General rules

1.1.   The calculation of competition evaluation and ranking of applicants:

1.1.1. competition evaluation is calculated using a formula, in which the following criteria are added up:

1.1.1.1. calculation of evaluation formula variant 1 – centralized examinations, specifying: the name of the examination, the overall percentage assessment (coefficient x maximum number of points = maximum amount of obtainable points);

1.1.1.2. calculation of evaluation formula variant 2 – final grades of the secondary education document, specifying: grade name (coefficient x maximum number of points = maximum amount of obtainable points);

1.1.1.3. if the calculation of evaluation besides centralized examinations and final grades of the secondary education document also uses entrance examinations at the University of Latvia (hereinafter - UL), specified within formula: name of the entrance examination (coefficient x maximum number of points = maximum amount of obtainable points);

1.1.2.      additional points are rewarded to applicants who have been awarded prizes in Latvian national student scientific conferences, UL organized scientific research and creative work competitions and UL organized young specialist school classes, in accordance with the rules of study programmes. Additional points are added up with competition evaluation in accordance with competition criteria;

1.1.3.      preferential claims on a study place are determined for persons, who have been awarded prizes in Latvian national, international and open study subject Olympiads, Latvian national student scientific conferences, UL organized scientific research and creative work competitions and UL organized young specialist school classes, in accordance with the rules of study programmes. The aforementioned persons are given the rights to claim a study place avoiding competition. In cases where the number of persons with preferential advantages are higher than the number of study programme state-funded study places, the study places avoiding competition are claimed by persons with higher competition evaluation in accordance with competition criteria;

1.1.4.      applicant ranking is done in accordance with the earned sum of points that is formed by competition evaluation of criteria in a 1000-point scale, additional points and preferential claims.

1.2.   The enrolment requirement of undergraduate degree programmes is a previously obtained secondary education that is certified by a secondary education document – a certificate of general secondary education or a diploma of vocational secondary education that certifies a learned secondary vocational education programme started by the student after a finished basic education.

1.3.   Persons with an obtained secondary education on year 2004 and onwards are enrolled in study programmes based on specific centralized examination (hereinafter - CE) results. Persons competition evaluation is determined by evaluation calculation formula variant 1. It is required in the competition evaluation calculation for the overall percentage assessment to be no less than 10 (ten) percent. If the person's CE certificate does not indicate the overall percentage assessment, then in the rating calculation formula it is replaced by the average rating of the CE parts in percentage, in which case the average rating of the CE parts in percent must not be lower than 10 (ten) percent. Centralized examination certificates are valid from their year of issue when the aforementioned certificate has the point score specified in percentages for each of the examination parts.

1.4. To ensure the mutual comparability of centralized exam results, the following coefficients are applied:

1.4.1. a factor of 0.75 is applied to exams of the optimal learning content level, equating to exams of the highest learning content level;

1.4.2. a coefficient of 0.50 is applied to exams of the general learning content level, equating to exams of the higher learning content level;

1.4.3. the results of the centralized exams obtained in accordance with the regulatory enactments that were in force until the Cabinet of Ministers' regulation of September 3, 2019 no. 416 "Regulations Regarding the State General Secondary Education Standard and Model General Secondary Education Programmes" and Cabinet of Ministers Regulation of June 2, 2020 No. 332 "Regulations on State Vocational Secondary Education Standards and Sample State Vocational Education Standards" as of the date of entry into force, are equated to exams of the optimal learning content level and a factor of 0.75 is applied to them, equating them with exams of the highest learning content learning level.

1.5. For persons who have completed secondary education before 2008, the centralized examination (CE) in Mathematics may be replaced by a final grade in math (either average grade in Algebra and Geometry) in secondary education diploma. The coefficient of this mark in calculation formula variant 1. is the coefficient of the overall percentage assessment in CE mathematics, multiplied by 10 (ten).

1.6.   Persons with an obtained secondary education up to year 2004 (not included) as well as persons who have obtained their secondary education abroad and persons with special needs can be enrolled in study programmes based on specific secondary education document final grades. Persons competition evaluation in this case is determined by evaluation calculation formula variant 2. It is required in the competition evaluation calculation for the secondary education document final grades to be passable (no lower than 4).

1.7.   Persons who are exempt from centralized exams in accordance with regulations but are not considered as persons with special needs have the right to be enrolled in the study programmes in the same manner people with special needs are.

1.8.   In order to be enrolled in study programmes it is required for the secondary education document final grades (in accordance with study programme requirements) to be passable (no lower than 4).

1.9.   The average grade of secondary education document in mandatory subjects for enrolment in study programmes is calculated from the following subjects: Latvian, Latvian literature, Latvian and Literature, English, Russian, German, French, minority language, Maths (Algebra, Geometry), Informatics, Computing, Design and technology, Programming, Sports, Natural Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, History, Social studies and History, History and Social Sciences, Culturology, Music, Theater and Visual arts, if they are present in the secondary education document;

1.10.   If the final grades of secondary education document are determined by a 5-point scale, they are compared to the secondary education document final grades using a 10-point scale. Subject final grade 5 (excellently) is compared to final grade 9 (excellently), grade 4 (good) – to grade 7 (good), grade 3 (average) – to grade 5 (average).

1.11.   It is possible to substitute the required study programme enrolment final grade of the secondary education document with a centralized examination assessment of the corresponding subject by producing the centralized examination certificate. Secondary education document final grade is substituted by the overall percentage assessment, being divided by 10. If admission requires at least a passable (no lower than 4) final grade, then the overall percentage assessment must be not less than 10 (ten) percent. If a final grade higher than 4 is required for admission, the overall percentage assessment divided by 10 must not be lower than the value of this grade.

1.12.  CE in English, French, Russian or German required for admission to study programs can be replaced by an international English, French, Russian or German language test result not lower than B1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), unless the conditions of the study program determined otherwise. The results of international language tests are equated to certain LU scores on a scale from 40 to 103 (according to Appendix 3). The procedure for replacing the CE in English, French, Russian or German with the result of an international English, French, Russian or German language test in the general secondary education program from 2023 is determined by the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of December 20, 2022 No. 795 "Rules on replacing the foreign language centralized exam in the general secondary education program with a foreign language test of an international testing institution".

1.13.  The final grade of the secondary education document required for admission to the study programs in English, French, German or Russian can be replaced by the result of an international test in English, French, German or Russian, which is not lower than the B1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), unless the conditions of the study program do not stipulate otherwise. The results of international language tests are equated to certain LU scores on a scale from 40 to 103 (according to Appendix 3). When replacing the grade of the secondary education document, it is divided by 10.

1.14.  For persons who obtained secondary education abroad and whose secondary education document does not contain the final grade in Latvian required for admission, it can be replaced by the Latvian language proficiency test of the Applied Linguistics Center of the Faculty of Humanities of the UL, which must be at least 4 (almost average) on a 10-point scale. The score obtained in the test is valid for admission for three years.

1.15.  Foreigners who have acquired secondary education abroad need to verify the corresponding language proficiency when applying for study programmes with English, German, Russian study languages. This can be done with international language test results (certified by a document issued in the last five years) listed in article 1.16.. Proficiency in the corresponding language is not required if the secondary education was acquired in the corresponding language. International language test results does not have to be presented if the foreigner has acquired secondary education in a country of the EU and the EEA or in the Swiss Confederation and in his secondary education certificate is included an assessment of foreign language skills, which are comparable to at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

1.16.  Language proficiency at least at B2 level is verified by the following international test results::

1.16.1.  English:

1.16.1.1.  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-based 72 points minimum;

1.16.1.2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Essential - at least 8 points;

1.16.1.3.  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 5,5 points minimum;

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

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

1.16.1.6.  Cambridge English: First (FCE) – B;

1.16.1.7.  Pearson Test of English (PTE) General B2 minimum;

1.16.1.8. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: at least 51 point;

1.16.1.9. LanguageCert International ESOL at least Level Communicator B2 (Written and Spoken exams);

1.16.2.  German:

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

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

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

1.16.2.4.  Goethe – Zertifikat B2 minimum;

1.16.3. Russian:

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

1.17. 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.

1.18. The language of the study programme is Latvian unless specified otherwise.