (https://likumi.lv/ta/id/152072-studiju-liguma-obligati-ietveramie-noteikumi).
   
• Can I become a prosecutor after graduation?
  No, to become a prosecutor, you must qualify as a lawyer, which can only be obtained after completing a Master’s degree in Law. All graduates of the bachelor’s programme “Pre-trial Investigation” are eligible to continue their studies in the master’s programme to qualify as a lawyer. The Faculty of Law at the University of Latvia offers a professional master’s study programme “Pre-trial Investigation” as a follow-up programme.
   
• What is the difference between this programme and the Bachelor of Laws
  Both programmes are law-oriented, focusing mainly on the study of law. The “Pre-trial Investigation” programme is professional, meaning that upon graduation, a person obtains not only an academic degree but also an investigator’s qualification (in criminal law). As a professional programme, it also includes a 20-week internship. In terms of content, the Bachelor’s degree programme in Law is more general, while this programme is more specialised in criminal law and provides the professional knowledge necessary to work as an investigator (see https://registri.visc.gov.lv/profizglitiba/dokumenti/standarti/2017/PS-231.pdf  for more details).

• Will I have to find my own internship? 
  No, internships will be provided for all students. 

   

• Will it be possible to study remotely? 
  Full-time studies will primarily be in-person. This does not mean that modern teaching methods, including remote elements, will be ignored during the programme. However, full in-person studies should be expected in the first year.