Study location	Latvia, Riga
Academic field	Geography (ISCED 01023) Human & social geography (JACS L700)
Type	PhD, full-time
Nominal duration	3 years (216 ECTS)
Study language	English
Awards	(Doctoral degree in Geography)

Tuition fee	€6,402 per year
Application fee	€100 one-time
Deposit	€500 one-time
Registration fee	€100 one-time Baltic Center Registration Fee Includes: – Consultations for selection of HEI – Migration & visa consultation – Registration in the Baltic Center database – HEI admission documents’ check – General testing for all Baltic Center HEIs – Admission Examination – Student’s admission to HEI, maximum 3 registrations per one fee. & In case of HEI change at the request of a student, after the admission letter receiving from HEI, a transfer to another HEI is for an extra cost. – Documents’ arrangement for the payments to HEI – Bonus – on the written application of a student, preparation and transfer of the invitation for the embassy. & The period of preparation from week to two months

Entry qualification

Postgraduate diploma (or higher) Master degree in Geography or Natural Sciences or a comparable degree. An application, a plan for the dissertation, a CV, and recommendations. Entrance examinations for full and part time students involve discussions that are organised by the Commission of the Admission at the University The entry qualification documents are accepted in any language The entry qualification documents are accepted in any languages (issued in or officially translated along with verified copies) You must take the original entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university. Please provide bachelor’s diploma (for master studies) or master’s diploma (for doctoral studies) in the original language. If the diploma is not issued in English, a certified translation should be provided. The document must be legalised/apostilled

Territory requirements	Applications are accepted from the following territories (based on citizenship): World.

Language requirements

English Accepted proof of proficiency: FCE or CAE, IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL 69+ Baltic Center examination. Non-native English speakers are requested to present a copy of Baltic Center Test/TOEFL/IELTS/TOEIC/PTE Academic/Cambridge English test score report. The score of the BALTIC CENTER test should be at least B2 The score of the TOEFL test should be at least 500 (61 iBT). Requested IELTS score: 5,5 or above. TOEIC test score: 700 or above. FCE (First Certificate in English): B. CAE/CPE (CAE=Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English/CPE=Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English) C. Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A) total score: 46 or above. You do not have to present English test only if your previous studies have been fully in English and it is marked on your diploma or transcript or you send a certificate from the school which confirms that your studies have been fully in the English language.

Overview

Short Program description

The doctoral programme in geography is the only highest-level study programme in Latvia which allows students to gain independent experience with research and studies, as well as an internationally comparable doctorate in geography. Its necessity from the perspective of Latvia’s state interests is closely linked to the further existence and development of geography as a discipline of science in the country. The aim of the doctoral programme in geography is to train highly qualified specialists who can engage in scholarly work and teach geography. The degree is intended to be fully internationally comparable, allowing graduates to participate in and contribute to international debates and academic fora. The programme has four sub-fields – physical geography, human geography, environmental and regional geography, as well as applied geography and geomatics. The study programme allows each doctoral student to develop as an individual, taking into account the student’s interests, education, experience and achievements. The doctoral study programme involves the studies as such, as well as independent and original research work. the programme at the University of Latvia envisages 74 credit points (111 ECTS) for completion of the PhD thesis out of 144 credit points (216 ECTS), which should be gathered in other related activities, e.g., courses on the relevant sub-field, theoretical courses, publications, pedagogical work.