15 - Latvia - Certification

country: Latvia

A state-recognized diploma is issued to persons who have completed accredited study programmes. Only accredited higher education institutions providing state-accredited study programmes, have the right to issue state-recognized diplomas.

In conformity with a state-accredited study programme it is possible to receive:

  • academic education resulting in the following degrees:
    • Bachelor (academic degree),
    • Master (academic degree),
    • Doctor (scientific degree);
  • fourth and fifth-level professional qualification and the following professional degrees:
    • Bachelor,
    • Master
Diploma Supplement is issued to each graduate (except those of doctoral programmes) automatically and free of charge. This diploma supplement follows the model developed by the European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO/CEPES and covers information regarding the nature, level, context and status of the pursued and completed studies. The supplement is issued in Latvian and English, and its purpose is to promote international transparency and fair academic and professional recognition of qualifications.

Certification. Professional Tertiary Education

Students of first-level professional higher education programmes (college programmes) pass state qualification examination at the end of studies. Part of state qualification examination is presentation of a qualification paper. Graduates receive a diploma on first-level professional higher education if the programme is completed, a state qualification examination is passed and the assessment of the qualification examination is at least 5 (satisfactory). A certificate on professional qualification profesionālās kvalifikācijas apliecība verifying fourth-level professional qualification is also granted to the graduate.

Students of second-level professional higher education programmes (Profesionālās augstākās izglītības Bakalaura studiju programmas, Profesisonālās augstākās izglītības Maģistra studiju programma, Profesionālās augstākās izglītības studiju programmas) also pass final examinations at the end of studies. Part of final examinations is the development and presentation of Bachelor, Master or Diploma thesis. Graduates receive:

  • after Professional higher education Bachelor study programmes – a diploma certifying the Professional Bachelor degree and fifth-level professional qualification;
  • after Professional higher education Master study programmes – a diploma certifying the Professional Master degree, the graduates with previous academic education also obtain fifth-level professional qualification;
  • after Professional higher education study programmes – fifth-level professional qualification.
Certification. Academic Tertiary Education

Students pass final examinations at the end of academic Bachelor or Master study programmes. Part of final examinations is the development and presenting of Bachelor or Master thesis. Graduates receive a diploma certifying Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and a Diploma Supplement.

Certification. Postgraduate level

The degree Doktorsinternationally recognized as PhD can be conferred only after fulfillment of requirements for doctoral study programme and public defence of doctoral thesis. Doctoral thesis may consist of a dissertation, or also of a group of thematic papers or a monograph. A foreign expert is involved in the evaluation of thesis. A person who has obtained the scientific degree, receives a Doctor’s diploma.

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Date: 2009
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