CONFERENCESocial Work - Professional Master's Degree Programme
Programme level: Professional Master's Programme
Language of instruction: Latvian
Study form and duration: full-time - 3 or 4 semesters
Credits: 90 or 120 ECTS
Obtainable degree or qualification: Professional Master’s Degree in Social Work
Number of study places for admission in 2025/2026: Full time (4 semesters) - state-funded study places - 15, study places for tuition fee - 20; Full time (3 semesters) - state-funded study places - 0, study places for tuition fee - 20
Tuition fee per year (ac. year 2025/26): 2800 EUR for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, EU Long-term resident permit holders and their family members. 3500 EUR for citizens of other countries
Study location: Riga, Latgale
In accordance with the amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions, which in force as of 01.01.2019, the term of accreditation of study programmes has been extended.
The content of this professional master's study programme encompasses the latest findings in the theory and practice of social work, management, project management, research and psychology, promoting professional competence, administrative, creative and research skills. The students have a unique opportunity to specialise in social work in the field of criminal justice and profoundly study the work with former prisoners, methods of socio-psychological intervention in work with a non-voluntary client, introduction to forensic psychiatry, as well as other study courses required for specialisation.
Director of the Study Programme
Associate professor Līga Rasnača
The 1st year
The students master basic theoretical courses of the field (for example, “Latvian Social Security System from an International Perspective”, “New Challenges of Professional Social Work”, “Communication with Various Social Work Target Groups”) and obligatory general education courses (for example, “Human Rights and Social Rights”, “Social Aspects of Project Management”), as well as begin the acquisition of professional specialisation courses and reinforcing knowledge and skills in practice.
The 2nd year
The students continue acquisition of professional specialization courses and testing their competence in practice. The students also master part B restricted elective courses specialising in social work in the field of criminal justice or social work in the field of social development.
The students acquiring the one-year programme, who have previously obtained a social work qualification do not take the professional specialization course, they are assigned other internship tasks.
HOW ARE THE STUDIES LINKED WITH PRACTICE?
Particular emphasis is placed on in-depth acquisition of practical skills in the study courses, therefore mandatory internships are included in the study process. The content of the courses is regularly updated, taking into account the development of the professional field and the recommendations of professionals.
The students can also benefit from the opportunity to use the ERASMUS + programme and study for one semester at one of the partner universities in Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Finland or Norway.
Graduates of the programme can work at municipal social services, state social welfare institutions and the non-governmental sector.
You can find out about the admission requirements for the study program by switching to the Latvian version of the website.
During a single cycle of studies, students have the opportunity to spend up to 12 months abroad for studies or internships. Currently, the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences has over 320 Erasmus+ cooperation agreements with universities across Europe and beyond. Students can participate in exchange studies in countries such as Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Portugal, Slovakia, Malta, and many others.
In addition, students may take part in exchange programmes based on bilateral agreements, which allow for study opportunities in 53 countries worldwide — including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and more.
Short-term mobility options are also available through the FORTHEM Alliance, offering students the chance to gain new knowledge and skills in Germany, Poland, Norway, Romania, Italy, France, Finland, and Spain.