Rīga Stradiņš University
Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte
A medical and health-sciences university teaching Medicine and Dentistry in English to large international cohorts in Riga.
- Students
- 11,597
- International
- 35%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 24.6:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €3,300
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1950
About RSU
Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) grew from the Riga Medical Institute, which opened on 1 September 1950 when Latvia's medical and pharmacy faculties were split from the University of Latvia. It was renamed the Medical Academy of Latvia in 1990 and took its present name in 1998. Today it still centres on health care and social sciences, with faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health and Sports Sciences and Social Sciences.
As of 1 October 2025 it had 11,597 students in higher education programmes, including 3,988 in Medicine, and 872 permanent academic staff. International students are a large group: Times Higher Education lists 35 percent of students as international. In 2026/27 RSU plans to admit 620 international students to Medicine (380 in September 2026 and 240 in February 2027), 64 to Dentistry and up to 30 to each other English-taught programme (RSU's 'When to apply' page shows 50 for September 2026).
English-taught degrees include the 6-year Medicine (MD) and 5-year Dentistry (DDS) programmes, a 3-year Bachelor's in International Business and Start-up Entrepreneurship, and Master's degrees in Health Management, International Relations and Diplomacy, Digital Strategy and Artificial Intelligence Management, and Biostatistics. It suits applicants who want an EU medical or dental degree, have strong chemistry or biology results, and can budget for tuition of 13,500 to 15,500 euros a year.
Why students choose RSU
Medicine (MD) and Dentistry (DDS) are taught in English, with intakes in both September and February.
The university plans to admit 620 international Medicine students in 2026/27, so the international cohort is large.
Tuition for the social-science Bachelor's and Master's programmes starts at 3,300 euros a year.
Clinical teaching takes place in RSU's study bases and in several hospitals in Riga, and the university also lists a clinical study base in Stade, Germany.
Admissions
February 2027 and September 2027 intakes
Selectivity
RSU publishes intake targets, not an acceptance rate: for 2026/27 it planned to admit 620 international students to Medicine (380 in September 2026 and 240 in February 2027), 64 to Dentistry and up to 30 to each other English-taught programme (the 'When to apply' page shows 50 for the September 2026 intake). Non-EU/EEA applicants also go through an online motivational interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school diploma and transcript (any system) | At least two semesters of the required subjects with strong grades: Medicine needs English, Mathematics and Biology or Chemistry at 70%+; Dentistry needs 80%+ in the required subjects |
|---|---|
| IB, German Abitur and similar | Accepted; IB graduates, Abitur holders and applicants from Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands finishing in summer may submit diplomas after the deadline if all other documents are in |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 B2 or higher is required. Applicants educated in English are exempt. Other accepted tests include Cambridge (170), PTE Academic (51) and Oxford Test of English (126). Non-EU/EEA applicants without English-medium schooling must submit a test certificate issued in the last five years. |
Deadlines
- February 2027 intake - Medicine and Dentistry (EU/EEA and visa-free countries) Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 days4 September - 1 December 2026
Applicants from Additional Assessment Countries apply 4 September - 1 October 2026; other non-EU/EEA applicants 4 September - 1 November 2026. Studies begin 2 February 2027.
- September 2027 intake - EU/EEA and visa-free countries (Medicine, Dentistry) Non-binding In ~9 months1 March - 1 July 2027
Applicants from Additional Assessment Countries apply 1 March - 1 April 2027; other non-EU/EEA applicants 1 March - 1 May 2027.
- September 2027 intake - Master's programmes and International Business Bachelor's (EU/EEA and visa-free countries) Non-binding In ~9 monthsOpens 1 September 2026; closes 1 July 2027
Additional Assessment Countries close 1 April 2027; other non-EU/EEA applicants 1 May 2027 (Master's opens 1 September 2026).
Dates are RSU's published windows for the February 2027 and September 2027 intakes, read on 30 September 2026 from https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-here/admissions/when-apply (Medicine and Dentistry September 2027: 1 Mar - 1 Jul 2027 for EU/EEA and visa-free citizens, 1 Apr for Additional Assessment Countries, 1 May for other non-EU/EEA; February 2027: 4 Sep - 1 Dec 2026, 1 Oct, 1 Nov). The page prints the International Business bachelor's opening as '1 Sep 2025' for the September 2027 intake, which looks like a typo, so the profile shows 1 September 2026.
How to apply
Submit the online application in RSU's e-Admissions portal, upload the documents listed in the Application Guide (transcripts, letters of motivation and recommendation, English test, application fee payment), then email the admissions office with your name and application number. After registration you can no longer upload documents yourself; RSU publishes any offer of a study place in your application.
What admissions looks for
- Strong, competitive grades in the required school subjects, with passing grades in all other subjects.
- Motivation for the specific programme, assessed through the letter of motivation and an online motivational interview for non-EU/EEA citizens.
- Suitability for the study programme and the reasons for choosing it.
- English at B2 or higher.
Tips for applying to RSU
- 1 Check the minimum admission criteria in the Admissions Procedure (pages 42-50) before applying; RSU accepts final exam grades and final semester grades.
- 2 Apply inside the window for your citizenship group: non-EU/EEA windows close earlier than EU/EEA windows.
- 3 Prepare the Letter of Motivation and Letter of Recommendation using RSU's templates.
- 4 Budget for the one-time registration administration fee of 1,800 euros for Medicine and Dentistry on top of tuition.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
RSU offers tuition discounts of up to 25 percent for academic excellence to Medicine and Dentistry students from the third year, a 10 percent discount for international students whose family member also studies at RSU, and lists scholarships and financial aid for international students on its fees and scholarships page.
- 100 euros (30 euros for Latvian citizens with Latvian secondary education), non-refundable
- Application fee
- 1,800 euros, one-time, Medicine and Dentistry only
- Registration administration fee
- Up to 25% of tuition for Medicine and Dentistry students from year 3
- Academic excellence discount
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters; September and February intakes for English-taught programmes
Medicine (MD, 6 years, English)
RSU's largest programme: 3,988 students enrolled as of 1 October 2025; 13,500 euros a year.
Dentistry (DDS, 5 years, English)
Annual tuition of 15,500 euros with dental materials provided; 32 international places per intake.
International Business and Start-up Entrepreneurship (Bachelor's, 3 years)
Social-science Bachelor's in English at 3,300 euros a year.
Health Management (Master's, 2 years)
English-taught Master of Social Sciences in Management and Administration at 4,500 euros a year.
Digital Strategy and Artificial Intelligence Management (Master's)
English-taught two-year programme at 5,000 euros a year.
Research
- RSU lists development and research projects and a clinical study base in Stade, Germany, alongside its Riga hospital teaching bases.
- RSU notes that QS indicators favour broad-based institutions, which disadvantages a university focused on medicine and social sciences.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Department of Doctoral Studies
- Department of Residency
- RSU Academy of Sport
- RSU Red Cross Medical College
RSU reports 2,026 graduates in the 2025 reporting year, including 451 in Medicine.
Student life
RSU's main building and most study bases are in Riga's Dzirciems district, with hostels in Dzirciems, Āgenskalns and Mežciems; rooms are shared by two or three people and allocated first come, first served. All hostels have sports facilities. The university lists a student union, an international student association, a sports club, performing arts groups, student interest groups, a student media network and welcome events such as Welcome Week. RSU also runs Latvian language courses.
- Welcome Week before each intake.
- International Student Association and RSU Student Union.
- Sports club and performing arts groups.
- Student hostels in three Riga locations, one next to the main building.
Housing. RSU provides student hostels in Dzirciems, Āgenskalns and Mežciems, with rooms shared by two or three people; apply in advance because rooms are first come, first served.
Location
Riga is Latvia's capital, founded in 1201 and home to about 620,000 people on the Baltic Sea and the River Daugava. RSU's main building is in Dzirciems on the left bank, with other study bases in the city centre and Imanta. RSU estimates a student budget of roughly 1,050 to 1,500 euros a month.
Notable alumni
- VZ Valdis ZatlersSurgeon and 7th President of Latvia (2007-2011); alma mater Riga Stradiņš University (then Riga Medical Institute) per English Wikipedia
- IJ Inese JaunzemeJavelin thrower, 1956 Olympic gold medallist; graduated from the Riga Medical Institute in 1960 and later taught orthopaedics there
- GD Gundars DaudzePhysician and politician, Speaker of the 9th Saeima (2007-2010); education: Riga Stradiņš University
- AČ Anda ČakšaPaediatrician and politician, Minister of Education and Science from 14 December 2022 to 26 February 2025 and member of the Saeima since 2018; education: Riga Stradiņš University
- IC Ingrīda CircenePolitician, Latvian Minister for Health (2003-2004 and 2011-2014); education: Riga Medical Institute
- TE Teodors EniņšNeurosurgeon, inventor of magnetic impulse therapy, later mayor of Liepāja and Minister of Welfare (1991-1993); studied at the Riga Medical Institute 1954-1960
Frequently asked questions
How much does Medicine cost at Rīga Stradiņš University?
For 2026/27 the English-taught Medicine (MD) programme costs 13,500 euros a year, plus a one-time 1,800 euro registration administration fee and a 100 euro application fee. Dentistry is 15,500 euros a year.
What are the RSU application deadlines for 2027?
For the September 2027 Medicine and Dentistry intake, EU/EEA applicants apply 1 March to 1 July 2027, other non-EU/EEA applicants to 1 May 2027 and Additional Assessment Countries to 1 April 2027. The February 2027 intake closes 1 December 2026 for EU/EEA applicants.
What English level does RSU require?
B2 or higher, for example IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80, unless your secondary school taught in English.
Does RSU interview applicants?
Yes: citizens of non-EU/EEA countries take an online motivational interview assessing motivation, eligibility and choice of programme.
How much does it cost to live in Riga as an RSU student?
RSU suggests budgeting at least 1,200 euros a month including accommodation; its own table puts the total at 1,050 to 1,500 euros a month.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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