If you haven’t got a place at a UK medical school this year, you don’t have to wait until September 2027 to start. Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) in Latvia runs a February intake for its English-taught Medicine degree, and the next one begins on 2 February 2027.
There’s no entrance exam, and British and Irish applicants have until 1 December 2026 to apply. This guide covers what RSU looks for, what the application involves, what it costs and what the degree means for a career back in the UK.
The short version
- Classes start on 2 February 2027, and the deadline for British and Irish applicants is 1 December 2026.
- There’s no entrance exam. RSU looks at your grades, your English and, for British applicants, an online interview.
- Medicine costs €13,500 a year in tuition, and RSU suggests budgeting at least €1,200 a month to live in Riga.
- As things stand, a Latvian medical degree lets you register as a doctor in the UK without sitting PLAB.
Table of Contents
Why start in February
Most European medical schools take students once a year, in September. RSU admits Medicine students twice, and the February course is the same six-year programme as the September one, with 240 places for 2027. RSU also takes Dentistry students in February, with 32 places and higher grade requirements.
The main reason to start in February is time. If you already have your grades, you could be seven months into the degree by the time a September intake begins, rather than spending most of a year waiting.
It isn’t for everyone. You’ll be applying, organising documents and moving abroad within a few months, so it suits students who are ready to commit now. It also means graduating in early 2033, out of step with UK jobs that start in August.
Entry requirements and the interview
Without an entrance exam, your school results do most of the work. For Medicine, RSU’s entry requirements are at least 70% in English and in Biology or Chemistry. You only need one of the two sciences.
UK applicants need three A-levels and three GCSEs at grade C or above. Maths isn’t required, as Physics can count in its place. You’ll also need English at B2 level, shown with a test result or a letter from your school confirming you were taught in English.
If you’re not sure your grades are high enough, this is usually where we start the conversation. We can check them against RSU’s thresholds before you spend anything on an application, and our guide to A-level requirements for medicine in Europe explains how European universities read UK results.
British applicants also have a short online interview, held over Zoom once the application is complete. It’s pass or fail, there’s no appeal, and it focuses on why you want to study Medicine at RSU in particular. Generic answers are noticeable, so preparation matters, and interview practice is part of our support.
If your child will be under 18 when the course starts, RSU will need a legal guardian in Latvia, which we can talk you through.
How the application works
The application has more moving parts than a UCAS form. You’ll need certified school documents, letters of recommendation, a motivation letter and evidence of your English. UK documents also need an apostille, an official stamp confirming they’re genuine, and that step takes time.
With our admission support, we tell you exactly which documents you need, help with the legalisation, submit the application on your behalf and keep track of it until RSU decides. Once you have an offer, we help with enrolment, and British students also need a temporary residence permit, which we guide you through.
RSU decides within two months of a complete application, and only once every document is in. Our advice is simple: aim to have everything submitted by early November. A 1 December application leaves very little room if a document needs redoing.
Irish students. You apply as an EU citizen, to the same 1 December deadline. You won’t have an interview, your documents don’t need an apostille, and rather than applying for a residence permit, you register your residence if you’re staying longer than three months.
If you’re not sure February 2027 is realistic, book a free consultation and we’ll look at your grades and timeline with you.
Deadlines, fees and living costs
These are RSU’s figures for 2026/27. Fees for later years can change.
| What | Amount or date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applications close | 1 December 2026 | British and Irish citizens |
| Welcome Week | 27 to 30 January 2027 | Before classes begin |
| Classes begin | 2 February 2027 | Year 1 Medicine |
| Medicine tuition | €13,500 a year | Paid per semester |
| Application fee | €100 | Non-refundable |
| Registration fee | €1,800 | Non-refundable, due with the first payment |
| Living costs | From about €1,200 a month | RSU’s suggested minimum, including rent |
If you’re offered a place, the first semester’s tuition and the registration fee are due within two weeks, so it’s worth having the money ready before you apply. The full breakdown is on RSU’s tuition fees page.
For living costs, RSU puts the average at around €1,050 a month in shared accommodation and closer to €1,500 living on your own. Rent is the biggest variable, and we can help you find somewhere before you arrive. Our guides to finding student accommodation abroad and student life in Latvia cover the rest.
Working as a doctor in the UK afterwards
Yes, you can come back. As things stand, a medical degree from Latvia lets you apply for full GMC registration without sitting PLAB, so you can work as a doctor in the UK.
There are two differences from a UK degree. You can’t apply for provisional registration, and you won’t get priority for UK Foundation Programme places, which now go first to UK graduates under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026.
Timing is the other point. UK Foundation Programme posts start in August, so a February 2033 graduate would have a gap of around six months to plan for.
What could change: the arrangements that let EU-qualified doctors register without PLAB are temporary, and they may look different by 2033. Our guide to whether European medical degrees count in the UK explains more.
If RSU doesn’t work out
If you miss the 1 December deadline, or RSU doesn’t offer you a place, there are still options, although very few European medical schools run a February intake.
Pleven Medical University in Bulgaria also starts its English-taught Medicine course in February, but it has an entrance exam and its window for February 2027 closed on 1 October 2026. It’s worth knowing about if you’re planning a year ahead.
In Georgia, some universities admit international students on a rolling basis rather than to a single deadline. Whether a spring start is open depends on the university and the year, so this is something we’d check for you. Our guide to studying medicine in Georgia is a good place to start.
For most students, the realistic alternative is September 2027, when far more universities take new students, many of them without UCAT. See our guide to studying medicine without UCAT in 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does RSU have a February intake in 2027?
Yes. Medicine classes begin on 2 February 2027, with 240 places. It’s the same programme as the September intake.
What is the RSU deadline for UK students?
It’s 1 December 2026 for British and Irish citizens. We’d recommend submitting a complete application by early November.
Is there an entrance exam to study medicine in Riga?
No. RSU looks at your grades and English level. British applicants also have a pass or fail online interview.
How much does it cost to study medicine in Riga?
Tuition is €13,500 a year for 2026/27, plus a €100 application fee and €1,800 registration fee. RSU suggests budgeting at least €1,200 a month to live in Riga.
Can I work in the UK after studying medicine in Riga?
As things stand, yes. A Latvian medical degree lets you apply for full GMC registration without PLAB, although you won’t get priority for Foundation Programme places.
How MedConnect Europe can help
If February 2027 looks like the right fit, you don’t have to manage the application on your own. Book a free consultation and we’ll check your grades against RSU’s requirements, explain what the application involves and help you decide whether February or September makes more sense for you.
You can also read more about studying medicine in Latvia.
Fees, deadlines and UK registration rules can change. We last checked the information in this article on 26 October 2026. Please confirm the details with RSU and the GMC before you apply.
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