Latvia’s higher education system is a part of the Bologna process and follows the 3-cycle system 

• the first cycle, in which study programmes are implemented that correspond to the sixth level of the framework structure of Latvian and European qualifications, 

• the second cycle, in which study programmes corresponding to the seventh level of the Latvian and European qualifications framework are implemented, 

• the third cycle, in which study programmes are implemented that correspond to the eighth level of the Latvian and European qualifications framework.

By studying an accredited higher education programme of the relevant cycle, you can obtain: 

short-cycle professional higher education and fifth-level professional qualification, for which a short-cycle professional higher education and professional qualification diploma is issued; 

first cycle higher education: 

a) a bachelor's degree, for which a bachelor's diploma is issued,  

b) bachelor's degree and sixth-level professional qualification, for which a bachelor's and professional qualification diploma is issued, 

c) sixth-level professional qualification, for which a professional qualification diploma is issued; 

second cycle higher education: 

a) master's degree, for which a master's diploma is issued, 

b) master's degree and seventh-level professional qualification, for which a master's and professional qualification diploma is issued, 

c) seventh-level professional qualification, for which a professional qualification diploma is issued; 

third cycle higher education: 

a) Doctor of Science degree, for which a Doctor’s diploma is issued, 

b) professional doctorate in arts, for which a o professional doctor’s diploma in arts is issued.

The Law on Higher Education Institutions sets the relations between state and higher education institutions as well as regulations for opening, closing and reorganization of institution, institutional governance and staff selection. The Law establishes academic freedom, rights and duties of academic personnel and students, determines the procedure of obtaining academic degrees and professional qualifications, the basic requirements for the study programmes, financing of studies, assessment and accreditation of study programmes and institutions. Other regulatory enactments apply to costs of one person in higher education per year, grants and loans offered to students and system of loan clearance. 

The Constitution (Satversme) of a higher education institution (developed and approved by Constituent Assembly (Satversmes sapulce) - representatives of academic staff, students and other groups of employees) is the main legal act regulating its activities. The Satversme establishes the name of the institution, address, legal status, the name of the founder and its address, objectives and spheres of activities, procedure of acceptance of the Satversme and its amendments, rights, duties and tasks of representative, management and decision maker institutions, composition and establishment, return or appointment of these institutions, term of office, displacement procedure, establishment, reorganization, closing of institutions’ subdivisions, branches and enterprises. The procedure of acceptance of internal rules, reorganization and liquidation procedure of the higher education institution should be also determined in the Satversme of each institution. 

In general, the Saeima (the Parliament) approves constitutions of state-founded higher education institutions, while the Cabinet of Ministers approves those of other institutions as well as bylaws of koledža. 

Although the organization of academic year depends on each institution, it is usually divided in two semesters altogether comprising ten months (40 weeks) of lectures, seminars, and practical work, starting in the beginning of September and ending at the end of June. January and June are devoted to taking semesters’ examinations. Recently, another system of examination has been introduced by some institutions that when a course (subject) does not last till the end of semester the examination is held shortly after the course is completed, even in the middle of a semester. There are Christmas and Easter national holidays for students during the year. The summer break lasts at least 8 weeks. In some universities students also have to undergo practical training in the form of an internship during the summer.