During your time in Latvia, you will live with a host family and attend a local high school.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Fall Year | Late August | Late June | $11,995 |
| 2025 Fall Year Art | Late August | Late June | $12,995 |
| 2025 Fall Year Music | Late August | Late June | $12,995 |
| 2025 Fall Year Dance | Late August | Late June | $12,995 |
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Latvian high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Latvia Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
Schools in Latvia emphasize academic performance. The classroom atmosphere is formal, and students are expected to treat their teachers with the utmost respect. Secondary education in Latvia is divided into secondary schools (university preparatory schools) and vocational schools. Secondary schools are known as vidusskolas (middle schools). Most of these schools last for three years, and students are required to take at least 12 subjects. You will take classes at the upper secondary level in a wide variety of subjects, including math, language, history, biology, social sciences, music, art, and sports. Some secondary schools, known as Gymnasiums, may specialize in a group of subjects such as math, physics and computer sciences, chemistry and biology, foreign languages and humanities, etc.
All students applying for this program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Students will also attend a three-day arrival orientation and language course a few days after arrival. During this orientation, students spend three to four hours per day in language classes to gain a strong footing in Latvian prior to beginning school. YFU Latvia organizes a weekend trip to Tallinn, Estonia, for a mid-year orientation, which takes place during the spring holiday weekend. In June, students have a departure orientation weekend to reflect on their experiences. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.
- 2025 Fall Departures: Students born August 24, 2007 – August 24, 2010
- Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Russian and Latvian. Previous language study is not required.
YFU host families live in cities like Riga, Liepaja, or Ventispils.
Art and music schools have their distinctive places in the Latvian system of education. They are known for their high professionalism and classical schooling. In these schools, intense special instruction is combined with required liberal arts courses. There are strict demands on students, whether or not a professional career is planned, requiring the highest effort that the student is capable of giving. Students in the special interest programs attend the same orientations as those in the traditional academic programs.
Art: In art schools, students are taught the basics of classic art. They work in pencil, water and oil colors, and ink. Schools of applied arts offer classes in ceramics, textiles, wood, leather, glass, and metalwork. Students applying for this program should have at least two years of experience in art and will need to provide a letter of recommendation from a previous art teacher.
Ballet: Students in the ballet program will be enrolled in a local high school and a local professional ballet school. Students will attend ballet classes at least 2-3 times each week. Students are required to have at least two years of ballet experience and should submit a statement from their ballet instructor or school verifying their experience.
Music: Students participating in the music program attend either a high school that specializes in music or one that offers extremely strong extracurricular music options. In music schools, students receive instruction in voice, solfeggio, music theory and history, choral singing, plus piano and a second instrument chosen by the student. Students have the option to play in the school’s orchestra and sing in the choir. Students applying for this program should have at least two years of experience in music and will need to provide a letter of recommendation from a music teacher.
