Latvia continues to attract international students looking for affordable European education, professional qualifications and practical work experience.
For students interested in hospitality, culinary arts, business and hotel management, Latvia offers a combination of professional education, practical training and internship opportunities.
One institution currently offering these opportunities is HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College in Riga, which has opened applications for its 2026/2027 academic year. The institution’s current announcement includes professional higher education, international BTEC programmes and Latvian vocational education programmes.
For international applicants, however, it is important to understand that not every programme is available to non-EU students.
What programmes are available?
HOTEL SCHOOL currently lists several programmes across different qualification levels.
1. Hotel Operations Management — EQF Level 5
This is a Latvian professional higher-education programme lasting five semesters.
The programme is accredited in Latvia and is currently listed as accredited until 2031. The programme is designed for students interested in hotel and hospitality management and includes practical training and internship opportunities.
For non-EU citizens, the current tuition fee is:
€5,000 per year
or
€2,550 per semester.
2. Hospitality Management — BTEC Level 5
International students can also study Hospitality Management through the BTEC Level 5 programme.
The current non-EU tuition fee is:
€5,000 per year
with an additional €500 registration fee for the BTEC programmes.
3. Culinary Arts Management — BTEC Level 5
Students interested in professional culinary careers can study Culinary Arts Management through the BTEC Level 5 programme.
The current fee for non-EU students is also:
€5,000 per year, plus the applicable €500 registration fee.
4. Business — BTEC Level 5
The institution also offers a BTEC Level 5 Business programme for students interested in business-related careers.
The non-EU tuition fee is currently listed at:
€5,000 per year, plus the €500 registration fee.
What about vocational training?
Latvia also has vocational education programmes in hospitality and culinary fields.
HOTEL SCHOOL currently lists:
- Hospitality Service Specialist — EQF Level 4
- Cook — EQF Level 4
- Assistant Cook — EQF Level 3
The published EU tuition fees range from €1,500 to €3,000 per year, depending on the programme.
However, there is an important issue for applicants from countries such as Nigeria.
The institution’s current fee schedule lists the non-EU tuition fee for these three vocational programmes as “N/A.”
Therefore, Nigerian and other non-EU applicants should not assume that these vocational programmes are currently open to them.
Anyone interested in one of these programmes should obtain written confirmation from the institution before paying any application or tuition fees.
Are internships available?
Yes.
Practical training and internship opportunities are an important part of hospitality education.
The current 2026/2027 announcement from HOTEL SCHOOL highlights international internship opportunities for its students. The institution says vocational students can have internship opportunities in Italy, while students in its higher-education programmes can access internships with leading hotels in several European destinations.
The institution has also advertised opportunities where students may receive financial compensation during internships.
However, prospective students should understand the difference between:
“up to a particular amount”
and
“a guaranteed monthly salary.”
An advertised maximum internship earning should not be interpreted as a guaranteed salary for every student.
The actual amount can depend on the employer, location, position, internship arrangement and applicable employment rules.
Can international students work while studying in Latvia?
Yes, international students can work in Latvia, although the conditions depend on their study level and immigration status.
According to the official Study in Latvia information, full-time bachelor’s students can generally work up to 20 hours per week during their studies and up to 40 hours per week during study breaks. Master’s and doctoral students have broader work rights. (Study in Latvia)
Students should therefore distinguish between:
- employment undertaken independently while studying;
- an internship that forms part of the academic programme; and
- employment after graduation.
These are different situations and can be governed by different rules.
Can Nigerian students apply?
International students from outside the European Union can study in Latvia, but eligibility must be assessed programme by programme.
For Nigerian applicants, the most important consideration is not simply whether a school accepts international students.
The applicant needs to establish that:
- The specific programme accepts non-EU applicants.
- The institution is authorized to provide the programme.
- The programme meets the requirements for the relevant Latvian immigration route.
- The applicant satisfies the academic requirements.
- The applicant meets the language requirements.
- The applicant can demonstrate the required financial resources.
- The applicant can obtain the necessary residence permit and/or visa documentation.
This is particularly important for vocational applicants because the current HOTEL SCHOOL fee schedule does not provide a non-EU fee for its three listed vocational programmes.
For a Nigerian applicant, a programme specifically listed with a non-EU tuition category — such as Hotel Operations Management or one of the BTEC programmes — may therefore be easier to evaluate as an international study option.
How much money is required for living expenses?
Tuition is only one component of the total cost.
International students should budget separately for:
- accommodation;
- food;
- transportation;
- health insurance;
- residence permit and government fees;
- flights;
- document preparation and legalization;
- tuition;
- personal expenses; and
- other study-related costs.
The official Study in Latvia materials indicate that average living expenses vary according to accommodation and lifestyle, with rent, food, transportation and other expenses contributing to the overall monthly cost. (Study in Latvia)
Students should therefore prepare a realistic financial plan before applying rather than assuming that internship income will immediately cover their expenses.
Residence permit requirements
Students from outside the EU who require a Latvian residence permit must meet the applicable immigration requirements.
Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs requires applicants applying for residence based on studies to submit documentation including a valid passport, residence-permit application, photograph, proof of sufficient means of subsistence, payment of the relevant state duty and documentation confirming the study arrangement. (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde)
The financial requirement is particularly important because Latvia updated its general subsistence requirements from 1 April 2026. Applicants should therefore use the current amount applicable to their particular residence-permit category rather than relying on older figures circulating online. (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde)
When can students apply?
For the 2026/2027 academic year, HOTEL SCHOOL announced a summer admission period running until 26 August 2026 for its study and vocational education programmes.
Applicants should not rely on an old advertised intake date.
Admission periods can change from one academic year to another, and international applicants need additional time for document processing and immigration procedures.
Anyone planning to study in Latvia should therefore confirm the current intake, application deadline and programme availability directly with the institution before making payment.
Is there an age limit?
There should not be a blanket assumption that every Latvian study or vocational programme has “no age limit.”
Admission requirements are determined by the institution and the particular programme.
Academic qualifications, language ability and immigration eligibility can be more important than age, but prospective students should obtain confirmation of their individual eligibility before applying.
How much should prospective students budget?
For a non-EU applicant considering HOTEL SCHOOL’s currently listed programmes, the published tuition figures provide a useful starting point.
Example: Hotel Operations Management
Tuition: €5,000 per year
Semester payment: €2,550
Duration: 5 semesters
The total tuition cost over the full programme should be confirmed with the institution because fee schedules, payment arrangements and programme conditions can change.
BTEC Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts Management and Business programmes also currently show €5,000 per year for non-EU students, with an additional €500 registration fee.
These figures do not represent the total cost of studying in Latvia.
Students should separately budget for accommodation, food, transportation, insurance, immigration expenses, flights and other living costs.
What makes Latvia attractive to international students?
Latvia offers several advantages for students considering European education.
European education environment
Students have the opportunity to study within an EU member state and experience an international educational environment.
Practical learning
Hospitality and culinary programmes can provide students with practical experience alongside classroom learning.
International internship opportunities
Some programmes provide opportunities for students to gain practical experience in other European countries.
Opportunity to work while studying
Eligible international students can work subject to the conditions attached to their study level and residence status. (Study in Latvia)
Hospitality industry opportunities
Hospitality remains an important employment sector, and students who develop professional skills in hotel management, culinary arts, food service and related areas can build experience applicable to international careers.
Important warning for prospective applicants
Students should be careful when dealing with education agents or advertisements promising:
“Study in Europe + guaranteed job + guaranteed salary + no age limit.”
These statements can oversimplify the actual process.
A legitimate international education opportunity should clearly identify:
- the institution;
- the exact programme;
- qualification level;
- tuition fee;
- admission requirements;
- language requirements;
- intake date;
- internship arrangements;
- whether the internship is paid;
- expected internship compensation;
- accommodation arrangements;
- immigration requirements; and
- refund policies.
Most importantly, applicants should verify that the specific programme is available to non-EU citizens.
Conclusion
Latvia presents genuine opportunities for international students interested in hospitality, hotel management, culinary arts and business.
For 2026/2027, HOTEL SCHOOL in Riga is currently advertising professional higher education, BTEC programmes and Latvian vocational education. Its published non-EU tuition structure makes Hotel Operations Management EQF Level 5 and the BTEC programmes particularly relevant for international applicants, while its listed vocational programmes currently show no non-EU tuition category.
Students can also benefit from practical training and, depending on the programme, internship opportunities.
However, applicants should not make their decision based solely on claims of “paid internship,” “no age limit” or a particular intake.
The safest approach is to verify the exact programme, non-EU eligibility, current intake, tuition, internship terms and residence-permit requirements before paying any third party.
For Nigerians seeking an affordable European education pathway, Latvia may be worth considering — but the right programme and immigration route must be selected carefully.
