Since February 2022, due to sanctions, political concerns, and safety considerations, many academic institutions in the United States, the European Union, and other countries no longer consider Russia as a practical location for study abroad programs. Therefore, students and universities are searching for new Russian study abroad destinations – especially among the cities outside of Russia where Russian is widely spoken. That is why Daugavpils, Latvia, is one of the most suitable destinations for Russian-language immersion programs.

Latvia has a large Russian-speaking community. However, even specialists sometimes lack understanding of the demographic and cultural differences between regions of the country. There is a significant difference between Russian-speaking Daugavpils and Riga, where Russian is not the primary language of everyday communication.

Daugavpils is a Russian-speaking enclave where modern standard Russian is used by the majority of the population. Russian is the primary language of everyday communication in the city. For international students, this creates an ideal environment for practicing the language continuously outside the classroom.

Daugavpils has a rich multicultural history. For centuries, different communities have lived in the city side-by-side. This city was once a home for many incredible personalities, including the most known person from Daugavpils, artist Mark Rothko, who was born and spent his childhood here. Daugavpils cherish the heritage of Rothko – the Rothko museum was opened in 2014 and from that date is the biggest modern art museum in the region and the only place in the Eastern Europe to see Rothko original works.

Daugavpils is located in the European Union and NATO. This makes it a convenient and safe Russian study abroad destination for international students. Latvia offers well-developed infrastructure, the euro as the official currency, and easy travel access for many visitors.

Learn Russian in the European Union, an experienced Russian-language study abroad provider working in Daugavpils, provides Russian-language immersion programs in Daugavpils for students from different countries. Please learn more at Learn Russian in the EU Study Programs.
More information about the city can be found at Daugavpils, Latvia: unique cultural environment for Russian immersions.