Latvia Government Scholarships 2026 in Europe

The Latvia Government Scholarship is one of the more structured EU study-funding options available, built on formal bilateral agreements between Latvia and 39 partner countries rather than a single open global call. If you’re researching this now, the 2026-2027 cycle has already run its full course — applications closed 1 April 2026, and results have since been finalised: the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) received 427 applications from 33 countries and awarded 104 scholarships to applicants from 22 nationalities.

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This post explains exactly how the scholarship works, flags an official funding rate change worth knowing about, and lays out what to prepare if you’re aiming for the 2027-2028 cycle, which VIAA has already confirmed will run from 1 February to 1 April 2027.

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About the Latvia Government Scholarship

These scholarships exist because of formal bilateral agreements on education and science cooperation between Latvia’s government and a specific set of partner countries — this is why eligibility is tied to a list of 39 countries rather than open worldwide, and it’s also why some applicants are required to apply through a designated national authority (such as a Ministry of Education) in their home country rather than applying independently, depending on their country’s specific agreement with Latvia. The Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia delegates administration of the entire programme to VIAA, the State Education Development Agency, which runs the application system, evaluation, and results process.

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One structural detail that shapes the whole scholarship: it’s a stipend-plus-partial-support model, not a fully funded package in the way some government scholarships are — the money is meant to help students focus on their studies while in Latvia, but tuition coverage and travel costs work differently than a blanket “everything covered” scholarship, so it’s worth reading the benefits section closely rather than assuming full funding.

Latvia Government Scholarships Summary

Scholarship Amounts — and an Important Rate Update

Your source material listed €500 per month for Bachelor’s students, €600 for Master’s students, and €700 for PhD students. That Master’s figure needs a correction: an official Latvian Cabinet Regulation amendment, dated 26 May 2026, set the scholarship rate for second-cycle (Master’s) higher education programmes at €500 per month — not €600. This change came after this cycle’s April application deadline, so it’s worth being aware of for anyone planning around the previously advertised figure. Here’s what to know about the funding structure overall:

• Bachelor’s students (including 2nd-level professional higher education students in their 2nd and 3rd years): €500 per month, based on currently available official information
• Master’s students (including 2nd-level professional higher education students from their 4th study year): now officially set at €500 per month per the May 2026 regulation amendment, revised down from the previously advertised €600
• PhD students: €700 per month, per the source material — confirm this figure hasn’t shifted under the same regulation update before relying on it for the next cycle
• Duration: up to 10 months for Bachelor’s and Master’s students, and up to 11 months for PhD students, covering roughly one academic term rather than the full multi-year duration of your degree
• Maximum award period: a student can receive the Latvian state scholarship for a maximum of two consecutive terms across their entire course of study — if you want to continue receiving it into a further year, you have to reapply, and there’s no guarantee of automatic renewal

Given that this rate has already changed once mid-cycle, the safest approach for anyone applying to the 2027-2028 round is to confirm the current published rate directly on VIAA’s official page rather than relying on any figure — including the ones in this post — as fixed.

What the Scholarship Covers Beyond the Stipend

• Partial tuition fee coverage for the duration of your study period — note this is partial, not full, and study programmes taught in English at Latvian institutions are explicitly not free of charge, so budget for a tuition gap beyond what the scholarship covers
• Academic and research opportunities at Latvian higher education institutions, recognised for their research-driven approach and academic standing within the region
• Cultural exchange exposure, connecting scholarship recipients with a genuinely international cohort of students studying in Latvia under the same programme
• No explicit travel or visa cost coverage — official guidance on this scholarship is clear that travel and visa costs are generally not included, so factor these into your own budget separately from the stipend

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Eligibility Requirements

• Bachelor’s applicants must have already completed at least one full academic year at any higher education institution — this scholarship isn’t available for a first-year bachelor’s start, only for continuing bachelor’s study
• Master’s or PhD applicants can apply from any previous higher education institution, without the same prior-year completion requirement bachelor’s applicants face
• You must be a citizen of one of the 39 eligible partner countries under Latvia’s bilateral agreements — confirm your country’s current status directly, since this list is tied to formal agreements that can be updated
• You must choose a specific study programme at a Latvian higher education institution before applying for the scholarship itself — the scholarship application is a second step, not a combined process
• You must obtain a confirmation letter for your chosen study programme from the Latvian HEI before applying — this letter has to come specifically from the institution’s designated contact person, using their official template, or it won’t be accepted as valid
• If you’re already studying at a Latvian HEI, you still need a fresh confirmation letter for your current or newly chosen programme before applying for the scholarship — being an existing student doesn’t exempt you from this step
• You’re limited to a maximum of two consecutive terms of Latvian state scholarship funding across your entire course of study

Required Documents

• Copy of the confirmation letter from your Latvian HEI, prepared specifically by the institution’s designated contact person using the unified official template — a generic admission letter or informal confirmation from the university doesn’t satisfy this requirement
• Curriculum vitae, including activities outside your formal studies related to your field, both in Latvia and in your home country — this broader framing is worth taking seriously, since it signals VIAA weighs more than just academic transcripts
• Letter of motivation
• Proof of education, generally your diploma and its supplement, or a transcript of records covering your most recent two semesters — first-year Master’s applicants specifically need to provide a copy of their bachelor’s diploma and its supplement, not just a transcript
• Letters of recommendation — specifically two, from academic staff members, and these need to be signed within the last six months, so timing matters if you’re gathering these well ahead of the deadline
• Study plan
• Language proficiency certificate — note that some Latvian universities may accept alternative proof of English proficiency beyond IELTS specifically, so check your target institution’s specific requirements rather than assuming one fixed standard applies everywhere
• Copy of your ID or passport

All documents not already in Latvian or English need to be translated into one of those two languages before submission — incomplete applications, including missing translations, are not considered at all.

How the Application Process Works

1. Register in VIAA’s Electronic Application System and create a profile with a unique login and password.
2. Choose the relevant scholarship call for the academic year you’re applying to, and complete the application form according to the stated criteria — incomplete or incorrect applications are not assessed.
3. Attach all required documents, translated into Latvian or English as needed.
4. If your country requires nomination through a national authority — such as a Ministry of Education — contact that authority directly and submit your documents to them as well, in addition to the VIAA system.
5. Submit your complete application before the stated deadline.
6. Wait for an official decision, communicated by email and visible in your profile within the electronic application system — decisions are typically announced around June.

How to Prepare for the Next Application Cycle

Since this cycle has closed and results are already out, the months ahead are for building toward the 2027-2028 round, which VIAA has confirmed will run from 1 February to 1 April 2027:

• Secure your Latvian HEI confirmation letter early once the next cycle nears. Since it must come specifically from the institution’s designated contact person using their official template, this isn’t something you can arrange informally at the last minute.
• Line up your two academic recommendation letters with the six-month signing window in mind. Getting these signed too early risks them expiring before your actual submission.
• Check your country’s current status on Latvia’s eligible partner list, and if your country requires application through a national authority, identify that authority and its own process well before the window opens.
• Confirm the current scholarship rates directly on VIAA’s official page before budgeting around any specific figure, given that the Master’s rate has already changed once this year through a Cabinet Regulation amendment.
• If you’re a bachelor’s applicant, confirm you’ll have completed a full academic year before you apply, since this scholarship isn’t available to incoming first-year bachelor’s students.

Deadline

The 2026-2027 application window ran from 1 February to 1 April 2026 and has closed, with results already announced. VIAA has confirmed the next call for Latvian state scholarships will run from 1 February to 1 April 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Latvia Government Scholarship fully funded?

Not entirely. It provides a monthly stipend and partial tuition support, but English-taught programmes at Latvian institutions aren’t free, and travel and visa costs generally aren’t covered. Budget for a funding gap beyond the stipend itself.

Can Nigerian students apply?

Eligibility depends on whether Nigeria is currently among Latvia’s 39 partner countries under bilateral education agreements. Confirm Nigeria’s current status directly on VIAA’s official eligible countries list before applying, since this list is tied to formal agreements that can change.

What happens if I already missed the 2026-2027 deadline?

This cycle has closed, and results are already announced. The next call is confirmed for 1 February to 1 April 2027 — use the months ahead to secure your HEI confirmation letter and academic recommendation letters ahead of that window.

Can I receive this scholarship for my entire degree?

No. It’s capped at a maximum of two consecutive terms per student across their entire course of study. If you want funding beyond that, you’d need to reapply, and continuation isn’t automatic.

Why does this post show a different Master’s scholarship amount than other sources?

An official Latvian Cabinet Regulation amendment dated 26 May 2026 set the Master’s-level rate at €500 per month, revised down from a previously advertised €600. Older listings elsewhere may not yet reflect this update — always confirm the current rate directly on VIAA’s official site.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, and award values in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026, including a recent Cabinet Regulation rate amendment. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official VIAA website before submitting an application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Government of Latvia or VIAA.

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