If you want to study in Europe without the terrifying price tags of London or Paris, Latvia deserves a serious look. The Latvian government funds state scholarships every year for students and researchers from partner countries — a monthly stipend you can put toward tuition or living costs, at universities where tuition is already among Europe's most affordable. One important note up front: citizens of Pakistan are not on the current eligible-country list, so this guide is for readers who hold citizenship of one of the 39 eligible countries. Let's go through the amounts, the rules, and the timeline so you're ready when the next call opens.
In short: Latvia's state scholarships, administered by the State Education Development Agency (VIAA), pay a monthly stipend (€500/month for bachelor's and master's students, €700/month for PhD students) for studies at Latvian universities. The 2026/27 call ran 1 February to 1 April 2026 and is closed; the next call is expected to open 1 February 2027.
● Applications Closed
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Latvia
- Host Institution: Accredited Latvian higher education institutions
- Degree Level: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD; plus research fellowships and summer schools
- Program Duration: Up to 10 months per academic year (up to 11 months for PhD students)
- Funding Type: Monthly stipend (partial funding — not a full-ride scholarship)
- Deadline: 1 April 2026, midnight Latvian time (closed; next call expected 1 February – 1 April 2027)
Benefits of the Latvia State Scholarships
Let's be straight about what this is: a monthly living stipend, not a fully funded scholarship. It won't cover everything, but combined with Latvia's low tuition and living costs, it makes a real difference. Here's what the official VIAA call provides:
- Monthly stipend of €500 — For bachelor's students and master's students, paid for up to 10 months per academic year.
- Monthly stipend of €700 — For PhD students, paid for up to 11 months per academic year.
- Flexible use of the money — You can put the stipend toward tuition fees or toward accommodation and meals, whichever you need most. English-taught programmes in Latvia are not free, so this flexibility matters.
- Limited dormitory places — The host university may offer a place in a student dormitory or guesthouse in limited numbers, cutting your biggest living cost.
- Renewable for a second year — The scholarship can be awarded for up to two terms within one study cycle; if you want to continue for another year, you reapply.
- Research fellowship track — Academic and scientific staff can apply for short research stays of up to 5 months with daily and accommodation support.
- Summer school track — Students and researchers can apply for €1,000 per person toward funded summer schools (travel costs to Latvia are on you).
What it does NOT cover: tuition in full, travel from your home country to and from Latvia, or health insurance — you arrange insurance yourself. And the scholarship can't be held at the same time as another grant.
Eligibility Criteria for the Latvia State Scholarships
The rules come straight from the official VIAA call, based on Cabinet Regulation No. 68. Read carefully — several conditions trip people up:
- Eligible nationality — Only citizens of countries that have an education-and-science cooperation agreement with Latvia (or offer scholarships to Latvian citizens) can apply. The list covers 39 countries, including Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels), Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
- Pakistan is not currently eligible — If you're reading this from Pakistan, this particular scholarship isn't open to you right now. It IS worth checking the list each year, because bilateral agreements change.
- Bachelor's applicants — Must have already successfully completed at least one academic year of higher education studies (at home or in Latvia) at the time of application.
- Master's and PhD applicants — Eligible with the relevant previous degree from any recognised higher education institution.
- Programme choice comes first — You must choose a study programme at a Latvian higher education institution before applying, and you'll need a confirmation letter from the university's designated contact person.
- Language readiness — Most programmes are taught in Latvian, though a growing number are offered in English. You need the language skills your chosen programme requires.
- One application per call — You can submit only one application per call, and the scholarship can't be combined with other scholarships for the same period.
- Physical presence — If you're present in Latvia for fewer than 15 calendar days, no scholarship is paid. This is for students who actually study there.
How to Apply for the Latvia State Scholarships
Everything happens online through VIAA's electronic application system. The sequence:
1. Pick your programme and university. Browse study programmes on the Study in Latvia portal and contact the university's admissions office about their own deadlines — the scholarship application is separate from university admission, and both have to line up. 2. Get the confirmation letter. Contact the designated contact person at your chosen Latvian university. Only confirmation letters prepared by that person, using VIAA's unified template, count. This is the step people leave too late — start early. 3. Register in the VIAA application system. Create your profile with a unique login and password at the official scholarships portal (linked from viaa.gov.lv). 4. Complete the online application form. Fill it in carefully and attach all required documents, translated into Latvian or English where needed. Incomplete applications are not considered — no exceptions. 5. If you're government-nominated, contact your authority too. Applicants nominated by their home country's competent authority (ministry, agency) must also send their documents to that authority if required. 6. Submit before 1 April. The call closes at midnight Latvian time. The next window is expected to run 1 February to 1 April 2027. 7. Wait for the decision. VIAA's evaluation committee decides, and results go out by email in June, also visible in your portal profile.
Required Documents
- Completed online application form
- Confirmation letter from the Latvian university's designated contact person (unified VIAA template only)
- Curriculum Vitae in Europass format
- Motivation letter
- Copies of diplomas and academic transcripts (with certified translation into Latvian or English if issued in another language)
- Copy of passport or national ID
- Language proficiency proof where the programme requires it
- Research proposal and invitation letter (for research fellowship applicants)
Latvia State Scholarships Deadline
The call for the 2026/27 academic year ran from 1 February 2026 to 1 April 2026 (midnight Latvian time) and is now closed; decisions were sent out in June 2026. Based on the annual rhythm VIAA has followed for years, the next call is expected to open 1 February 2027 with a 1 April 2027 deadline. The official page will confirm exact dates when the call launches — use the months in between to secure your university confirmation letter, which is the document that takes the longest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Latvia scholarship fully funded?
No — and it's important to understand this. It's a monthly stipend (€500 for bachelor's/master's, €700 for PhD) meant to help with living costs or tuition. It doesn't cover full tuition, travel to Latvia, or insurance. Latvia's low costs make the stipend go far, but budget for the gaps.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Not under the current rules. Pakistan isn't among the 39 eligible countries that have the required bilateral agreements with Latvia. If you hold citizenship of an eligible country (for example, through dual nationality), apply on that basis. The list can change year to year, so check before each call.
Do I need IELTS?
Not for the scholarship itself. Language requirements depend on your chosen study programme — English-taught programmes may ask for proof of English proficiency, but there's no universal IELTS mandate from VIAA.
How competitive is it?
Genuinely competitive. Hundreds of applications arrive from dozens of countries each year, and VIAA awards roughly a hundred study scholarships annually. A strong motivation letter and solid academic record are what separate winners.
Can first-year bachelor's students apply?
You must have completed at least one academic year of higher education at the time of application. So brand-new school leavers can't apply directly for bachelor's funding — one year of university under your belt first.
Can I combine it with another scholarship?
No. The Latvian state scholarship cannot be awarded concurrently with any other scholarship or grant for the same period.
Does the stipend cover tuition?
You decide how to use it — tuition, accommodation, or meals. Just know that English-taught programmes charge tuition, and €500/month won't cover both full tuition and all living costs. Many students combine the stipend with affordable dormitory housing.
How long does the funding last?
Up to 10 months per academic year for bachelor's and master's students, up to 11 months for PhD students. You can reapply for a second year, but funding is capped at two terms within one study cycle.
When will I hear back?
VIAA sends official decisions by email in June (for the February–April call), and results also appear in your application system profile.
What about the research and summer school tracks?
They run under the same call window. Research fellowships support academic staff for stays up to 5 months; summer school scholarships are €1,000 per person, paid to the school organisers, with participants covering their own travel.
Final Words
Latvia's scholarship won't pay for everything — but for eligible students, it's honest, government-backed support in one of Europe's most affordable study destinations. The next call is expected in February 2027. If you're from an eligible country, start shortlisting programmes and requesting that confirmation letter now; it's the part of the application that rewards early movers.
