Study Medicine in Latvia

Latvia has been part of the European Union since 2004 and offers international applicants two clearly distinct paths: human medicine and dentistry in English at Rīga Stradiņš University in Riga, and veterinary medicine in English at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies in Jelgava. These are two independent universities with their own procedures, their own fees, and their own study locations. Neither sets an admission limit based on a high school diploma grade.

Riga: Human Medicine and Dentistry

Rīga Stradiņš University is Latvia's medical university and teaches human medicine and dentistry in English. The proportion of international students is high, and cohorts from various European countries have been represented for many years. The dentistry program operates its own simulation laboratories and an affiliated dental clinic where the practical semesters take place. Riga itself is the largest city in the Baltic states, has an international airport with direct connections to many European cities, and a rental level significantly below that of major Western European cities, though at the upper end within Latvia.

Jelgava: Veterinary Medicine

The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies in Jelgava trains veterinarians in English and is thus a separate degree program, not a branch of the medical studies in Riga. Jelgava lies southwest of Riga and is reachable by train in less than an hour; many students commute or live directly on site. The city is small. Those looking for nightlife, large concerts, and a wide range of courses will find little of that in Jelgava and will travel to Riga for it.

What Applicants Should Expect

Latvian is a mandatory subject at both universities, because patients and animal owners in Latvia rarely speak English. This is additional learning effort alongside anatomy and physiology, and it falls in the early years of study. Add to this the long Baltic winter. Anyone who plans for both will find in Latvia a well-structured degree with a qualification that is valid within the European Union.

Fees in Latvia depend on which program and which location you choose. Rīga Stradiņš University charges 6,750 EUR per semester for human medicine and 7,750 EUR per semester for dentistry, that is 13,500 and 15,500 EUR per academic year respectively. The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies in Jelgava bills veterinary medicine on an annual basis and charges 9,600 EUR per year. Two locations, two billing models. Across all locations, the range runs from 9,600 to 15,500 EUR per year. Dentistry in Riga is the most expensive option, reflecting the material and laboratory requirements.

For living costs, 550 to 800 EUR per month is realistic in Latvia. A dormitory place in Riga or Jelgava falls at the lower end, a room in a shared apartment in Riga in the middle range, and a private apartment in the old town at the upper end. Jelgava is cheaper than the capital, but travel costs apply if you live in Riga and study in Jelgava. Anyone who wants to live centrally in Riga pays for the location; two stops further out becomes noticeably cheaper.

An example calculation as an estimate: Human medicine at Rīga Stradiņš University costs 13,500 EUR per academic year, plus around 650 EUR per month for living costs, approximately 7,800 EUR. Together the year comes to roughly 21,300 EUR. For veterinary medicine in Jelgava, the figure is 9,600 EUR in fees plus approximately 7,200 EUR in living costs, totaling around 16,800 EUR. Travel, textbooks, dental instruments, and insurance are not included.

Latvia has no numerus clausus and no central admissions office. Each university decides independently. At Rīga Stradiņš University, the application for human medicine and dentistry runs through spring and summer, with the academic year starting in September; the veterinary medicine program at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies in Jelgava follows its own timeline with the same start date. The gap between an acceptance letter and the start of the semester is often only a few months, which makes finding accommodation in Riga quickly the real bottleneck.

The assessment covers scientific knowledge at high school level, particularly biology and chemistry, along with an interview or motivational component. Since all instruction in Latvia is entirely in English, proof of English proficiency is part of the application. Applicants who studied biology and chemistry in their final school years go into the assessment with an advantage; it is not a requirement. Entry into a higher semester is possible if you bring credits from another medical program; the university decides on this individually.

What documents are required in each intake year, what deadlines apply, and how the process at Rīga Stradiņš University and in Jelgava works in detail changes from year to year. Medschool Experts goes through this process with you in an advising session, tailored to your preferred program, your timeline, and your grade average. One call is enough for a first overview.

At Rīga Stradiņš University, studies begin with the pre-clinical phase covering anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and histology, after which instruction moves to the city's clinics. Assessment is continuous. Tests during the semester, written exams, and oral exams at the end of semester are part of the rhythm, and attendance at practical sessions is monitored. In dentistry, work on phantom heads begins early, followed later by treating actual patients under supervision. Clinical internships can be completed in Latvia or at home, and many students use the semester breaks for placements at clinics in their home country.

In Jelgava, daily life is quieter and more campus-centered, with practical components at the university's veterinary clinic and on agricultural enterprises in the surrounding area. Riga, on the other hand, offers an international student life, affordable connections to other countries, and a wide range of shared apartments. International study groups exist primarily in Riga.

Daily life in Latvia is practically organized: public transport, banking, and administrative tasks run largely digitally; food and rent are below the level of Western Europe. Latvian is rarely needed in the supermarket. On the ward and in the stable, however, it is the difference between observing and actively participating. Riga Airport has direct connections to several European cities, so a visit home can be arranged over a weekend.