Study Medicine in English in Latvia: RSU and University of Latvia
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Latvia is one of the few countries in the north of Europe where you can study a full medical degree in English. In our catalogue, medicine in Latvia has 4 programmes at 2 universities, and 2 of them are taught in English: at Riga Stradins University (RSU) and the University of Latvia (LU). This guide compares them using the universities' own published conditions for the 2026/27 intake. Deadlines move each year, so check the dates for your own intake.
What you get
Both universities offer a six-year, full-time programme in English that leads to a medical doctor qualification. LU's application system lists it as Professional Medicine, 6 years and 360 ECTS credits, and the fee table at RSU also runs over six years. See the catalogue page for medicine in Latvia for the current programme list and for how the subject is covered across Europe, study medicine in English in Europe.
What it costs
Fees below are published by the universities for non-EU students, per year. In our catalogue, English-taught medicine in Latvia costs between €11,850 and €13,500 a year.
| University of Latvia | Riga Stradins University | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, year 1 | €11,850 | €13,500 |
| Tuition, later years | rises each year to €14,610 in year 6 | €13,500 in each of the six years in the 2026/27 table |
| Application fee | €170, non-refundable | €100, non-refundable |
| Other one-off payments | €500 deposit for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students, refundable after graduation | €1,800 registration administration fee for medicine and dentistry, non-refundable |
LU lists a total of €77,340 for the six years. At LU the first payment must be made in full to matriculate. At RSU, international students pay each semester before it begins, and the registration fee is due within two weeks of the offer. These are the figures for one intake, so confirm them for yours. Living costs come on top; see how much it costs to study in Latvia.
Entry requirements
RSU asks for the following school subjects for medicine:
- English at 70% or above
- chemistry and biology at 70% or above, but only one of the two is strictly required, and having both is an advantage
- mathematics is compulsory and physics is preferable
- other subjects on your diploma need only be passed
RSU also requires a motivational interview for applicants from outside the EU and EEA who do not live there. It is held online on Zoom and covers your motivation, eligibility and fit for the programme. RSU's page for medicine does not list a separate entrance exam.
LU asks applicants who finished secondary school outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland for an SAT score of at least 1200. Non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss applicants, and non-EU long-term residents, must also pass an online interview of 10 to 15 minutes, which had a deadline of 26 June in the 2026 round.
English tests
Both universities want proof of English. LU accepts IELTS at 6.0, TOEFL iBT at 80, LanguageCert B2 and several Cambridge and Pearson exams, and exempts applicants whose previous schooling was in English in listed countries. RSU's published figures are IELTS 6.0 and TOEFL iBT 80, with exemptions for some IB, A-level and US curriculum applicants. Read the exact wording on each university's page: the exemptions are specific. For test choices, see IELTS and TOEFL for European universities.
Documents and recognition
- RSU sends your education documents to the Academic Information Centre (AIC), the Latvian ENIC-NARIC office, after it receives the application fee. RSU says evaluation usually takes up to one month, or up to four months if more documents are needed.
- Documents from outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK need an apostille or, for countries outside the Hague Convention, legalisation. See document recognition for Latvia.
- LU asks non-EU applicants for notarised and apostilled or ministry-verified copies, with originals brought on arrival.
Before you commit
- Recognition at home. A Latvian medical degree does not automatically let you practise anywhere. Ask the medical authority of the country where you want to work what it requires from graduates abroad. I did not verify this for any country in this guide.
- Visa and insurance. Non-EU students need a residence permit and insurance. See student visa for Latvia and health insurance for students in Latvia.
- Compare. Other cheaper English-taught options exist elsewhere; see cheapest countries to study in Europe.
Official sources
- University of Latvia: Professional Medicine on apply.lu.lv
- RSU: Tuition fees
- RSU: General requirements for studies in English
- RSU: Additional procedures
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.