Latvian Government Scholarships for the Academic Year 2015-2016

   
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18.02.2015. 16:07

In accordance with bilateral agreements on co-operation in education and science, the State Education Development Agency (Valsts izglītības attīstības aģentūra – VIAA) offers scholarships to students, researchers and teaching staff of several countries for studies, research and participation in summer schools in Latvian higher education institutions (HEIs) in the 2015/2016 academic year.

I Only citizens from countries which have signed an Agreement* on co-operation in education and science can apply for the Latvian government scholarships. These countries are:

Azerbaijan

Republic   of Korea

Belgium   (Flanders Community and French Community of Belgium)

Lithuania***

Bulgaria

Mexico

China

Moldova

Croatia

Mongolia

Cyprus

Peru

Czech   Republic

Poland**

Estonia

Portugal

Finland

Slovenia

France

South   Korea

Georgia

Spain

Greece

Tajikistan

Hungary

Turkey

Israel

Turkmenistan

Italy

United   Kingdom

Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan

 

II Citizens from countries that offer scholarships for Latvian students, researchers and teaching staff without formal agreements on co-operation in education and science are welcome to apply for the Latvian scholarship as well. These countries are:

Austria

Norway

Denmark

Slovakia

Germany

Sweden

Iceland

Switzerland

Japan

United   States of America

*The Agreements can be found at the following links:

**Citizens of Poland who are granted a scholarship for studies and research in Latvian HEIs based on the Latvian and Polish Cultural and Educational Programme of Cooperation for the Years 2013 – 2016 receive their scholarship from the sending Party. Applicants from Poland are kindly asked to contact the Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange of the Republic of Poland (http://www.buwiwm.edu.pl).

***Applicants from Lithuania are required to apply via the Education Exchange Support Foundation of Lithuania (www.smpf.lt).

I. Latvian Scholarships for studies at Latvian Higher Education Institutions in the academic year 2015/2016

Scholarships for applicants from one country may not exceed 10% from the total grant amount of the year in question.

 

!!! Available budged for the Latvian scholarships for the academic year 2015/2016 allows to grant up to 30 scholarships for studies at LatvianHEIs.

Tuition language at Latvian higher education institutions is Latvian, but there are a lot of study programmes offered in English (please visit the website: www.studyinlatvia.lv for more information).

Applications for bachelor`s and the first level of professional higher education studies will be accepted from students who have successfully completed at least one academic year of studies (at their home HEI or at a Latvian HEI if they already have been studying in Latvia) at the moment of application (February, March 2015).

Scholarships for bachelor`s  and master`s  studies are granted for a time period up to 10 months (for PhD-students – up to 11 months).

Scholarship for master`s  studies in the study programmes of Latvian philology, Latvian literature, Latvian culture and Latvian history can be granted for two academic years, i.e. for the duration of master`s study programme.

If a student wants to continue her/his studies in Latvia for one more year, she/he has to apply for the Latvian scholarship again. The Latvian scholarship can be awarded not more than for two consecutive terms to one individual.

In general, the academic year in Latvia lasts from September 1 to June 30.

Application procedure:

 

 

 

 

The following documents are necessary to apply for the Latvian   scholarship for studies:
  1. Application form: http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

2.  Curriculum Vitae (applicants   are asked to use the Europass CV   form).

3. Letter of motivation  (also including activities outside studies   related to study field).

4. Certified photocopies of diplomas, including diploma supplements   or equivalent documents  or a transcript of records ( if studies are not   finished yet).

5. Two letters of recommendation of the academic staff dated not   earlier than six months prior to the date of submission of the application.

6. A letter of the relevant Latvian HEI confirming the   possibility to study in the chosen study programme and the language of   studies (Latvian or other EU official language).  Please contact the   International Relations Department/Unit or Foreign Students Department/Unit   of the Latvian HEI directly; List of contact persons in the Latvian HEIs:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

7. Study or academic work plan for planned duration of receiving a   scholarship. Please use the form:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

8. Certificate or other document certifying the language proficiency   required for studies.

9. Copy of passport.

Comments:

      
  • The application deadline for study stay is 1 April 2015.
    •   
  • All documents, which are not in Latvian or English,        shall be translated into Latvian or English. All translations shall be        officially certified.
    •   
  • Curriculum vitae and a letter of motivation shall be        dated and signed.
    •   
  • The application form and all the enclosed documents        shall be submitted in two sets.
    •   
  • Any incomplete applications or applications handed in        after the deadline will not be taken into consideration. Documents sent        by e-mail will not be accepted.
    •   
  • The submitted documents will not be returned.
    •   
  • Application dossiers for scholarships for studies at        Latvian HEIs have to be sent directly to VIAA with the following        exceptions: Lithuanian, Estonian, Czech, Hungarian and Polish        candidates have to send the dossiers to the competent authorities of        their countries:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

      
  • All applications will be evaluated and the final        decision on granting scholarships will be made by the evaluation        committee of VIAA. Quality evaluation criteria:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

      
  • The list of accepted candidates will be published on        the website of VIAA (English version) in June 2015. All candidates will        be informed personally about the results by e-mail.

 

Financial provisions

The amount of the Latvian scholarship for studies is:

      
  • for bachelor`s and master`s students – 500 EUR per month;
    •   
  • for PhD students – 670 EUR per month.

Comments:

      
  • If the Latvian HEI asks the foreign student to pay        tuition fees for the chosen study programme, he/she can use the        scholarship for covering of the tuition fee or for accommodation and        meals. Please take into account that the amount of the scholarship is        not high enough to cover both.
  • Upon request, the host HEI provides   the scholarship holder with a place in a dormitory or a guesthouse. Requests   for accommodation in the international student dormitories must be submitted   one month before arriving. In any month in which the foreign student is   present in the territory of Latvia for less than 15 calendar days no   scholarship is provided.
  • The Latvian scholarship cannot be   awarded concurrently with other scholarships.
  • Travel expenses to the Latvian HEI   and back to the country of origin are not covered by the Latvian scholarship.
  • Scholarship holders are required to   make their own arrangements for insurance coverage. 

II. Latvian fellowships for research work in Latvian Higher Education Institutions in the academic year 2015/2016

 

Only academic staff of foreign HEIs is eligible candidates for the Latvian fellowship.

The fellowships are granted for a time period of up to 3 months.

In general, the academic year in Latvia lasts from September 1 to June 30.

Application   procedure

The following documents must be submitted when applying for the Latvian   fellowship:

1. Application   form:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

2. Curriculum   Vitae and list of scientific publications (applicants are asked to use the Europass CV form).

3. Research   plan for research work in Latvia (approx. 3 pages) and motivation letter.

4. Certified   photocopies of Master Diploma, including transcript (if the PhD degree is not   obtained jet) or PhD diploma.

5. Invitation   letter from the proposed Latvian HEI (please contact the International   Relations Department/Unit or Foreign Students Department/Unit of the Latvian   HEI directly). List of contact persons in the Latvian HEIs:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

6. One   recommendation letter (written within the past three months) from the home   HEI or employer.

7. Copy   of passport or identity card.

Comments:

      
  • The        application deadline for research stays is 1 April 2015.
    •   
  • All        documents, which are not in Latvian or English, shall be translated into        Latvian or English. All translations shall be officially certified.
    •   
  • The        curriculum vitae and motivation letter shall be dated and signed.
    •   
  • The        application form and all the enclosed documents shall be submitted in        two sets.
      
  • Any        incomplete applications or applications handed in after the deadline        will not be taken into consideration. Documents sent by e-mail will not        beaccepted.
      
  • The        submitted documents will not be returned.
    •   
  • Application        dossiers for scholarships for research work at Latvian HEIs have to be        sent directly to VIAA with the following exceptions: Lithuanian,        Estonian, Czech, Hungarian and Polish candidates have to send the dossiers to        the competent authorities of their countries:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

      
  • All        applications will be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee of VIAA in        accordance with the following evaluation criteria:

1) Plan   for research work;

2)   Motivation for research work in Latvia.

Foreigners   who apply for research work in the field of Latvian language, literature or   culture, are awarded one additional point.

The final   decision on granting scholarships will be made by the Evaluation Committee.

      
  • The        list of accepted candidates will be published on the website of VIAA        (English version) in June 2015. All candidates will be informed        personally about the results by e-mail. 

 

Financial   provisions

The amount   of the Latvian fellowship is 30,00 EUR per day and max.          300,00 EUR for accommodation   per month.

Comments:

      
  • The        fellowship holder is expected to remain in residence in Riga/ Latvia for        the full duration of the proposed period. If she/he is absent from the        host HEI more than 14 consecutive days, his/her fellowship will be        cancelled.
      
  • Upon        request, the host HEI provides the fellowship holder with a place in a        dormitory or a guesthouse. Requests for accommodation in the        international student dormitories must be submitted one month before        arrival. Alternatively, foreign researchers may consider renting an        apartment in the city.
    •   
  • The        Latvian fellowship cannot be awarded concurrently with other        scholarships.
    •   
  • Travel        expenses to the Latvian HEI and back to the country of origin are not        covered by the Latvian fellowship.
    •   
  • Fellowship        holders are required to make their own arrangements for insurance        coverage.

III. Latvian Scholarships for participation in summer schools in Latvia in 2015

 

Only students and academic staff of foreign HEIs are eligible for the Latvian scholarship for participation in summer schools.

Application   procedure

Information   on how to apply for the scholarship for participation in summer schools can   be found on the website of the HEI organizing the summer school session. The   web site will give details on all the necessary documents:

      
  1. Application        form of the summer school.
    2.   
  2. Curriculum        vitae.
    3.   
  3. Motivation        letter.

The list   of Summer schools in Latvia in 2015 will be published on the website of the   agency in the middle of February:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/summer_schools_latvia/?tl_id=18401&tls_id=688

 

Comments:

      
  • The        application deadline for the summer schools is 4 May 2015.
    •   
  • The        application package has to be sent directly to the organizers of the        summer schools with the following exceptions: Lithuanian,        Estonian, Czech, Hungarian and Polish candidates have to send the        dossiers to the competent authorities of their countries:

http://www.viaa.gov.lv/eng/international_cooperation/scholarships_gov/latvian_scholarships/

      
  • The        Evaluation Committee of VIAA takes the decision on granting of Latvian        scholarships. The organizing HEI informs all scholarship candidates        about the final granting decision in June.

Financial   provisions

The amount of the Latvian scholarship granted by the VIAA for summer   school is    711 EUR per   person for the duration of the summer school.

Comments:

      
  • The        scholarships will be transferred by the VIAA to the summer school        organizers, no money will be handed out to the Latvian scholarship        winners.
    •   
  • The        participants of the summer schools have to cover travel expenses from        the country of origin to the summer school location in Latvia        themselves.

_____________________________________________________________________

Contact address:

State Education Development Agency (Valsts izglītības attīstības aģentūra)

Vaļņu iela 1, Rīga, LV-1050

 

Contact person:

Ms Aija Jakovica,

Senior Specialist of the International Cooperation Programme Unit

Telephone: + 371 67814331, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.