The academic year at LAC begins at the end of August/beginning of September and ends in late June. The academic year is divided into two terms. 

Each term is followed by the examination period (in January for the autumn semester or in June for the spring semester) or the examination happens after the end of a course. This depends on the study schedule for each semester. 

• Most courses are 4 ECTS (study load of 32 academic hours)
• Full time workload for one semester = 30 ECTS

Timetable 2023/2024 

Autumn semester

The study programme is implemented through various forms of study, which include lectures, seminars, discussions, practical classes, use of online resources and learning e-environment, role-plays, literature studies, individual and group consultations, study visits, case studies, audio and video analysis of materials, students' independent practical work (individually and in groups), fieldwork, creation of visualisations, etc. 

The possibilities provided by the intranet are actively used in the study process: https://estudijas.lka.edu.lv/ - electronic study environment, where the materials necessary for studies, lecture presentations are exchanged within the framework of each study course, students submit their presentations and home work. Academic studies envisage the reading and acquisition of a large amount of individual, independent scientific texts, as well as the development of academic writing skills. Acquisition of all courses includes both independent work during studies and tests (during or at the end of the course). 

The study process is organised by the Programme Director in accordance with the approved content and plan of the programme. Full-time studies mainly take place at the premises of the Academy or its structural units or premises of cooperation partners. During a pandemic, studies take place remotely or in a hybrid format.

For a successful completion of the course, students have to attend at least 75% of the classes if the lecturer has not specified otherwise. 

The knowledge acquired in the study courses is assessed in one of two possible types of examinations:

• test (student either passes or fails)
• exam (when a course ends the student has an exam and receives a final grade)

In order to pass the final exam, students have to receive a positive grade on the scale from 10 to 4 for them to pass. If the student receives a grade on the scale from 3 to 1, they have failed the course automatically. After failing the exam, the student has the right to take it two more times. 

The knowledge of students is assessed according to a 10 point system. The Latvian Academy of Culture uses also the ECTS system.

Students have the right to receive feedback and justification for the assessment. In case of uncertainties, students consult with the lecturers of the specific study course or with the director of the study programme. These activities ensure that assessments serve as an opportunity for students both to assess their progress in their studies and to assess opportunities for further growth and the development of skills or knowledge.

REGULATORY DOCUMENTS

Regulations of the Academy on Examinations in Academic Bachelor's and Master's Study Programmes at the Latvian Academy of Culture

Regulations on academic integrity at the Latvian Academy of Culture

Regulations on the rotation system for the distribution of study places paid for by the budget in the bachelor's and master's study programme Latvian Academy of Culture

What is rotation?

Rotation is an annual competition for study places subsidised by the state budget (hereinafter: budget places) in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th year sub-programmes of the bachelor's study programme and in the 2nd year sub-programmes of the master's study programme. Rotation takes place in accordance with the Regulation on the rotation system for the allocation of study places subsidised by the budget in the Bachelor's and Master's study programme at the Latvian Academy of Culture, approved by the Senate of the Academy on 16 March 2007.

Who participates in the rotation?

All full-time budget students and fee-paying students who have completed all academic obligations and are studying in study sub-programmes with budget places participate in the rotation. The number of budget places for the next study year for each course and study subprogramme is determined by the Senate of the Academy, based on the order of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia on the number of study places in higher education institutions.

Who is not eligible for a budget seat?

Students who have not fulfilled their academic obligations do not participate in the competition and become paying students.

How is the result determined?

The results of the rotation are determined by the weighted average mark, which is calculated according to the following formula: the evaluation of each study course (subject) of study programmes A and B according to the 10 point system are multiplied by the number of credit points of the respective course (subject), all obtained multiplications are counted together and the obtained amount is divided by the number of credit points.

In the case of students with the same weighted average grade applying for one or more places in the state budget, preference shall be given to those who meet the following additional criteria in order of priority: 1) higher grade in the term paper; 2) a higher weighted average mark in Part A courses; 3) a higher weighted average mark in Part B courses.

In what cases can the rotation be postponed?

If one of the budget students is granted a session extension due to illness, the corresponding budget place is kept until the exams are passed within the deadline set by the Head of the Study Department. After that, by comparing the sum of the points obtained by all the applicants, it is decided who can apply for the saved budget place.

Rotation for students who have studied abroad under the ERASMUS programme in accordance with the agreements concluded by the Academy

For students who study abroad for one semester within the Lifelong Learning Programme ERASMUS in accordance with the agreements concluded by the Academy, the rotation results are determined by the weighted average mark calculated from the other semester A and B study course (subject) ratings. Students who study abroad for both semesters retain their current status as a budget student or a paying student until the next rotation.

When are rotation results decided and how?

Five days after the end of the spring session, the Department of Studies compiles the preliminary results of the rotation, with which students can get acquainted at Ludzas 24, i.e., compare the results of the spring examination period and the rotation, as well as the total amount of points and, if necessary, submit clarifications. No later than 10 days after the examination period, these results are accepted by the Rotation Commission, which includes the Head of the Study Department, representatives of departments and Student Self-Government. Motivated appeals against the decision of the commission may be submitted to the Vice-Rector of the Academy within three working days after the announcement of the results. The final results of the rotation are confirmed by the order of the Academy in August - before the registration week of the new academic year.

What is the status of students after a study break?

After the study break, the student shall continue to study until another rotation in the same status (for State budget funds or self-funded) as the result of rotation prior to the study break.

Can the status of students change during the study year?

If a budget study place becomes vacant during the autumn semester, another student may be credited in the spring semester according to the competition procedure (according to the weighted average mark in the autumn semester, but for ERASMUS exchange students – according to the last weighted average mark).

If the budget students have academic debts after the winter session (unfulfilled academic obligations by the last day of the semester), during the spring semester the student becomes a paying student according to the order of the Academy.

Master's thesis is designed to strengthen theoretical knowledge and develop research skills in the selected scientific sector or sub-sector, according to the level of study and study programme. Master's thesis is written during the second year of studies.

An outline of the timeline of writing the thesis:

• During the third semester students decide on the subject for their thesis and make an agreement with a supervisor of their choice. 
• In the beginning of the fourth semester is the pre-defense of the thesis, during which the student gives a presentation on the outline of their thesis and the evaluating commission can ask questions regarding the theme, goal, objectives, methods. The commission decides if it is passed or failed. In the case of a failed pre-defense, the pre-defense is repeated in approximately one month. 
• The defense of the master's thesis happens at the end of the 4th semester publicly in front of a commission. 

There is a supervisor and a reviewer for the students' Master's thesis, who provide their assessment, but in addition to the assessment, both pre-defence and defence commissions are formed in order for the assessment to be performed by more than one examiner. 

Detailed information on the process can be found in the regulatory documents.

REGULATORY DOCUMENTS

Creative Industries and Growth Management 

• Application form
• Regulations on final examinations 
• Methodological instructions for Master’s Thesis Development

Cultural Heritage Governance and Communication

• Application form
• Regulations on final examinations of Bachelor's and Master's study programme
• Methodological instructions
• Quality and plagiarism control 

Academic Integrity

• Rules on academic integrity

Recognition of a course (study course) is a process where a course successfully completed by a student at the Latvian Academy of Culture or entrant at another university or another LAC study programme is compared with a specific LAC study programme course, as a result of which the course is recognized fully, partially or not recognized at all.

Process of Recognition of the Study Courses:

1. Contact the secretary of the Study Programme Council (koordinators@lka.edu.lv) and prepare an academic statement of grades and courses from another institution of higher education. The secretary will confirm the validity of credits.

2. Complete the application form.

3. The secretary of the Study Programme Council prepares the protocol for recognizing credits, which is then submitted to Prorector of LAC for review.

4. The student is informed of the decision and only after receiving the confirmation e-mail, the student is allowed to not attend the course for which the credits are recognized. (Course needs to be attended if the decision of recognizing credits has not been finished and the student has not received confirmation e-mail).

In order to ensure the professionalism of the graduates of the programme, to prepare them for the requirements of the labour market and to ensure the quality of research work and its practical applicability, master's programme Cultural Heritage Governance and Communications students have to complete a mandatory internship during their studies.

DURATION OF THE INTERNSHIP

The internship is worth 3 ECTS points. Each point is approximately equal to 40 hours of work but primarily  the type and content of work is what determines how many ECTS points it is worth. 

GOAL

The goal of the internship is to improve the implementation of the study programme and to ensure that the students of the Academy's master's programme are able to supplement the knowledge acquired in the programme and to develop their professional skills and abilities accordingly to the specific of the cultural sector's evolvement, labor market's structures and its environments current regulations as well as the employers requirements.  

WHEN IS THE INTERNSHIP?

There is no specifically allocated time frame for the internship. It can be completed during one of the three semesters or during summer break. The internship has to be completed until the end of the third semester in which students have to present the results of their internships in front of a commission which will evaluate the student's performance. 

WHERE TO COMPLETE MY INTERNSHIP?

Students themselves can choose where to complete their internships. When choosing where to complete the internship it is important to keep in mind that it has to be relevant to the specifics of the study programme and, if it is not, it will not be recognized.

The internship can be completed in projects implemented by the Academy (i.e. exhibitions, festivals, conferences, ERASMUS activities etc.), or outside the Academy.

Before the beginning of the internship consult with the head of your programme as they will decide whether the internship is applicable to the study programme. 

DOCUMENTS FOR THE APPROVAL AND CONDUCTION OF 

Application

Agreement

Reference

Report

REGULATORY DOCUMENTS

Statute on Internship of the LAC

Regulations on internships in the academic master's study programme “Culture Heritage Governance and Communication”

 Internship Coordinator: koordinators@lka.edu.lv

Most of the study process outside classrooms takes place on the eLearning Platform Moodle. There you will be able to locate all your courses, course programmes, reading materials, presentations links to online classes and other useful data related to the study process at the Latvian Academy of Culture.

At the beginning of the semester, each student will receive their eLearning Platform credentials on their respective e-mail.

To access your eLearning Platform profile: https://estudijas.lka.edu.lv/

In case of forgotten password, missing courses or some technical difficulties please contact the eLearning Platform Specialist of the Latvian Academy of Culture Luīze Dakša luize.daksa@lka.edu.lv.

LIBRARY OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF CULTURE

The Library of the Latvian Academy of Culture was founded in 1991 together with the foundation of the Latvian Academy of Culture itself. The library collection includes printed materials and electronic resources, including a vast collection of Latvian press, as well as valuable printed works in English, German, Russian, Polish, Scandinavian and other languages. A large contribution to the creation of the collection is made by private donations from the personal libraries of academics and researchers, and other cultural workers, as well as by Latvian organizations in exile.

In accordance with its task and goal the library of the Latvian Academy of Culture provides students and teachers with the base for studies and research work, collects and stores unique works of literature in the fields of philology, religious history, cultural history, ethics, philosophy, sociology, folklore, history, literary studies, performing arts, cinema and fine arts.

The studens of the Latvian Acadmey of Culture have at their disposal:

• student workstations (currently unavailable due to COVID-19 restrictions)
• computer workstations with free access to the Internet, electronic catalogues and databases
• free Wi-Fi
• printing, scanning and copying services  (free of charge for international students).

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF LATVIA

Students of the Latvian Academy of Culture may also subscribe to the National Library of Latvia to get access to its wide collection of materials. The collection of the National Library of Latvia comprises 4,5 million units, embracing all branches of science, its basic profile being Social Sciences and the Humanities. The library offers its readers access to the collection of rare books and manuscripts, as well as to various maps, sound recordings, graphic documents, small prints, and periodicals. The emphasis of the library activities is laid on supporting higher education, research, and life-long education.

At the moment the National Library of Latvia is open to public, but continues providing remote access to its digital resources and e-services. The Digital Library of NLL has 12 collections. In addition, more than 20 full-text foreign subscribed databases, the National Encyclopaedia, as well as lecture, discussion, conference, reading and other audio and video content on NLL social networks are available for study and research purposes.

In order to register as an NLL Reader, students have to fill in a request form on the spot at Mūkusalas iela 3, Ground floor, or REGISTER ONLINE. After registering, students will receive a Reader's Card, which allows access to all Library services.

In order to gain individual access to the online databases of the National Library of Latvia readers with a reader’s card must fill out the APPLICATION (PDF) and send it – in scanned or photographed form – to konsultants@lnb.lv.