University of Latvia

Established in 1919, the University of Latvia, the only classical university in Latvia, has been a national centre of higher education for almost a century. The University of Latvia is the higher education establishment rich in traditions. The University of Latvia with its 14 000 students, 13 faculties and more than 20 research institutes is one of the largest comprehensive and leading research universities in the Baltic States. The University offers more than 130 state-accredited academic and professional study programmes. At University of Latvia, research is conducted in over 50 research fields which represent main areas of research: the humanities and education sciences, social sciences and sciences and medicine. UL researchers yearly take part in the approximetly 900 projects, participate in about 1000 international conferences and publish over 800 publications in peer reviewed journals.

The University of Latvia devotes great attention to development of international collaboration to promote its identity internationally and to strenghten the reputation of the University worldwide. To date, the University of Latvia has signed 136 bilateral agreements worldwide and more than 700 agreements with 368 institutions in 32 European countries within the Erasmus+ programme.

According to QS University rating, the UL was awarded 4 out of 5 stars. The quality of studies, research, internatinal collaboration, innovations were only a few of the aspects taken into account in the evaluation. The rating places the UL among 5% of the world`s best universities.

Times Higher Education university rating has rated the UL among TOP 800 higher education institutions in the world.

University of Latvia is continuously developing – expanding horizons of the academic work and research by collaborating internationally, increasing the number of international study programmes, strenghtening its cooperation with industrial partners. The newly built Academic Centre for Natural Sciences has become an excellent environment for research-based study process and multidisciplinary research opportunities. With the years to come, the University of Latvia campus will expand as new study infrastructure will be built (Academic Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities) as well as facilities for research and technology transfer in the fields of life science and nanotechnology.

University of Latvia is very active in international R&D programmes, and creates almost half of the research results of Latvia. UL has participated in 16 HORIZON EUROPE and 53 HORIZON 2020 projects. In the last 10 years  UL was also involved in many other research, development and education projects financed by European union (COST, EUREKA, COSME, EPLUS, LIFE+ etc.).

Research directions and competences

The following priority research  directions have been identified for UL:

1. Innovative information technologies.
2. Atomic physics, optical technologies and medical physics.
3. Mathematical methods.
4. Nano and quantum technologies, innovative materials.
5. Climate change and sustainable use of natural resources.
6. Biomedical, pharmaceutical.
7. Regenerative medicine, biobanka.
8. Ecology and biodiversity.
9. Public health, quality of life and sustainability of the nation.
10. Critical thinking, innovation, competitiveness and globalisation.
11. Letonica, diaspora and intercultural communication.
12. Human and technology, quality of education.

Research projects and achievements

Leading researchers:

More information: www.lu.lv