The Latvian state scholarship lets foreign students spend up to one academic year studying at a Latvian higher education institution. The State Education Development Agency (VIAA) runs it under Cabinet Regulation No. 68.
It is open to citizens of countries that have an education agreement with Latvia or that fund Latvian students. Bachelor’s, master’s, professional higher education and doctoral students can apply; the call opens once a year, 1 February to 1 April.
Benefits & funding
- EUR 500 a month for bachelor’s and master’s students, for up to 10 months; EUR 700 a month for PhD students, for up to 11 months.
- It can go towards tuition or towards housing and meals; VIAA says it does not cover all costs in Latvia.
- No payment for a month with fewer than 15 days in Latvia.
- You arrange your own insurance; it cannot be combined with another scholarship.
- At most two terms per study cycle; a second year needs a new application.
Eligibility
- Citizen of one of the listed countries (below); for Belgium, the agreement is with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
- Bachelor’s and first-level professional applicants must have completed at least one academic year of higher education when they apply.
- First-year master’s applicants need their bachelor’s diploma and supplement.
- A place in a programme taught in Latvian or another EU official language, confirmed by the Latvian university.
- Proof of the language level the programme requires.
Application process
- 1Ask the host Latvian university’s contact person for the confirmation letter on VIAA’s template.
- 2Get two recommendation letters from academic staff, signed within six months before you apply.
- 3Submit online with CV, motivation letter, transcript or diploma, study plan, language certificate and ID by 1 April; translate documents into English or Latvian.
- 4If your home ministry or agency nominates candidates, send your documents to it as well where it asks.
Program timeline
Call opened
1 February 2026
Application deadline (passed)
1 April 2026
Decisions by email
June 2026
Academic year
1 September 2026 – 30 June 2027
Next call expected
February 2027