Latvia's capital, Riga, is home to several universities that teach in English, among them the University of Latvia and Riga Stradins University (RSU), which began in 1950 as the Riga Medical Institute. English-taught degrees cover business, finance, international relations, computer science, the natural sciences and, in especially large numbers, medicine and dentistry. RSU alone planned to admit 380 international Medicine students and 32 in Dentistry for September 2026, and runs a second Medicine and Dentistry intake in February.
Fees for students from outside the EU are modest outside medicine. For 2026-27 the University of Latvia charges EUR 3,000 a year for Cultural and Social Anthropology and up to EUR 5,900 for International Finance at bachelor's level, and EUR 3,200 to EUR 6,600 for its English-taught masters, while Medicine costs EUR 11,850 and Dentistry EUR 17,310. RSU charges EUR 3,300 for its business bachelor's, EUR 3,400 to EUR 5,000 for masters, EUR 13,500 for Medicine and EUR 15,500 for Dentistry, plus a one-off EUR 1,800 registration administration fee for new Medicine and Dentistry students. Application fees are EUR 170 at the University of Latvia and EUR 100 at RSU.
Deadlines depend on nationality, and Latvian universities sort non-EU applicants into groups. At the University of Latvia, for September 2026, citizens of countries that need additional assessment had to apply by 1 May, citizens of countries that need a visa by 21 June, and visa-free non-EU citizens by 16 August. RSU uses the same idea: its Medicine and Dentistry applicants from additional assessment countries close first, a month before other non-EU applicants.
English requirements are similar at both universities: IELTS 6.0 and TOEFL iBT 80. RSU also accepts Duolingo at 115; the University of Latvia does not list it.
Immigration rules changed on the day this guide was written. A new Immigration Law took effect on 15 September 2026, replacing the old one. Under it a full-time student at an accredited Latvian university receives a temporary residence permit for up to two years at a time, may work up to 20 hours a week, or 40 hours a week during study breaks, with any employer, and, after completing a full-time master's or doctoral programme, may receive a permit for nine months to look for work if the application is made within three months of the study permit expiring. The new law also stops non-NATO citizens who study at bachelor's or master's level from bringing family members on that basis.