Online application:

1. Create an application in DreamApply
   
2. Add you personal details
3. Indicate an email address that you regularly check, as it will be used for all communications related to the application process
4. Upload the scans (not photos)
5. Fill in the application and upload the compulsory attachments including the admission assignment
6. Submit your application

Attachments to the application

1. Education documents (diploma and official transcript of records) and their official English translations
   
2. Proof of English proficiency
   
3. Copy of the biodata page of your passport or ID card (the document needs to be valid during the application process)
4. Resume/CV
5. Video-letter of motivation
6. Admission assignment

Proof of English proficiency

To meet the language requirements, you must provide the results of one of the internationally recognized tests (see below). Alternatively, if your previous Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral studies were conducted in English, you are exempt from the language certificate requirement. In this case, your diploma transcript should clearly indicate that your studies were carried out in English. Alternatively, you must supply an official letter from your previous educational institution confirming that all your studies were conducted in English (with English as the medium of instruction).

SDSI accepts the following internationally recognized language tests:

1. Duolingo English Test: at least 90 points
   
2. TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet-based: score of at least 72
   
3. TOEFL Essential - at least 8 points
4. IELTS (International English Language Testing System): score of at least 5.5
5. CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)/C2 Proficiency: any level
6. CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English)/C1 Advanced: any level
7. FCE (Cambridge English First Certificate in English)/B2 First: at least level B
8. PTE (Pearson Test of English) General: at least level B2
9. PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic: at least 51 point
10. LanguageCert International ESOL at least Level Communicator B2 (Written and Spoken exams)
11. Trinity Integrated Skills Test (ISE): ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV with a pass in each component.

Resume/CV

The applicant should submit a CV containing the following information:

1. Personal and contact information (email and phone no.)
   
2. Overview of education, indicating the higher educational institution, field of study, degree obtained and the theme of the graduation work/project
3. Work experience, including the name of all employers of the past five years, job titles, duration of employment and description of the position and its responsibilities 
4. Language skills
5. Computer and software skills
6. Other activities, hobbies and interests

Video-letter of motivation

One of the most important aspects of being selected to study at SDSI is your motivation and suitability for the programme. Remember, our ideal students don’t need to be service design experts. We value candidates who are open-minded and creative, thrive on diverse perspectives, possess problem-solving skills, aim to make a positive societal impact with their knowledge, and exhibit a strategic, critical thinking mindset.

Create your video-letter of motivation that addresses the following points:

1. Personal Introduction:
   
   • Share insights about your personality, values, and your outlook on life
   • Describe where you currently stand in your academic and/or professional journey
2. Professional Background:
   
   • Highlight your relevant professional experience, skills, and accomplishments
3. Motivation for Studying Service Design:
   
   • Explain why you are interested in studying service design
   • Explain how the acquisition of service design skills will benefit your future professional and personal development
   • Explain your expectations of SDSI
4. Technical Requirements:
   
   • Keep your video concise; it should be no longer than 3 minutes
   • Add the URL of your video-letter of motivation to your DreamApply application, section "Other”
   • Please make sure that we can access it without additionally asking you a password!

Admission assignment

Candidates must complete a service industry-related admission assignment (detailed instructions will be described in the application on-line portal DreamApply during the application process). However the assignment does adher to an overarching structure:

1. Research about a real-life service-related problem, presented in an essay;
   
2. Challenge or problem defined in the same essay;
   
3. and Solution for the problem presented in a short video.
   

Those who excel in this task and show strong motivation will receive invitations for interviews.

Interview:

The purpose of the personal online interview is to assess your suitability for the SDSI program. Applicants who perform particularly well in Round 1 will be invited for a short 15-20 minutes' interview. Members of SDSI Admissions Committee will ask additional questions to the applicant based on presented documents, video-letter of motivation and the admission assignment.

Selection Criteria:

See Admission requirements and grading principles, as well as evaluation criteria here.

Study offer:

All applicants' submissions are graded and prioritized. The top 20 applicants are offered scholarship opportunities, while the remaining candidates are considered for self-funded study, based on their priority ranking. There is no separate application for scholarship spots or self-funded slots.
Note: Candidates who have received the study acceptance letter are advised to carefully review the conditions outlined in the letter. This includes a list of all required information, documents, and deadlines, as detailed in the "Sending Documents" section below. It is important to note that, before enrolling a student for studies, their educational documents will undergo assessment by the Academic Information Centre (AIC) of Latvia.

Final acceptance:

The study agreement and the invoice for the tuition fee payment (if applicable) will be sent to candidates by email. The invoice includes money transfer details and a mandatory deadline for the payment to be made.
The final acceptance letter of candidate’s admission to SDSI will be issued after the university has:

1. received all the required documents by post, including the signed study agreement,
   
2. received a positive evaluation for education documents from AIC,
   
3. received the first-year’s tuition fee payment in full (if applicable).
   

NOTE! SDSI organizes only one student intake a year - for the next autumn semester.