MBBS in Latvia and Lithuania for Indian Students: RSU, LSMU

The Baltic States for Medical Education

Latvia and Lithuania, the two Baltic EU member states on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, teach medicine in English to international students. Riga Stradins University in Latvia and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas are the two best-known choices, and Vilnius University and the University of Latvia also teach Medicine in English.

For Indian families, the attractions are English-medium teaching, modern clinical facilities and short trips within the Schengen area. Two warnings come first. An EU degree is not automatically recognised across the EU for an Indian citizen, because the European Commission says people who are not EU or EEA nationals must apply for recognition in each country and follow national rules. And we cannot confirm that a degree from either country meets India's FMGL Regulations 2021.

Riga Stradins University (RSU), Latvia

Overview and Reputation

Riga Stradins University (RSU) has a history dating back to 1950. RSU says it has more than 35 years of experience in educating international students, and its brochure shows more than 3,000 international students in Medicine.

Programme Structure

The Medicine programme at RSU lasts 6 years and is taught in English. RSU's brochure shows basic subjects in years 1-2, pre-clinical subjects in year 3, clinical subjects in years 4-5, and an internship in year 6, with three clinical rotations and the state exam. The brochure also advertises clinical training in your home country. If you are an Indian citizen, do not take that option without written advice, because the FMGL Regulations say no part of the training may be done in India.

Tuition and Fees

RSU lists tuition of EUR 13,500 a year for Medicine in 2026/27, about Rs 14.3 lakh. The application fee is EUR 100, and new Medicine students also pay a non-refundable registration administration fee of EUR 1,800. At the 2026/27 rate, six years of tuition would come to EUR 81,000, about Rs 86 lakh, before any increases.

Clinical Training

Clinical rotations take place at Riga hospitals. Ask RSU which hospitals it uses for English-taught students, and what language is used with patients.

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), Kaunas

Overview and Reputation

LSMU, located in Lithuania's second city Kaunas, teaches a 6-year Medicine programme in English.

Programme Structure

LSMU's page shows anatomy, histology, genetics, physics and chemistry in year 1, system-based modules in years 2-3, and clinical modules and clinical practice in years 4-6, with Lithuanian language teaching in the first three years.

Tuition and Fees

LSMU lists EUR 12,800 a year for study years I to III and EUR 13,300 a year for years IV to VI in 2026/27, about Rs 13.6 lakh to Rs 14.1 lakh. At those rates, six years of tuition would come to EUR 78,300, about Rs 83 lakh, before any increases. Ask LSMU about application fees and any scholarships.

Clinical Training

Clinical training takes place at the LSMU Kauno Klinikos (Kaunas Clinics). Ask LSMU what language is used with patients.

Fee Comparison: Latvia vs Lithuania

Other English-taught options are Vilnius University at EUR 14,100 a year and the University of Latvia at EUR 13,600 a year for non-EU citizens, with 35 fee-paying places in 2026/27. Fees can rise, so get each year's fee in writing. Rupee figures use about Rs 106 per euro.

Cost of Living

We found no official living-cost figures for Riga or Kaunas. Ask the university and current students for recent figures, and budget in euros.

Admission Process

Riga Stradins University

• Online application via the RSU website. RSU has February and September intakes, so check the current dates for non-EU applicants
• Submit your secondary school diploma, two letters of recommendation, a letter of motivation, proof of English and a passport copy, and keep your NEET-UG scorecard for the Indian rules
• RSU's brochure asks for good or excellent grades in English, biology and/or chemistry, and mathematics. Ask RSU whether you will also sit a test or an interview
• Offer letter, then payment of tuition and fees by the deadline RSU sets

LSMU Kaunas

• Online application via the LSMU website
• Submit your legalised school certificate and transcript, officially translated into English, and keep your NEET-UG scorecard for the Indian rules
• Pass the entrance test. LSMU asks for good knowledge of biology, chemistry, mathematics and English
• Offer letter and first-semester tuition payment

Visa and Immigration

Both Latvia and Lithuania are EU and Schengen zone members, and each has its own rules for students from outside the EU. Vilnius University says all non-EU/EFTA students coming to study in Lithuania must obtain a Temporary Residence Permit, which may be issued for 1 to 2 years and renewed. Ask your university for the current route, funds figure and processing time, because we could not open the official migration pages.

A residence permit from a Schengen country allows short trips across the Schengen area, which now has 29 countries. Check the current time limits before you travel.

Practising in India: FMGL, FMGE and NExT

If you are an Indian citizen or OCI holder, two sets of rules decide whether a foreign degree can lead to practice in India. First, you must qualify NEET-UG before you go. Second, if you were admitted on or after 18 November 2021, the FMGL Regulations 2021 apply: a course of at least 54 months, taught in English, a 12-month internship at the same foreign institution, and a licence to practise in that country at par with its citizens. No part of the training may be done in India. You must then pass FMGE, the live screening test, and complete a further 12-month internship in India. The course must be finished within 10 years of joining. The National Medical Commission (NMC) says it does not endorse any list of foreign institutions, and a WDOMS listing alone does not make a degree acceptable.

We cannot confirm that a degree from Latvia or Lithuania meets these conditions. The licence is the main risk. Both countries require the national language for a local licence (see the section on practice rights below), and LSMU says its programme prepares doctors to enter residency or to work under a physician's supervision. Ask whether the sixth year counts as the 12-month internship that the FMGL Regulations require. Get the university's written answer and the NMC's position before you pay.

FMGE is the live test, and NExT has not started. The NBEMS FMGE Performance Report 2025 shows very few candidates from these countries: Latvia 0 of 2 in June and 0 of 4 in December, and Lithuania 1 of 3 and 0 of 1. These numbers are too small to judge from. Across all countries, 6,709 of 36,037 passed in June and 10,264 of 42,868 in December.

Student Life in the Baltics

The Baltic states are safe, clean, and well-connected. Both Riga and Kaunas have modern public transportation, reliable internet, and a high quality of life. English is widely spoken among young people and in the service industry. The Indian student communities at both universities are small but supportive, with WhatsApp groups, cultural celebrations, and academic mentoring.

Climate is the biggest adjustment, winters are cold and dark, with temperatures dropping to -15°C to -20°C and only 6-7 hours of daylight in December-January. Students from northern India adapt more easily; those from southern India should invest in quality winter gear and consider a vitamin D supplement during winter months.

Vegetarian food requires planning, Baltic cuisine is meat-heavy. Asian grocery stores in Riga and Kaunas stock Indian basics (rice, dal, spices), and many students cook regularly. University canteens offer some vegetarian options.

Advantages of Baltic Medical Schools

• Degrees from EU universities, though recognition elsewhere in the EU is not automatic for Indian citizens
• Long experience of teaching international students in English
• Modern clinical facilities and simulation centres
• Short trips across the 29 Schengen countries
• Safe, low-crime countries with high quality of life
• Strong research opportunities for interested students

Challenges

• Tuition alone of about Rs 83-86 lakh over six years at RSU or LSMU, before living costs
• Cold, dark winters require significant adjustment
• Small Indian community compared to countries like Russia or Poland
• Limited part-time work opportunities, so check the current rules before relying on any income
• Latvian or Lithuanian needed for patient contact and for a local licence

Final Assessment

RSU and LSMU are established universities with English-taught Medicine and clearly published fees. Their fees are close to each other, so the decision turns on the rules, not the price. Before you pay, get written answers on the internship, the licence and any training outside the university. Six years of tuition alone comes to about Rs 83-86 lakh, so add living costs before you decide.

Comparing Medical Education Systems: Latvia vs Lithuania

Latvia has two English-taught options. RSU has the larger international student body, with more than 3,000 international students in Medicine according to its brochure. The University of Latvia offers a 12-semester programme with 35 fee-paying places for 2026/27.

In Lithuania, Vilnius University and LSMU both teach Medicine in English. LSMU in Kaunas lists a 6-year programme, and Vilnius University lists EUR 14,100 a year. Ask each university which hospitals it uses and how clinical teaching works for English-taught students.

Scholarships and Funding

Ask each university which fee reductions or scholarships are open to Indian students on a fee-paying place. Do not assume any award when you budget. LSMU lists a chance to spend a semester or a year abroad through Erasmus+, but check with the university how that affects the same-institution rule in the FMGL Regulations.

EU Practice Rights for Indian Citizens

The EU's automatic recognition system is built for EU and EEA nationals. The European Commission says people who are not EU or EEA nationals must apply for recognition in the country where they want to work and follow national rules and procedures. So an Indian citizen with a degree from Latvia or Lithuania should not assume access to all 27 EU countries.

Local practice has its own conditions. In answers to a 2024 European Migration Network query, Latvia said a certificate of knowledge of the national language is required when a doctor is registered, and Lithuania said a licence applicant needs a document on the right to reside and work there and proof of Lithuanian, with health staff in the category equal to B1. Those answers mainly concern qualifications gained outside the EU, and the network says they are not official policy, so confirm the rule for a graduate of your university. Take these points seriously because India's FMGL Regulations require a licence in the country of study at par with its citizens.

Student Support Services and Indian Community in the Baltics

Both RSU and LSMU maintain dedicated international student offices that assist with residence permit applications, accommodation arrangements, airport pickup services, and orientation programmes. RSU's International Student Association organises cultural events, sports tournaments, and study groups throughout the academic year. Ask current students about the Indian community in each city, which may be small.