CONFERENCEProgramme level: Master's programme
Language of instruction: Latvian
Study form and duration: full-time - 4 semesters
Credits: 120 ECTS
Obtainable degree or qualification: Master's Degree of Social Sciences in Library, Information and Archive Studies
Number of students accepted each year: Full time state-funded study places - 11, study places for tuition fee - 10.
Tuition fee per year (ac. year 2025/26): 2800 EUR for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, permanent residence permit holders and their family members. 4700 EUR for citizens of other countries.
Study location: Riga, Latgale suburb
The study programme offers an extensive and diverse range of disciplines in library science, information science and book science. These studies enable the students to develop the ability to organize, manage and systematize information. The study process is designed to train highly qualified specialists, experts and managers for work in libraries and other information institutions. “Library Science and Information” is the only accredited master's level study programme of this kind in Latvia.
Director of the Study Programme
The 1st year
Study courses that will be of assistance in starting to write the master's thesis – several courses dedicated to theories of communication science, information science and library science, courses about research methods, terminology and the regulatory framework of the field. In the first year of studies, courses related to the provision of information services and management of information institutions are also offered.
The 2nd year
At this stage, the students acquire the study courses related to data processing, theoretical concepts of reading, bibliophilia.
HOW ARE THE STUDIES LINKED WITH PRACTICE?
Renowned professionals of the field work as lecturers in the programme. Andris Vilks, the director of the National Library of Latvia, teaches several study courses. Students go on study tours to various information institutions.
After completing the programme, graduates can pursue a career in libraries and other information management institutions, public and private companies, which need to select, search, organize and disseminate information in the position of an expert or head of a structural unit.
General conditions
Previous education:
Bachelor's degree or second level professional higher education, or equivalent higher education.
Competition result calculation formula: entrance examination (1 x 700 = 700) + the average weighted grade (15 x 10 = 150) + the grade obtained for the final thesis (15 x 10 = 150); the minimum score obtained in the entrance examination valid for admission – 300;
Those holding a UL bachelor’s degree in library science and information can participate in the competition with the following competition result calculation formula: weighted average grade (60 x 10 = 600) + total (or average) grade of final examinations (40 x 10 = 400).
Eligibility for noncompetition registration: the graduates of the UL bachelor’s study programme “Information Management” of academic year 2022/2023, whose weighted average grade in bachelor studies is not lower than 8 and the evaluation of the bachelor thesis is not lower than 9 (excellent).
Additional requirement: Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Graduate reviews
"Education in library science and information enables a person to become an excellent professional in almost any field related to the turnover of information. Furthermore, the acquired skills help to continuously improve oneself and master new knowledge quickly and efficiently."
“The aura of this faculty is something special. And so is the mindset of the lecturers – we are always listened to. We can express our thoughts out loud without thinking about how this will affect our grade – we are not silent. I wish the new FSS students the strength and endurance for the entire three years ahead of them.”
“This programme has enabled me to be knowledgeable and creative in the field of information management – given me capacity to quickly and efficiently find, organize and apply information in a wide variety of fields. In the information society, this is a significant advantage in private and professional life. Acquired skills have a reciprocal application – to be able to find and collect information, to filter and receive only what is needed in the ever-growing avalanche of information.”
