MBBS in Latvia 2026: RSU vs University of Latvia Fees

MBBS in Latvia is taught at two public universities in Riga, and they differ more than most families expect. Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) charges EUR 13,500 a year and admits students twice a year. The University of Latvia (LU) starts at EUR 11,850 but asks Indian applicants for a SAT score of 1200 or more.

Key Takeaways

• Six-year tuition: EUR 81,000 at RSU and EUR 77,340 at LU for students starting in 2026/27. Both award a six-year Medical Doctor (MD) degree taught in English.

• Seats: RSU planned 380 international Medicine places for September 2026 and 240 for February 2027. LU offers 35 fee-paying Medicine places for 2026/27.

• Entry rules: RSU looks for at least 70 per cent in the required Class 12 subjects. It accepts Physics in place of Mathematics for Indian boards. LU asks for 80 per cent in Biology and Chemistry plus a SAT score of 1200.

• Next intake: RSU's February 2027 intake is open to Indian citizens until 1 November 2026. LU admits once a year, and its 2026 intake has closed.

• India rules: the National Medical Commission (NMC), India's medical regulator, requires the whole course and a 12-month internship at the same foreign university. Training in a third country, including exchange semesters, breaks that rule.

This post compares the two universities side by side. For the wider picture of the country, read our MBBS in Latvia country guide. For a step-by-step overview of studying at RSU after NEET, see MBBS in Latvia for Indian students 2026. Both universities are among the 23 futureMBBS partner universities in nine countries.

MBBS in Latvia at a glance: RSU vs University of Latvia

ECTS credits are the European unit of study load. One year of full-time study equals 60 credits, so 360 credits means six full years. Full university profiles sit on our Riga Stradiņš University page and our University of Latvia Faculty of Medicine page.

MBBS in Latvia fees 2026/27: year-by-year tuition at RSU and LU

RSU charges a flat EUR 13,500 in every year of Medicine, according to the RSU tuition fees for studies in English 2026/2027. LU's fee rises each year, from EUR 11,850 in year one to EUR 14,610 in year six, according to the University of Latvia Medicine application page. Rupee figures below use the European Central Bank reference rate of EUR 1 = Rs. 108.82 on 30 September 2026 (ECB euro reference rate for the Indian rupee).

The gap is smaller than the year-one figures suggest. LU is EUR 1,650 cheaper in year one, but only EUR 3,660 cheaper over the full six years. In year six, LU costs EUR 1,110 more than RSU.

One-off fees at RSU and the University of Latvia

Add the one-off fees and RSU costs about EUR 82,900 in total, against about EUR 77,510 at LU (not counting the returnable deposit). That is a difference of roughly EUR 5,400, or about Rs. 5.9 lakh, over six years.

How the tuition is paid at each university

• RSU: the first payment is due within two weeks of the study place offer. After that, international students pay tuition each semester, before the semester starts (RSU terms of tuition fee payments).

• LU: students can pay in two parts each semester, but the first semester must be paid in full before enrolment. Non-EU students pay the EUR 500 deposit together with the year's tuition on arrival (LU Medicine fees and deposit).

Living costs in Riga come on top of tuition. Our six-year cost of MBBS in Europe guide shows how Latvia's total compares with the other partner countries.

Who is eligible for MBBS in Latvia at RSU and LU?

Both universities rank applicants on their Class 12 marks, not on NEET. The subject rules and minimum marks are different, and this is where most Indian applications succeed or fail.

RSU eligibility for Indian students

• Marks: at least 70 per cent in English, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. RSU's minimum for Indian boards is 70 out of 100 (RSU general requirements for studies in English).

• Physics in place of Mathematics: Indian PCB students often have no Mathematics. RSU's admissions procedure names India as a country where the Physics grade replaces the Mathematics grade (RSU Admissions Procedure 2026/2027, paragraph 43).

• Biology and Chemistry: only one of the two is strictly required, but having both helps. Indian PCB students meet this automatically.

• No failed subjects: every subject on the Class 12 marksheet must be a pass.

• Age: there is no age limit. A student under 18 needs a legal guardian living in Latvia, appointed through a notarised letter from the parents.

University of Latvia eligibility for Indian students

• Biology and Chemistry: at least 8 on a 10-point scale, so roughly 80 per cent in each (LU Medicine admission requirements).

• Overall average: at least 6 out of 10 across all Class 12 subjects, with no subject below a pass.

• SAT: an overall SAT score of 1200 or more for anyone who finished school outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland. SAT is the US college admission test run by the College Board.

• Ranking: LU ranks applicants on Chemistry (40 per cent), Biology (40 per cent) and English (20 per cent).

English proficiency for MBBS in Latvia

RSU does not ask for an English test if your school taught in English (RSU requirements for English proficiency). LU asks non-EU applicants for a recognised test, such as IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80 or PTE Academic 55. Our MBBS in Europe without IELTS guide covers which universities accept a school medium-of-instruction letter.

Who cannot apply for MBBS in Latvia

• A student below 70 per cent in a required subject cannot meet RSU's minimum. RSU's admissions committee keeps the right to make an exception only where an application shows other strong grounds.

• A student without a SAT score of 1200 cannot apply to LU from India, whatever the Class 12 marks.

• A student with any failed subject on the Class 12 marksheet is not admitted at either university.

How to apply for MBBS in Latvia: steps at RSU and LU

1. Apply online. RSU uses its e-Admissions portal and LU uses its Apply system. Both process an application only when every document is uploaded.

2. Pay the application fee. RSU charges EUR 100. LU sends an invoice for EUR 170 and starts work only after you upload the bank receipt.

3. Upload your documents. These are your passport, Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets in the original and in English, and English proof where needed. RSU also asks for two recommendation letters and a motivation letter on its own forms. LU asks non-EU applicants for a SAT score report.

4. Legalise your marksheets. India is a member of the Hague Convention, so Indian school documents need an Apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs. Our apostille guide for MBBS in Europe explains the process.

5. Wait for document recognition. RSU sends your school documents to Latvia's Academic Information Centre for recognition. This usually takes up to one month and can take up to four months (RSU additional procedures).

6. Sit the online interview. Both universities interview non-EU applicants online. RSU asks about your motivation, your eligibility and what you know about RSU, Riga and Latvia.

7. Accept the offer and pay. At RSU the first payment is due within two weeks of the offer. Then apply for the Latvian student visa and residence permit.

MBBS in Latvia deadlines: February 2027 and September 2027 intakes

RSU sets three application windows by nationality. India is not on Latvia's list of countries that need an additional visa assessment (Latvian Cabinet Regulation No. 554). Indian citizens therefore use the window for other non-EU applicants, which closes on 1 November 2026 for February 2027 (RSU When to Apply page).

For a student who missed NEET counselling this year, RSU's February 2027 intake is the only Latvian Medicine start before September 2027. The document recognition step can take up to four months, so the Apostille should be arranged first.

What if you miss the MBBS in Latvia deadline or the interview?

• Missed the RSU February deadline: the next window is 1 March to 1 May 2027 for the September 2027 intake.

• Missed the LU window: LU admits once a year. The 2026 cycle opened on 1 January, so the next chance is the autumn 2027 intake.

• Missed the RSU interview: the interview counts as failed if you do not join without a valid reason. A passed interview stays valid for the current admission cycle (RSU Admissions Procedure 2026/2027, Chapter VII).

• No reply to an LU offer: LU treats the place as declined if you do not answer by its deadline, and the place is not offered again.

• Failed a course after joining: at RSU you repeat that course in a repeat semester before moving on. You pay only for the course you retake, not full tuition.

Do MBBS in Latvia degrees meet NMC rules for practising in India?

The NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 set the conditions every foreign graduate must meet. The course must last at least 54 months and be taught in English. It must be followed by a 12-month internship at the same foreign institution. After that, the graduate clears the screening exam in India and completes a 12-month supervised internship in India. Older NMC notices are listed on the NMC rules and regulations page.

Both Latvian programmes run for six years in English, and RSU states that it is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). One rule needs close attention. The NMC says no part of the training or internship may take place in India or in any country other than the one awarding the degree.

• Exchange semesters: both universities offer Erasmus+ exchanges at partner universities across Europe. For an Indian student, a semester in another country breaks the NMC rule. Our Erasmus exchange guide explains the risk.

• Final-year rotations at home: RSU encourages students to do Year 6 rotations in their home country (RSU international student FAQ). For Indian students, final-year training in India is not allowed under the NMC rule. Keep every rotation in Latvia.

• Latvian language: RSU teaches a compulsory Latvian course in the first two semesters, then Latvian medical terms later. Students speak with patients from Year 3, with professors on the ward to help.

To check any university against the NMC list and WDOMS yourself, use our NMC and WDOMS recognition guide.

FMGE results for Latvian medical graduates, 2023 to 2025

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is the screening exam a foreign graduate must pass before practising in India. It is run by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). NBEMS institute-wise reports list RSU graduates in every year from 2023, and list no University of Latvia graduates.

These numbers are very small. Fifteen RSU candidates sat the exam across three years and four passed. That is too few to predict how a future student will do. For comparison, 23.94 per cent of all 42,868 candidates passed in December 2025, roughly one in four (NBEMS FMGE exam page). Country-wise figures are in our FMGE pass rate by country guide and in the FMGE pass rate country-wise web story.

RSU or University of Latvia: which suits an Indian student?

For most Indian students, RSU is the more practical choice. It has more than ten times as many international Medicine places, two intakes a year and no SAT. It also accepts Physics in place of Mathematics for Indian boards. The extra cost is about EUR 5,400 over six years, mostly the EUR 1,800 registration fee.

LU suits a narrower group: students who already hold a SAT score of 1200 or more and have 80 per cent or higher in Biology and Chemistry. For them, LU's lower total and small class intake of 35 are real advantages. A student without a SAT score should plan for RSU.

Conclusion: MBBS in Latvia fees and entry, compared

MBBS in Latvia costs about EUR 77,000 to EUR 81,000 in tuition over six years, depending on the university. RSU is the realistic route for most Indian families, with a February 2027 intake open until 1 November 2026. LU is cheaper overall but needs a SAT score. Whichever you choose, keep every year of training in Latvia so the degree meets NMC rules.

Sources

• Riga Stradiņš University, Tuition Fees for Studies in English, 2026/2027

• Riga Stradiņš University, When to Apply: seats and deadlines for September 2026, February 2027 and September 2027

• Riga Stradiņš University, General Requirements for Studies in English

• Riga Stradiņš University, Admissions Procedure 2026/2027 (PDF)

• Riga Stradiņš University, Additional Procedures: interview, document recognition and legalisation

• Riga Stradiņš University, international student FAQ

• University of Latvia, Medicine application page: tuition by year, fees and deposit

• University of Latvia, Medicine (EN) programme page: seats and admission requirements

• Republic of Latvia, Cabinet Regulation No. 554 on additional assessment countries

• National Medical Commission, Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 (PDF)

• NBEMS, FMGE Performance Report 2025

• NBEMS, FMGE 2024 institute-wise results

• NBEMS, FMGE 2023 institute-wise results

• European Central Bank, euro reference rate for the Indian rupee