About the university
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) opened on 3 July 1939 as the Jelgava Academy of Agriculture, but traces its roots to the agriculture department of the Riga Polytechnicum, founded in 1863. It became the Latvia University of Agriculture in 1991 and has used the LBTU name since September 2022.
LBTU is Latvia's specialist university for agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, food science and landscape architecture, and also teaches engineering, IT and economics. It has five faculties and is one of the country's four scientific universities, and the only one based outside Riga.
For Indian students the main draws are low fees (around €2,750–€3,300 a year for most English-taught bachelor's and master's), a six-year English-taught Veterinary Medicine degree, and specialist master's in agricultural engineering, geoinformatics and IT. Some master's programmes also start in February.
Jelgava is a smaller city than Riga, and the university describes it as very safe. Teaching takes place partly in Jelgava Palace, an architectural monument that the university has restored as its main building.
- Founded
- Opened 3 July 1939 as the Jelgava Academy of Agriculture; roots in Riga Polytechnicum's agriculture department (1863)
- Type
- Public university; one of Latvia's four scientific universities and the only one outside Riga
- Main campus
- Jelgava, with its main building in the historic Jelgava Palace
- Faculties
- 5: Agriculture and Food Technology; Forest and Environmental Sciences; Engineering and IT; Veterinary Medicine; Economics and Social Development
- Intakes
- September; February for some master's programmes
- Fees
- €2,750–€3,300 a year for most English-taught degrees; Veterinary Medicine €9,600
- Application fee
- €300 for applicants who need a visa, plus a €500 refundable study deposit
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Information Technologies (Master of Engineering)
- Fee / year
- €3,300
- Duration
- 2 years (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September; February (spring 2027 deadline 15 November 2026)
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 110 (or Cambridge FCE/CAE); waived if your previous education was in English
- Postgraduate
Business Management (Professional Master, 1.5 years)
- Fee / year
- €3,300
- Duration
- 1.5 years (90 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September; February (spring 2027 deadline 15 November 2026)
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 110 (or Cambridge FCE/CAE); waived if your previous education was in English
- Undergraduate
Information Technologies for Sustainable Development (Professional Bachelor)
- Fee / year
- €2,750
- Duration
- 4 years (240 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 110 (or Cambridge FCE/CAE); waived if your previous education was in English
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- €9,600
- Duration
- 6 years (360 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 110 (or Cambridge FCE/CAE); waived if your previous education was in English
- Postgraduate
Agricultural Engineering (Master of Engineering)
- Fee / year
- €3,000
- Duration
- 2 years (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 76 or TOEFL PBT 547
- Postgraduate
Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing (Master)
- Fee / year
- €3,300
- Duration
- 2 years (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 110 (or Cambridge FCE/CAE); waived if your previous education was in English
- Postgraduate
Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration (Master)
- Fee / year
- €3,300
- Duration
- 2 years (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September; February (spring 2027 deadline 15 November 2026)
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 110 (or Cambridge FCE/CAE); waived if your previous education was in English
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technologies (Master of Engineering) | 2 years (120 ECTS) | €3,300 | ≈ ₹3.5 lakh |
| Business Management (Professional Master, 1.5 years) | 1.5 years (90 ECTS) | €3,300 | ≈ ₹3.5 lakh |
| Information Technologies for Sustainable Development (Professional Bachelor) | 4 years (240 ECTS) | €2,750 | ≈ ₹2.9 lakh |
| Veterinary Medicine | 6 years (360 ECTS) | €9,600 | ≈ ₹10.2 lakh |
| Agricultural Engineering (Master of Engineering) | 2 years (120 ECTS) | €3,000 | ≈ ₹3.2 lakh |
| Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing (Master) | 2 years (120 ECTS) | €3,300 | ≈ ₹3.5 lakh |
| Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration (Master) | 2 years (120 ECTS) | €3,300 | ≈ ₹3.5 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies with similar universities in Latvia.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Class 12 completed, with an average of at least 65% of the maximum grade. Some programmes need at least a satisfactory grade in a key subject (maths for IT; biology or chemistry for Veterinary Medicine).
- A compulsory online entrance test (for example computer science for IT, biology and chemistry for Veterinary Medicine) and a recorded motivation interview.
- A motivation letter.
- English: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 110, unless your previous education was in English.
- Deadline for applicants who need a visa: 15 June for the September intake.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a related field with an average of at least 65% of the maximum. Business Management needs a 4-year bachelor's in economics, business or management; Geoinformatics accepts a 3-year (180 ECTS) bachelor's.
- No entrance exam for master's, but a motivation interview and letter are required.
- English: the same scores as for bachelor's, or proof of English-medium study.
- Deadlines for applicants who need a visa: 15 June (September start) and 15 November (February start, where offered).
Documents
- Passport copy
- Class 12 or bachelor's certificate and transcript in the original language, with a notarised English translation if needed
- English test result, or proof that your previous education was in English
- Motivation letter
- Proof of the €300 application fee (applicants from visa-requiring countries)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 (5.5 is mentioned for a few programmes) |
| TOEFL | iBT 80 or paper-based 547 |
| PTE Academic | 67 |
| Duolingo | 110 |
| Waiver | Not needed if your secondary or higher education was taught in English; ask for a medium-of-instruction letter |
Accommodation and living costs
LBTU has student dormitories in Jelgava and books a place for international students who are accepted. Fees are paid on arrival and may change; Jelgava rents are generally lower than in Riga.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Dormitory, first monthPlus a €100 refundable deposit, per LBTU's How to apply page (may change) | €138one-off | ≈ ₹14,628 |
| Dormitory fee shown on programme pagesPlus a €150 dormitory deposit, per the application portal | €300one-off | ≈ ₹31,800 |
| Study depositRefundable after graduation | €500one-off | ≈ ₹53,000 |
Campus and location
LBTU is based in Jelgava, a city the university describes as very safe, with faculties spread across the city and its main building in Jelgava Palace.
- Jelgava Palace, restored as the university's main building and home of its bioeconomy research centre.
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies at Lielā street 2, Jelgava.
- Veterinary teaching under the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with programme accreditation listed until August 2028.
- Malnava College and the plant protection institute Agrihorts are part of the university.
- Erasmus+ mobility for exchange semesters in other EU countries.
Careers and graduate outcomes
LBTU says its teaching is practice- and research-based with close links to employers, and professional bachelor's degrees include long internships. It does not publish graduate employment figures. For work rights during and after study, see our Latvia guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Latvia
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Latvia. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much are the fees at LBTU?
Most English-taught master's cost €3,300 a year and the IT bachelor's €2,750 a year for 2026/27. Veterinary Medicine costs €9,600 a year. Add a €300 application fee (for visa-requiring countries) and a €500 refundable deposit.
Is there a February intake?
Yes, for some master's, including Information Technologies, Business Management and Sociology of Organizations. The deadline for the February 2027 start is 15 November 2026.
Can I skip IELTS if I studied in English in India?
LBTU says English proof is not needed if your secondary or higher education was in the language of instruction. Ask your school or college for a medium-of-instruction letter and confirm with LBTU admissions.
Is there an entrance exam?
Bachelor's applicants take an online entrance test and a recorded motivation interview. Master's applicants are exempt from the test but still have an interview.
Where is the university?
In Jelgava, a city the university describes as very safe. Its main building is the historic Jelgava Palace.
Sources
- LBTU: how to apply (deadlines, fees, English) (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU: history (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU: degree studies (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU: Information Technologies for Sustainable Development (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU: Veterinary Medicine (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU: Agricultural Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU application portal: Master Information Technologies (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU application portal: Professional Master Business Management (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU application portal: Veterinary Medicine (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU application portal: Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing (opens in a new tab)
- LBTU application portal: Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.lbtu.lv/en (opens in a new tab)
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