The University of Latvia (UL) has reached an agreement with one of the world’s leading universities — Stanford University — on the establishment of a special research scholarship for Latvian researchers. Its aim is to give UL researchers the opportunity to spend up to three months at Stanford, carrying out research work and using the university’s resources, academic expertise and international cooperation networks.
The scholarship is planned to be implemented together with Stanford’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies and the Baltic Studies Programme of Stanford University Libraries. Similar scholarships are already being offered to researchers from Lithuanian and Estonian universities.
The aim of the cooperation programme is to strengthen cooperation between the academic communities of UL and Stanford University, as well as to promote the development of Latvian and Baltic studies at the international level. The scholarship is intended to cover research, travel, accommodation and other visit-related expenses up to EUR 25,000.
“Excellence is the University of Latvia’s priority in science. Stanford University is one of the world’s leading universities in both studies and research, as evidenced by its position among the top ten in university rankings. Getting to Stanford and becoming part of its community is a valuable experience and opportunity for every researcher. We are pleased that Stanford University is interested in Latvian and Baltic researchers. I encourage researchers to make use of this opportunity,” says Guntars Kitenbergs, Vice-Rector for Science at UL, explaining the importance of the cooperation.
Liisi Esse, Curator of the Baltic Studies Programme at Stanford University Libraries, says of the new scholarship: “We are excited about this new partnership and the opportunity to welcome more scholars from the University of Latvia to Stanford. This scholarship will allow Latvian researchers to access Stanford’s collections and share their unique expertise on a region of ever-growing importance with our students and faculty. It will also help develop important personal and institutional ties between Latvian and Stanford scholars.”
UL researchers and students will be able to apply for the annual scholarship by describing the planned research topic, the intended interaction with Stanford staff and structures, and the contribution of the research work to UL, their structural unit and their personal development. Applications will be selected through a competitive process, with representatives of UL and Stanford participating in the evaluation. In addition to the scholarship programme, Stanford has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with UL also in the areas of student internships and the organisation of cultural and academic activities in the Baltic States.
The initiative of the two universities has also received the support of Mārtiņš Andersons, a long-standing Bronze-level patron of the University of Latvia Foundation and Chair of the Board of Friends of the University of Latvia, who has decided to allocate an additional EUR 5,000 to increase the amount of the scholarship.
The first application round for the scholarship is now open and will continue until 15 September, while the research visit to Stanford University is planned for spring 2027, from April to June.
Stanford has previously hosted several Latvian academics and officials, demonstrating its interest in closer and long-term cooperation with Latvia. The establishment of the research scholarship was facilitated by the visit of the Minister of Education and Science to the United States in April this year, including to Stanford University, which was also attended by Kristaps Jaudzems, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences at UL. The establishment of the scholarship supports the implementation of the cooperation memorandum signed in 2025 between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Stanford University Libraries.
