Study Veterinary Medicine in Jelgava

The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LLU) in Jelgava is one of Europe’s well-established names in veterinary education. Jelgava lies around 40 kilometres south of Riga, so the Latvian capital, with its medieval Old Town and lively student scene, is just half an hour away.

The programme is taught entirely in English. International students make up a significant share of the student body, giving the campus a truly international feel. Hands-on training starts early: clinics and laboratories are right on site, and students work with animals from the very beginning.

• Veterinary Medicine: A six-year integrated programme (366 ECTS) leading to qualification as a veterinary surgeon. The first years lay the foundations in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and microbiology, followed by clinical training with small animals, large animals and horses at the faculty’s own clinic and on the university’s teaching farm.

The programme runs over twelve semesters and 366 ECTS. The first and second years cover anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry, botany and pharmacognosy, as well as veterinary Latin. If you bring a solid grounding in chemistry and biology from school, you will settle in quickly.

Clinical training begins in the third year. Since 2013, the faculty has had its own veterinary clinic, regarded as the most modern in the Baltic states, with departments for small animals, horses and farm animals. Students rotate through anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine and surgery. In addition, the university’s own teaching and research farm with cattle gives students practical experience in herd management, reproduction and farm animal medicine.

The fifth and sixth years are predominantly clinical: rotations in the clinic, external placements, food hygiene and veterinary public health. The programme concludes with the final thesis and qualification as a veterinary surgeon, which also entitles graduates to pursue a doctorate. Since 2020, the programme has been fully accredited by EAEVE, the European system for evaluating veterinary education.

Whether we can secure you a place at this faculty is something we assess individually in a free consultation – and plan together through our partner network.

Tuition fees at LLU Jelgava are approx. €9,000 per year. Over 6 years, that comes to around €54,000 in tuition fees alone. Monthly living costs are approx. €500, adding a further €36,000 or so over 6 years. Total cost of the programme: approx. €90,000.

Latvia is a member of the European Union. A degree from LLU Jelgava is automatically recognised across the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC – no additional examination, no detours. Licensing to practise depends on your target country; outside the EU, please confirm the requirements with the relevant national authority.

With around 55,000 inhabitants, Jelgava is a compact university town 40 kilometres south-west of Riga. The train to the capital takes about 45 minutes, with hourly departures during the day. The city’s landmark is the baroque Jelgava Palace, which has been the university’s main seat since 1939 – here, lectures in a palace are not the exception but part of everyday life.

Life is calm and affordable. A room in a student residence or a small flat is available from around €200 to €300 a month, and you can live comfortably on about €500 a month. The Lielupe river flows right through the town, and in summer its banks are the place for barbecues and paddling. For big-city life, there is Riga: a UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town, an Art Nouveau district, concerts, clubs and the beaches of Jūrmala, just half an hour from Riga.

The climate is temperate continental: summers of 20 to 25 degrees with long, light evenings, and winters with snow and crisp, clear air. The nearest airport is Riga (RIX), around 40 kilometres away, with direct flights to many European cities, including Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and Vienna. That makes a weekend trip home easy to plan.