Statistics on applications for undergraduate study programs available on the Latvija.lv portal show that nearly the same number of applications was received this year as last year: slightly more than 10,000. Rīga Stradiņš University, which has a separate system, had 6,301 applications.
Most students have selected the programs of medicine, psychology, law science, and computer science studies of the University of Latvia as their priorities. Similarly, many have chosen to study the Computer Systems programme at Riga Technical University (RTU). Jānis Saulītis, head of LU student service department, said that computer science has been a leader for 'many, many years now'.
Ventspils University spokesman Edgars Žukovskis also noted that interest in higher education and the most popular study programmes is unchanged, and most students in Ventspils want to learn computer skills. Žukovskis explained: “Computer science continues its victory march, and with each year there are more and more applications. Also, very good admissions results this year are for the translation program. And also business leadership, as every year, is a pretty popular program. Where interest is declining: slightly fewer applications are in the language and intercultural communication program this year, but this is also due to the fact that academic programs are becoming less popular. It should be noted here that the program I mentioned is, however, transformed into a vocational degree programme this year.”
The most priority applications in the joint system – almost 5,000 – have been submitted to LU. Slightly over 2,100 applications were received by RTU, while the third place with 500 applications is the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LLU).
Rīga Stradiņš University Rector Aigars Pētersons said in an interview to Latvian Radio that for the fourth year in a row, there have been a considerable number of applicants in medical studies, dental care, nutrition and social study programs.
