# Riga Stradins University

> Riga Stradins University traces to the Riga Medical Institute, founded in 1950, and today runs one of the Baltic region's largest English-medium Medicine programmes, with roughly 620 international places across two annual intakes. Graduates receive the Latvian Medical Doctor qualification, carrying EU Directive 2005/36/EC automatic recognition across the EU and EEA.

- Canonical page: https://www.studentstraffic.com/university/riga-stradins-university
- Last reviewed: 2026-07-12
- Publisher: Students Traffic (https://www.studentstraffic.com/)

## Key facts

- Location: Riga, [Latvia](https://www.studentstraffic.com/countries/latvia)
- Type: Public
- Established: 1950
- Official website: https://www.rsu.lv/en
- Published programmes on Students Traffic: 1

## Recognition and approvals

- World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) — Latvia's medical-accreditation body (AHPGS) recognized through October 2033
- EU Directive 2005/36/EC (Annex V, point 5.1.1) — automatic recognition of the Latvian Medical Doctor qualification across the EU/EEA, in effect for Latvia since 1 May 2004
- Riga Stradins University — Medicine programme accredited by Latvia's Ministry of Education and Science through 28 May 2030
- Verify: [WFME — Agencies with Recognition Status (Latvia/AHPGS listing)](https://wfme.org/recognition/bme-recognition/accrediting-agencies-status-bme/)
- Verify: [Riga Stradins University — official Medicine programme page](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-programme/medicine)

## Programmes

| Programme | Course | Duration | Medium | Tuition per year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Medicine (English-taught)](https://www.studentstraffic.com/riga-stradins-university-medicine) | MBBS | 6 years | English | €13,500 (2026-2027) |

## Why students choose it

- One of the larger English-medium Medicine cohorts in the Baltic region, with roughly 620 international places a year across two intakes (September and February).
- Latvia's medical-accreditation body (AHPGS) is directly confirmed on the World Federation for Medical Education's own recognized-agencies list, valid through October 2033.
- Graduates receive the Latvian Medical Doctor qualification, carrying EU Directive 2005/36/EC automatic recognition across the EU and EEA; the current Medicine programme accreditation runs to 28 May 2030.

## Things to consider

- Total cost is substantial: EUR 13,500 per year (flat across all six years, EUR 81,000 total), plus a one-time EUR 1,800 registration administration fee specific to Medicine and Dentistry applicants, on top of the EUR 100 application fee.
- The September 2026 intake's application windows have already closed for all applicant categories as of this record's research date; the February 2027 intake's windows had not yet opened.
- Most tuition-fee discounts (Academic Excellence, Family Member, Alumni) apply only from the third year onward or to specific circumstances, not to incoming first-year students generally.

## Best fit for

- Students who prefer a document-and-interview admissions process over a written entrance exam, with a structured bonus-points system for relevant prior qualifications.
- Applicants targeting the university's larger September intake, and comfortable planning around Latvia's specific visa-category application windows.
- Families able to fund the EUR 1,800 Medicine/Dentistry-specific registration fee alongside standard tuition and application costs.

## Campus and city

RSU offers roughly 620 international Medicine places a year (380 for the September intake, 240 for February), making it one of the larger English-medium medical programmes in the Baltic region. Students train at the Medical Education Technology Centre (METC), which RSU describes as the only simulation centre in Latvia and the largest in the Baltics.

Riga is Latvia's capital. RSU operates three student hostels across the city -- Dzirciems (beside the main campus), Agenskalns, and Mezciems (near Riga East University Hospital) -- with priority given to first-year students.

The six-year, 360-ECTS Medicine programme runs basic sciences in Years 1-2, preclinical subjects (pathology, radiology, pharmacology, general surgery) in Year 3, and clinical training mainly in real hospital settings across Years 4-5, with hospital-based classes beginning as early as the fourth semester. Year 6 comprises three placement rotations (internal diseases, invasive medicine, and a free-choice elective), a defended research paper, and a 15-ECTS national State Examination. Clinical training runs across Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, the Children's Clinical University Hospital, Riga East University Hospital, and the Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics. Graduates receive the Medical Doctor (MD) qualification, equivalent to a Master's degree (EQF Level 7), with direct access to residency or further RSU postgraduate study.


## Hostel, food and safety

RSU operates three student hostels in Riga -- Dzirciems (next to the main campus), Agenskalns, and Mezciems (near Riga East University Hospital) -- with priority given to first-year students. Dzirciems rates run roughly EUR 310-525 per month depending on room type and occupancy, while Mezciems runs lower, roughly EUR 85-310 per month; all rates include heating, electricity, water and WiFi. A first month's rent plus a one-month refundable security deposit are due before move-in.

No specific on-campus meal plan or dining-cost figure is published. Food costs should be planned as part of an independent living-cost budget alongside accommodation.

No university-published campus-safety statistics were found. RSU's hostels include on-site amenities such as lockable bike storage and staffed booking systems.

RSU's admissions team communicates via the eA Portal and admissions@rsu.lv, and covers up to EUR 50 of document-legalisation costs for non-Hague-exempt applicants. An RSU Students-Ambassadors Scholarship Programme has offered promotional-work-linked cash awards to eligible Medicine and Dentistry students, though its current-cycle status was not independently reconfirmed.


## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Medicine programme direct-entry after high school?

Yes. It is a second-level professional higher education programme following secondary education -- no prior university degree is required, though holders of relevant health or science qualifications can earn bonus admission points.

### What qualification is awarded on graduation?

Graduates receive the Medical Doctor (MD) qualification, equivalent to a Master's degree (EQF Level 7), a Latvian medical qualification carrying EU Directive 2005/36/EC automatic recognition across the EU and EEA.

### What entrance exam does the university require?

There is no written entrance exam. Admission is a document-based Admission Competition (grades, two recommendation letters and a motivation letter), plus a mandatory online interview for non-EU/EEA applicants.

### What is the current tuition fee?

EUR 13,500 per year, flat across all six years (EUR 81,000 total), plus a one-time EUR 1,800 registration administration fee specific to Medicine and Dentistry applicants, on top of the EUR 100 application fee.

### When does the academic year start and when can I apply?

RSU runs two Medicine intakes a year: September and February. Application windows vary by visa category; for the most recent cycle, the September 2026 windows had all closed and the February 2027 windows had not yet opened as of this record's research date.

### Is a scholarship available for international Medicine students?

RSU offers tuition-fee discounts rather than upfront scholarships: an Academic Excellence discount of up to 25% (capped at 40 Medicine recipients, from the third year onward with strong grades), a 10% Family Member discount, a 10% Alumni discount, and a capped Sports Excellence discount. A separate Ambassadors cash-scholarship programme has existed but its current-cycle status is unconfirmed.

### Is university accommodation available for international students?

Yes -- RSU operates three student campus logistics in Riga (Dzirciems, Agenskalns and Mezciems), with priority given to first-year students and rates roughly EUR 85-525 per month depending on the campus logistics and room type.

### Do Indian students need NEET to join this programme?

The university's own admissions criteria do not reference NEET. Separately, India's National Medical Commission requires Indian citizens and OCI holders who obtain a primary medical qualification abroad to have qualified NEET-UG, whose result serves as the mandatory Eligibility Certificate.


## Sources

- [Riga Stradins University — official Medicine programme page](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-programme/medicine) (checked 2026-07-25)
- [WFME — Agencies with Recognition Status (accrediting agencies list)](https://wfme.org/recognition/bme-recognition/accrediting-agencies-status-bme/) (checked 2026-07-25)
- [Consolidated EU Directive 2005/36/EC (EUR-Lex), Annex V](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2005/36/2024-08-18) (checked 2026-07-25)
- [RSU official Admission Procedure to English-taught study programmes 2026/2027 (PDF)](https://www.rsu.lv/sites/default/files/imce/SSD/admissions_procedure_2026_2027_eng.pdf) (checked 2026-07-25)
- [RSU official Tuition Fees for Studies in English page](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-here/admissions/tuition-fees-studies-english) (checked 2026-07-25)
- [RSU official Tuition Fee Discounts page](https://www.rsu.lv/en/tuition-fee-discounts) (checked 2026-07-25)
- [National Medical Commission of India — for students to study abroad](https://www.nmc.org.in/information-desk/for-students-to-study-in-abroad/) (checked 2026-07-25)

## Free counselling

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- Contact: https://www.studentstraffic.com/contact
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