Latvia which is officially known as the Republic of Latvia is a country with a democratic parliamentary structure situated in the Baltic region in Europe's North.It shares its land borders with Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and by a coastal border to the west with Sweden. It has a unitary government of 118 divisions for administrative purposes with 109 municipalities and 9 cities.
A unique feature that stands out in the case of Latvia when students need to research about study in
Latvia is that the education is administered at three levels viz. national, municipal and institutional. The policies regarding education are formulated by the Ministry of Education and Science and the elected members of the ministry.
Academic programs for higher education are based on the fundamental and applied science. Typically, they constitute a thesis at the end of every stage whether at the bachelor's or the master's. Although the structure and system seems to be complex to an outsider, the system ensures a tight framework that ensures that the graduate enters the professional world with the highest degree of competency thanks to the provision of study and research in Latvia This is applicable to both levels of higher education in the country.
There is an abundance of information that is available to students when they seek information on study in Latvia. For example, although as foreign students they may have to spend for higher education, the same is absorbed by the government if they are entering the Latvian higher education system as exchange students.
Latvia is known as the land that sings and Latvians claim that their country is a symphony of sounds, sights and experiences. The Latvian government has laid special emphasis on education and have made several educational reforms that have made it an ideal study abroad destination.
Latvia has both fee paying as well as state financed higher education opportunities in universities. For scholarship schemes a careful process of student selection is carried out so as to offer government aid to the most deserving students. There are two types of higher education programs offered in Latvia: Professional and Academic. Latvian universities offer both these programs, but there are several non-university type institutes in Latvia that offer only professional education to students.
The Bologna System is followed in higher education, which is divided into three distinct levels – the Bachelor’s studies, the Master’s studies and the Doctoral studies. A bachelor degree is awarded are either three or four years of regular study. A master’s degree on the other hand can be achieved only after receiving the Bachelor’s and completing further one or two years of study. In Doctoral studies, the students should have a master’s degree or an equivalent diploma. Doctoral studies can take anywhere from three to four years and involve advanced studies and the preparation of a Doctoral thesis.
The major reason why you should study in Latvia is the affordable education. The tuition fees and other living costs are lower as compared to several western nations. Engineering study in Latvia is very popular and the universities here are famous for producing high quality engineering and IT graduates. Latvia also has EU membership, so a degree from here is equivalent to that from any other EU country.
Geece is a warm and welcoming country with a high level of English spoken, particularly in the cities. Rooms and apartments can be rented throughout and the cost of renting a one-room apartment in Athens or Thessaloniki is approximately €270 per month. It is estimated by university websites that the cost of living in Athens is approximately €700 per month for all expenses. You might instead choose to live with a host family, which can be an amazing experience and a great way to learn about Greek culture, family structure, history and, of course, the language. Deciding where to live in another country is an exciting endeavor. Finding the right apartment or flat to fit your taste, needs and lifestyle often takes initiative, research and a bit of luck. Universities offer an array of housing options and often have great resources for seeking the right place for your stay. For many students abroad, the preferred option is to find an apartment off campus in order to further connect with the community and understand their host city. As in most European countries, Greece offers a plethora of options for students such as flat shares, apartments, university dorms, studios and single rooms for rent for any taste or budget.