The European Union, under the framework of the EU4Belarus – SALT (Support for Advanced Learning and Training) programme, is offering scholarships to Belarusian master's students studying in Poland, Lithuania, Czechia, or Latvia who have been affected, persecuted, or threatened by the political regime in Belarus.

These scholarships are intended to provide financial support to students who have been expelled from their universities or otherwise obstructed in their educational paths due to political reasons. The programme aims to enable these students to continue their academic journey without interruption, thereby safeguarding their educational and professional development.

• Target number of beneficiaries: 150 master’s students
• Target group: Master’s level students
• Scholarship amount: €550 per month
• Duration: 1 academic year (up to 10 months)
• Application period: 3 – 31 June 2025 (tentative dates)

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a current or former citizen of Belarus
• Hold an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree
• Have been expelled from a university in Belarus or faced persecution or threats on political grounds
• Have commenced or applied for full-time postgraduate (master’s) studies at a university in Czechia, Latvia, Lithuania, or Poland no earlier than the 2020/2021 academic year
• Hold a conditional or unconditional offer of admission, or already be enrolled in a master’s programme at a university in one of the above-mentioned countries for the 2025/2026 academic year
• Demonstrate strong personal motivation and the ability to begin, continue, and successfully complete postgraduate studies

Please find more information, including the official SALT III scholarship announcement and guidelines for applicants, on the CPVA website:

Cost of Living Scholarship Scheme for Master’s Students – Support for Advanced Learning and Training (SALT III) – CPVA

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences is an institution delegated by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, responsible for coordinating the EU4BELARUS SALT programme projects in Latvia. Between 2020 and 2025, scholarships under the EU4BELARUS SALT I and EU4BELARUS SALT II programmes were awarded to 10 students from Belarus who studied at higher education institutions in Latvia.

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) made a significant contribution to the E³UDRES² Ent-r-e-novators Science Policy Conference, held at the Polytechnic University of Portalegre. Dr. psych. Vineta Silkāne, Associate Professor and Lead Researcher, along with Research Assistant Katrīne Kūkoja, presented their report titled “What does the future hold for researchers in the E³UDRES² European University Alliance?”

The conference, a hybrid event organized under the E³UDRES² European University Alliance, brought together project teams, policymakers, and representatives from Member State science agencies to discuss the outcomes of the Ent-r-e-novators project and future challenges for similar initiatives. Key topics included the intersection of science and policy, promotion of interdisciplinary research, and the importance of international collaboration in advancing knowledge. 

In their presentation, V. Silkāne and K. Kūkoja emphasized ViA's active role in the "Ent-r-e-novators" project, particularly within the Human Resources and Research & Innovation Ecosystems working group. They highlighted the university's commitment to developing academic careers and fostering professional growth.

“We are actively working on developing human resources and improving the research ecosystem. Two of the most important tasks are the development of academic careers and professional growth. What we find especially important is that this working group seeks sustainable solutions to promote researcher well-being, by improving work-life balance and ensuring a supportive environment,” said K. Kūkoja.

The conference featured expert presentations, dynamic roundtables, and thematic corners, including showcases from the Ent-r-e-novators project and other related European University Alliances. Participants had the opportunity to explore how structured and integrated frameworks can seamlessly connect research and innovation ecosystems within the E³UDRES² alliance. 

Are you a non-EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation applicant still considering your study destination this autumn? Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) in Valmiera, Latvia, is offering a last-minute opportunity to apply for studies starting this September! The deadline for applications is May 31.

ViA welcomes prospective students to apply for its internationally accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programmes in English. This call specifically invites applicants for the following programmes:

Bachelor’s Programme (Professional Degree):

• Information Technologies (4 years)
  Specialisation options:
  • Cybersecurity and Programming
  • Development of Virtual Reality and Mobile Systems
• Tourism organization and  management (4 years)

Master’s Programmes (Professional Degrees):

• Business Environment Administration (1,5 or 2 years (depending on previous education)
• Media and Information Literacy (1,5 or 2 years (depending on previous education)
• Strategic Communication and Governance (2 years)
• Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies (2 years)
• Tourism Competitiveness Management (1,5 or 2 years (depending on previous education)
• Gamified Reality Applications For Real-World Challenges And Experiences (Grace) (2 years)

Doctor’s Programmes

• Economics and Business (3 years)
• Sociotechnical Systems Modelling (3 years)

All programmes are taught in English, with opportunities to learn the Latvian language and immerse yourself in local culture and traditions.

🎓 Scholarships

Scholarships covering tuition fees are available to non-EU, non-EEA students for these programs

✈️ Arrival & Start of Studies

Studies begin in autumn 2025. Latvia is open for international arrivals, though visa and residence permit processes may vary based on your country’s embassy operations and current travel regulations. ViA provides support and guidance throughout the process.

🌿 Why Choose ViA?

Located in Valmiera, one of Latvia’s greenest and most dynamic cities, ViA offers more than just education. You’ll enjoy:

• Modern campus and student life
• Opportunities to collaborate with companies in Valmiera and the wider region
• Safe, welcoming environment with nature, culture, and innovation

📩 For questions and application assistance, contact:
ViA International Office
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From April 24 to 26, the research team from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) participated in the 16th International Conference on Baltic Studies in Europe (CBSE 2025), held in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The 2025 conference gathered the largest number of participants in the history of the event – more than 500 scholars, policy leaders, and experts from around the world, highlighting the role of the Baltic States in the global context.

Exploring the central position of the Baltic region between East and West, addressing the current challenges and opportunities facing the Baltic region today, and promoting dialogue on the region's security, identity and global relevance, the theme of the 2025 conference was “Converging paths: The Baltic between East and West”. The conference was opened by prof. Brendan Simms, Centre Director and Strand Leader, presented a lecture on “Britain and the geopolitics of the Baltic ”, which examined the UK's long-standing ties and strategic interests in the region. Nick Thomas-Symonds, UK Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, presented a paper on the evolution of the UK-EU relationship and its implications for the Baltic States. Patrick Salmon, Chief Historian at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, closed the conference with “Churchill and the Baltic”, highlighting the historical resonance of the region in British foreign policy.

The presentation of the research conducted by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences researchers - Aija van der Stein, Linda Veliverronen and Ilze Grīnfelde - was held at the Cambridge Guildhall, with its historic interior in stark contrast to the content of the research - “Typology of the USSR military heritage in the context of stakeholder perception and tourism demand”. A. van der Stein and L. Veliverronen presented the project “Socio-economic value of the Soviet military heritage of the occupation period in the territory of Latvia from the stakeholders' point of view: to preserve or to forget?” The preliminary results of the analysis of the expert interviews conducted in the framework of the project, which allowed to identify the first criteria that can be used to determine which military heritage sites related to the Cold War period have tourism potential and which have less, as well as outlined possible ways of classifying the typology of military heritage.

L. Veliverronen says: "We discussed the use of Cold War-related military heritage in tourism, highlighting the sensitivity of this heritage. The intensive preparation for the conference also allowed us to take an important step towards the outcome - the creation of a model. This will facilitate heritage management decision-making for owners and managers of military heritage."

This research is funded by the Latvian Council of Sciences, project "From Soviet military legacy to heritage: Stakeholder perspectives on socio-economic values of sites in Latvia (VA#MILIT)”, project No. lzp-2024/1-0565.

For further information, please contact:

Linda Veliverronen

Project Manager, Lead Researcher

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