University of Latvia's Bauska branch sees student numbers rise, weighs new programmes

The University of Latvia (LU) branch in Bauska has 261 students in the new academic year, 34 more than a year earlier, according to LU representative Amanda Boka. The growth matters for the region because the branch lets people obtain higher education close to home, although the university admits that competition and a shrinking number of young people make recruiting students harder.

Admissions in Bauska

The Bauska branch welcomed 91 first-year students this year. The greatest interest was in the short-cycle professional programme "Preschool Teacher", which admitted 37 students. In the professional bachelor's programmes, 29 students began "Primary Education Teacher" and 20 began "Social Work".

Other branches

Across the five LU branches – Bauska, Cēsis, Jēkabpils, Kuldīga and Tukums – 1,590 students are enrolled this year, 485 of them newcomers. In Cēsis, the professional bachelor's programme "Nursing" is available outside Riga for the first time, with 35 students starting. In Kuldīga, the first-cycle professional programme "Special Education Teacher or Speech Therapist" has been launched.

What may come in Bauska

The news outlet Bauskas Dzīve asked whether a similar expansion is expected in Bauska. The university has not yet named any specific new programmes or a timeline, but says options are being assessed in light of residents' interest, regional needs and the labour market. Bauska is also set to develop lifelong learning and professional development, including retraining opportunities, entrepreneurship courses and programmes for company managers and employees.

Boka stressed that the branch has long-standing cooperation with the Bauska municipality and local employers, who provide internship placements and take part in the study process and thesis committees. The university also names raising the visibility of the branch's offering as an important task.