Study location	Latvia, Riga
Type	Postgraduate, full-time
Nominal duration	2 years (120 ECTS)
Awards	Master (Master of Humanities in Romance Studies)
Course code	22558
Accreditation	The programme is accredited till 07.12.2029.

Tuition fee	€3,700 per year Please note that the tuition fee may change in 2025.
Application fee	€170 one-time The application fee is 170.00 EUR. The application fee is non-refundable. Payment of the application fee and the diploma recognition fee should be paid only after the receipt of the invoice and must be paid BY the deadline of the invoice, if for any reason you have failed to pay the fees by the said deadline please contact the admission coordinator. The application will be processed only after the payment receipt (the official receipt issued by the bank) has been uploaded in the Apply system, take note: in the event of any changes made in the application, you are to resubmit the application to confirm and save the changes.
Deposit	€500 one-time A one-time payment for students coming from third countries outside the EU/EEA is to be paid in full together with the full-year tuition fee payable upon arrival. The deposit is intended for coverage of possible immigration expenses and paid back upon request after graduation.

Entry qualification

Undergraduate diploma (or higher) Previous education: Version 1 of previous education: first-cycle higher education* or equivalent higher education in linguistics, literature or cultural studies; persons who have obtained such education are admitted without an entrance examination Version 2 of previous education: first-cycle higher education* or equivalent higher education in other humanities or teacher education (language, literature and/or culture teacher education); Pass of entrance examination by submitting a written 1 page motivation letter Version 3 of previous education: first-cycle higher education* or equivalent higher education in another field and one year of professional/creative experience in a field related to the humanities; Pass of entrance examination by submitting a written 1 page motivation letter 1.The average grade in study courses must be 60% of the maximum. 2. All grades must be passing (at least 4 in a 10 point grading system). 3. English language proficiency. 4. French, Italian or Spanish language proficiency *Bachelor’s degree or a diploma proving equivalent level of education Enrolment criteria (for students competing for the state-financed study place) For applicants who have completed previous education in linguistics, literature or cultural studies: 1. The average grade obtained in final exams (40%); 2. The grade point average of undergraduate studies (60%). For applicants who have completed previous education in other fields: 1. The average grade obtained in final exams (35%); 2. The grade point average of undergraduate studies (30%); 3. Entrance examination (35%) Please note! Only EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and EU long-term resident status holders can compete for a state-financed study place. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English / Latvian. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. Applicants must upload education documents in original language, as well as translations into English. Diplomas and transcripts issued outside EU must be legalized with a legalization stamp or Apostille. More information available HERE You must take the original entry qualification documents with you when you finally go to the university.

Language requirements

English French Spanish Italian Applicants must prove their French or Italian or Spanish and English language knowledge. University accepts the following international language tests: French: DELF – level B2, DALF – at least level C1, TCF – at least 400, TEF – at least 541; Italian: CILS – at least B2, CELI – at least B2, PLIDA – at least B2; Spanish: DELE – at least B2. Applicants whose previous education is obtained in French/Italian/Spanish are exempt from this requirement. English Applicants must prove their English language knowledge. University accepts the following international language tests: LanguageCert International ESOL at least Level Communicator B2 (Written and Spoken exams); TOEFL IBT – at least score 72 TOEFL Essential – at least 8 points IELTS – at least score 6.00 PTE General – at least level B2 PTE Academic – at least 51 points FCE – at least level B CPE – Proficiency/C2 Proficiency: any level CAE – C1 Advanced: any level If your previous studies have been obtained in English but not in the country listed below, then you have to present an official letter from your previous educational institution (University, etc.) where is stated that all your studies were in English (medium of instruction is English), and you have to pass interview where the University of Latvia will evaluate your language skills. Applicants who have obtained previous education in English in one of the bellow listed countries do not need to provide separate language proficiency: • Australia • The Bahamas • Canada • Ireland • New Zealand • St Vincent and the Grenadines • United Kingdom • United States of America

Other requirements	As a part of the admission process applicants will be asked to participate in an online interview.

More information	lu.lv/..ature-and-regional-culture-studies

Overview

“Romance studies” is the unique graduate program in Latvia providing academic education at the Master’s level in the Romance languages. Specialized courses of the program are offered in French, Spanish or Italian, and focus on linguistic and cultural studies, language teaching, translation, and international relations. Program’s students can choose one of Romance languages for their specialization or combine two languages, for example, French and Spanish. The program is based on a multi-lingual and multi-disciplinary approach. We provide knowledge about communication models and strategies, about the multifaceted interaction of cultures and languages about the regional specificity and diversity of literature and art.

Our program employs the best experts of Latvia in the fields of the Romance Languages, Romance Culture and History, Language Teaching and Translation, as well as visiting professors from French, Spanish and Italian universities.

The Program provides students with exchange opportunities in French, Belgian, Canadian, Italian and Spanish universities.

The Program engages English and Latvian language professionals in teaching translation and cultural studies. This helps to provide the students with a greater degree of specialization and competitiveness in the local and foreign labor markets, as well as necessary skills to carry out research in general and applied linguistics, literature, cultural studies and translation.

The programme has been developed within the framework of the project “Design of Internationally Competitive Study Programmes Promoting the Development of the National Economy of Latvia at the University of Latvia” (project No. 8.2.1.0 / 18 / A / 015).

Programme structure

The Programme requires two years of full-time studies and consists of 80 CP (120 ECTS):

1.Mandatory courses (Part A) – 44 CP :

• Basic module (24 credits): lectures (ENG) seminars (FR/SP/ITA);
• Master’s thesis (20 credits): FR/SP/ITA.

2. Electives (Part B: specialized courses) – 36 CP FR/SP/ITA.

Career opportunities

During the course of studies, students acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities indispensable for further academic education in Latvia or abroad, thus gaining a solid basis for professional career in business, government, international institutions
and NGOs, language instruction courses, translation agencies, etc.

Apart from education, the graduates of the Program work in a multitude of professional fields: French /Spanish/ Italian language, literary and cultural research, interpretation and translation, the Romance language policy and terminology, as well as consultancy in geography, history, art, culture, politics and economics of Romance-speaking countries. Master’s degree in Romance Studies opens the way to doctoral studies.