All Disciplines
Latvia
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
The Scholar is expected to teach undergraduate courses, graduate courses or both in one or more areas of Scholar's specialization. As requested by the host institution, Scholars may offer tutorials, advise students, and assist in curriculum development or faculty training. Scholars are expected to teach approximately 20 to 40 hours per week.
Teaching/Research grants must be 70% teaching and 30% research and conducted in Scholar’s area of specialization/s.
Scholars will be encouraged to participate in the U.S. Embassy's Meet America program in addition to providing guest lectures at universities throughout Latvia.
Scholars selected for this grant will be required to attend a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation in Summer 2025.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Latvia, Courtney Queen, talks about her Fulbright experience.
Scholars may affiliate with any appropriate institution in Latvia including but not limited to:
Liepaja: Liepaja University
Daugavpils: Daugavpils University
Jelgava: Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Valmiera: Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
Riga: Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music; University of Latvia; Art Academy of Latvia; RISEBA University
Three to five months
One-semester grants must begin in either September 2025 or February 2026. Applicants should contact potential host institutions to determine award lengths from 3 to 5 months.
Applications are sought in all appropriate disciplines, but applications in the following disciplines are preferred:
Liepaja University: English teaching methodology, intercultural communication, new media arts, artificial intelligence, software quality assurance and software testing, IT project management, machine learning, system modelling, business management and entrepreneurship.
Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music: Jazz double bass, jazz piano, modern and contemporary dance, and dance composition, Alexander Technique for musicians and dancers, business in music/entrepreneurship and management, film music composition, music and audio technology.
Art Academy of Latvia: Art Theory and History, Art Science, Art Studies.
University of Latvia: Linguistics and literary studies; North American literature; media literacy, digital literacy, digitization of education; clinical optometry, vision science
Daugavpils University: General Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Media Studies, Introduction to Psycholinguistics / Cognitive Linguistics / Forensic Linguistics; British and American Culture Studies, British and American Literature; Teacher Training/Education, Social Studies.
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies: English for Specific Purpose, English for Research, Environmental engineering
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences: Ethnography of Communication, Sociolinguistics, Cultural Discourse Analysis
RISEBA University: Architecture, architectural design, contemporary design issues, history of architecture, design pedagogy, perception and experience, architectural texts
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Liepaja University: Contact Erika Lauberga-Sleze at erika.lauberga@liepu.lv
Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music: Contact Dr. Maija Sipola, Head of International Relations, at maija.sipola@jvlma.lv or academy@jvlma.lv (an invitation letter is required)
Art Academy of Latvia: Contact Agita Gritane at agita.gritane@lma.lv
University of Latvia:
Linguistics and literary studies; North American literature: Contact Dr. Zigrida Vincela at zigrida.vincela@lu.lv
Clinical Optometry, Vision Science: Contact Dace Rutkovska at opto.metodike@lu.lv
Media literacy, digital literacy, digitization of education: Contact Zanda Rubene at zanda.rubene@lu.lv
Daugavpils University:
General Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Media Studies, Introduction Applied Linguistics (Psycholinguistics, Cognitive Linguistics, Forensic Linguistics, etc.); British and American Literature: Contact Jelena Tamane at or jelena.tamane@du.lvssad@du.lv
Teacher Training/Education, Social Studies: Contact Dr. Marite Kravale-Paulina at marite.kravale@du.lv
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences: Contact Liene Locmele at liene.locmele@va.lv
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies:
Environmental engineering: Contact Dr. Linda Grinberga at linda.grinberga@lbtu.lv
English for Specific Purpose, English for Research: Contact Dr. Tatjana Sinkus at tatjana.sinkus@lbtu.lv
RISEBA University: Contact Efe Duyan at efe.duyan@riseba.lv
All teaching will be in English; proficiency in Latvian is not required.
For research grant activity, language fluency sufficient to complete the research project is required. Feasibility of conducting research must be demonstrated in the project statement.
Academics must have a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. Community College faculty and adjunct professors are welcome to apply.
Artists and professionals are eligible to apply without a Ph.D., but they must have at least seven years of experience in a particular profession.
General information about Latvia can be found here.
StudyinLatvia.lv provides information about higher education in Latvia.
$3,750
$750 books and educational materials allowance; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.
Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $150/month to $300/month. In addition, travel allowances are provided for dependents: $2,500 for one dependent and $5,000 for two or more dependents.
Reimbursement for dependent education expenses may be available on a limited basis, depending on funding availability and grant duration. Grantees should confirm with IIE that proposed expenses meet eligibility criteria; however, availability of funds may not be known until the end of the academic year.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Please refer to the figures above for an estimate of total monthly Fulbright award benefits. Benefits may include a monthly base stipend, living and housing allowances, and additional one-time allowances. Benefits may vary based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent), the city of placement, the type of award (teaching, teaching/research, or research), and the number of and duration of stay of accompanying dependents. Research-only or Professional Project grantees receive a standard stipend that is not adjusted for academic rank. In most cases, dependent benefits will not be provided to Flex grantees, or to grantees pursuing grants less than four months (or a semester) in length.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Latvia
Latvia is a small country on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Pine, oak, and birch forests cover about 44 percent of the country. Latvia is a member of NATO, the European Union, the United Nations, OSCE, and OECD.
There are 52 accredited higher education institutions; 28 are university/non-university type institutions, and 24 are colleges. Education levels are generally high.
The capital city, Riga, is the largest Baltic city and is located on the Daugava River, just nine miles before it reaches the Baltic Sea. The Old Town of Riga is its cultural heart and has retained much of its medieval atmosphere. The architecture ranges from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque. Its harbor, airport, rail, and highway networks make Riga a major trade and commercial center for all of the Baltic countries. It is also known as one of the global leaders in Internet broadband. English is widely spoken and understood. A complete overview of Latvia can be found here.
The academic year is from the beginning of September to mid-June. The second semester begins in February. Teaching is in English.
Applicants are encouraged to contact potential host institutions to arrange their own affiliations. If necessary, the U.S. Embassy in Riga can help to arrange a host institution affiliation.
English language education for dependents is available in Latvia. All public schools are free of charge and the language of instruction is Latvian. In recent years, the Fulbright Program has been unable to provide tuition assistance for English language private schools.
For detailed information about specific institutional requests, please contact Embassy staff: Public Diplomacy Specialist, Ingrida Bodniece at Bodniecei@state.gov or Cultural Affairs Officer, Cale Wagner at WagnerCF@state.gov .
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
For detailed information about specific institutional requests, please contact Embassy staff: Exchange Programs Assistant, Ingrida Bodniece at Bodniecei@state.gov, or Cultural Affairs Officer, Cale Wagner at wagnercf@state.gov.