CONFERENCE
FROM STUDIES TO RESEARCH
Doctoral studies are research-driven. As current doctoral candidates acknowledge, ambition to make an impact on the world is essential in doctoral education. Each doctoral candidate must choose one of 13 doctoral study programmes offered across six UL faculties, with the primary goal of developing an original research project that advances a field of science or explores an in-depth interdisciplinary research question. Consequently, a doctoral candidate must not only aim to strengthen their research competencies but also contribute to the development of science.
ONE STOP – THE UL DOCTORAL SCHOOL
A unified support system has been created for doctoral studies at UL. Moving towards the new doctoral model, which emphasizes purposeful academic career development at the national level and strengthened collaboration with industry, UL has established a single Doctoral School. While lecture courses relevant to specific fields are provided by faculties, the UL Doctoral School offers diverse support activities to enhance transversal skills, for example, in scientific publication preparation, project management, and science communication, while promoting well-being in the academic journey and expanding other competencies important for researchers. Participation in these activities provides opportunities to network with doctoral candidates from other programmes, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and building a researcher-centred academic community. The UL Doctoral School serves as an open hub for doctoral candidates to seek guidance not only on practical aspects of doctoral studies but also to provide suggestions for its further development.
NO FIXED LECTURE LIST – INDIVIDUAL PLANS
Doctoral studies at UL are based on an individual study plan. Since the goal of doctoral studies is research, the fixed lecture schedule typical of bachelor’s and master’s studies does not dictate a doctoral candidate’s daily agenda. In addition to the research process, doctoral studies include coursework that constitutes up to 30% of the total doctoral programme, which can be adapted to the candidate’s individual research plan. This allows a personalized schedule to develop academic skills that will be valuable in conducting the research.
Doctoral studies at UL also offer the opportunity to pursue a double doctoral degree. Changes in Latvian legislation now allow candidates to undertake joint doctoral studies, meaning one research project conducted simultaneously at two universities, one of which may be abroad, thereby expanding academic and research networks and establishing a presence in the international early-career researcher community during the study period.
WALKING IN A RESEARCHER’S “SHOES”
Doctoral studies mean stepping into the role of a researcher. At UL, various options exist for conducting research in a way that suits the candidate’s preferred approach. A doctoral candidate may be employed at UL as a research assistant on an existing project, focusing on a specific aspect relevant to their dissertation. Alternatively, a candidate may work with a UL partner institution, such as a research institute or industry, addressing a thematically relevant research question. A doctoral candidate may also pursue research alongside other professional employment, connecting the research to their everyday professional activities.
DIVERSE FORMS OF SUPPORT
To ensure successful doctoral studies and research, UL provides multiple support mechanisms. The UL European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) doctoral grant competition is announced to support research contributing to the objectives of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy and the development of specialisation areas. For candidates not employed in academia, UL offers a monthly doctoral scholarship 140 Euro. Additional support opportunities, including academic mobility funding in the form of fellowships, are provided by the UL Foundation. Thanks to UL’s participation in the Erasmus+ programme and the nine-university European alliance FORTHEM, doctoral candidates also have access to extensive short- and long-term mobility opportunities.
Each year, approximately 50 early-career researchers obtain a doctoral degree at UL; in 2024, 70 researchers earned their doctoral degrees. This year, around 100 new researchers are expected to be admitted to 13 doctoral programmes.
Further information about admission requirements and doctoral study programmes is available on the UL website: lu.lv.
Sapere aude – Dare to know!
The establishment of the UL Doctoral School is part of the Recovery and Resilience Facility project “Internal and External Consolidation of the University of Latvia” (No. 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/007), implemented by the University of Latvia and the BA School of Business and Finance, continuing the development of doctoral studies at UL initiated in the European Social Fund project “Strengthening the Doctoral Capacity of the University of Latvia within the Framework of the New Doctoral Model” (No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/006).
Machine translation tools (DeepL and ChatGPT) were used for the initial translation; editorial adjustments were applied to ensure clarity and factual accuracy.
 requires readiness for research-based studies and a desire to pursue excellence in science. Those already driven by curiosity and a research spirit, and who are intrigued by a specific research question, are invited to apply for doctoral studies.){kind=link}