New academic year begins with enrolment of first-year students

On Monday, 31 August, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) officially marked the start of the 2026/2027 academic year. Nearly 3,000 first-year students are joining the university community this year, including 465 international students from 41 countries. 

The new students celebrated the start of the academic year in the RSU Inspiration Park, taking part in a variety of sports and creative activities, getting to know student life at RSU and the opportunities offered by the university. Prior to this, local first-year students took part in the integration activity ‘Students’ First Stop’ while international students participated in Welcome Week. 

At the opening ceremony of the academic year, RSU Rector Professor Aigars Pētersons and the RSU management encouraged the new students to make the most of the opportunities offered by the university, not only for their studies but also for research, innovation, sports and bringing their ideas to life.  

‘You have chosen a university that has been the reputation leader among Latvian higher education institutions for ten consecutive years. 

This year, we received 13,500 applications from prospective students for our degree programmes, which is 15% more than last year. This is a new record! Almost 3,000 students have been enrolled from this large pool of applicants. 

It means that you are the best and most determined students, having chosen to build your future at our university,’ emphasised the Rector.  

He noted that over the course of 76 years, RSU has grown from a medical institution into a modern European university, offering a wide range of study programmes, an international environment and ever-expanding opportunities for students. 

‘Studying at RSU is cool!’ said Prof. Pētersons, welcoming the new students. 

At the university, this academic year will also be special with the opening of the new RSU Sports Centre on Cigoriņu Street, which offers modern facilities for sport, studies and research. 

The band The Bad Tones provided the musical entertainment at the opening ceremony, while during the event, new students had the chance to learn more about the RSU Student Union (Studējošo pašpārvalde, SP), the RSU Sports Club, the Business Incubator, the mixed choir Rīga, the folk dance ensemble Ačkups and others.