Admissions

Welcome to RSU international student admissions!

In order to submit your application, please:

1. Fill in the online application.
2. Follow the Application Guide and upload the necessary application documents onto your application.
3. Submit the application and admissionsrsu[pnkts]lv (inform us)target="_blank" - state your NAME, SURNAME and application NUMBER (top right corner).
4. Check the application deadlines and submit your application on time!
5. For any queries contact RSU’s International Admissions Office via admissionsrsu[pnkts]lvtarget="_blank"

RSU provides full-time studies in English in the following programmes:

Important information for applicants who have received Offers of Study Place

Offer of Study Place

When RSU has decided to offer you a study place, please make your decision about the offer. If you decide to accept the offer, you have to confirm your study place by making tuition fee and registration administration fee payments before the payment deadline (two (2) weeks from the date when the offer of study place was issued). Include your name, surname, study programme, study year/semester in the payment details.

You do not have to send us payment slips for these payments. We will confirm the receipt of the payments in the “RSU Study Contract” e-mail.

The offer of study place is the only document confirming your acceptance to RSU before signing the study contract.

Study Contracts

After you have confirmed your study place by making the necessary payments, the university will draft the study contract (including agreement on tuition fee). The study contract will be sent to your representative’s e-mail address or your e-mail address if you applied for studies at RSU directly. In order to ensure that the study contracts are signed properly, we will send you via e-mail a presentation with instructions on how to do it.

You will have to:
1.    Print two (2) copies of the study contract (including agreement on tuition fee);
2.    Sign both copies of the study contract (four (4) signatures altogether);
3.    Send us both (2) copies of your study contract by regular/express mail directly or through your representative. All study contracts (including agreements on tuition fee) have to be delivered to RSU International Admissions Office in paper form with handwritten wet signatures before you start your studies (see paragraph “Educational Documents”).

Welcome E-mails

After you have confirmed your study place by making all necessary payments, you will receive several welcome e-mails with guidance and support to ease your transition from leaving your home country to becoming an international student at RSU. For further queries regarding preparation for studies (including the Orientation Week) please contact us via internationalrsu[pnkts]lv

Official Enrolment

Once you have confirmed your study place at RSU by making all necessary payments, you are eligible for enrolment in RSU. The procedure of enrolment concludes with an official RSU Rector’s Decree signed two (2) weeks prior to the official beginning of studies. 

Orientation Week

The Orientation Week for international students is the week before the beginning of your first semester at RSU. The Orientation Week is organised and designed to help you get acquainted with your group mates (study group), RSU, the study process, learn on how to access RSU electronic systems, etc. Each study group will also elect a group leader during the Orientation Week (elections organised by RSU’s International Student Association (ISA)).

NB! The study process (lectures/practical classes) will not start/take place during the Orientation Week (your studies start on 28 August); however, RSU requires your participation at all compulsory activities of the Orientation Week. 

Study Year

Semester 1: From 28 August 2023 to 12 January 2024    
Holidays: From 18 December 2023 to To 1 January 2024
Examination period: From 15 January 2024 to 26 January 2024

Semester 2: From 5 February 2024 to 14 June 2024
Holidays: From 25 March 2024 to 1 April 2024    
Examination period: From 17 June 2024 to 1 July 2024

University Rules and Regulations

The University has specific rules and regulations that describe the entire study process as well as your rights, duties and obligations as an RSU student. By singing the study contract you confirm that you have read, understood and accept RSU’s Academic Regulations and Internal Rules and Regulations of Studies. Please read the documents carefully.

Educational Documents

Even though you submitted your application for studies at RSU online, RSU requests that before starting your studies you send us the originals or certified copies (certified by a sworn notary or your school) of your educational documents, that is, high school diploma/university diploma and official grade transcript in both original language and translated into English. 

Please send your educational documents to us together with both copies of your study contracts (see paragraph “Study Contracts”). 

RSU ID Number, E-mail, Login, Password

Before the Orientation Week, you will receive an e-mail with your personal six-digit RSU ID number (username) and your RSU student’s e-mail address. You will also receive links to instruction videos and information (under “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)”) on how to login into your RSU e-mail account, start using RSU IT systems, etc. 

NB! RSU will only use your RSU student’s e-mail to communicate all necessary information about the University life and academic issues during your studies. Your personal e-mail address will not be used; therefore, you should check your RSU student’s e-mail on a daily basis.
During the Orientation Week, you will receive more information about these topics and a demonstration of the RSU IT systems (RSU e-mail, E-studies, MyRSU, Wi-Fi, etc.).

RSU Student Card

The RSU student card is prepared for you after your enrolment in RSU, however, you will receive it only after your arrival in Riga. This document will be handed out to you either during the Orientation Week or right after it. The RSU student card allows you to access and use various RSU and other services. You should carry the RSU student card with you at all times. The cards are issued by RSU Student Services free of charge. 

Accommodation

RSU offers two student hostels - “Dzirciems” (5 Dārza Street; situated next to the RSU main building) and “Āgenskalns” (17 Mārupes Street; about 15 minutes from the RSU main building by public transport). The number of rooms offered is limited in both hostels and rooms are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Please enquire about available rooms/submit a reservation request to accommodationrsu[pnkts]lv 

Many RSU international students choose to rent a private apartment. However, as in many other European cities, the demand for reasonably priced accommodation is high. 

Public Transportation

The main provider of public transportation services in Riga is the municipal transport company “Rīgas Satiksme”. With a valid RSU Student card, your passport (personal ID) and a reference from RSU (to be obtained from RSU Student Services upon request) you can apply for and receive a personalised “Rīgas Satiksme” e-ticket, which gives a 70% discount in all public transportation routes operated by the company. 

“Rīgas Satiksme” runs buses, trolleybuses and trams on 80 routes covering the entire city. Public transportation in Riga is very efficient and usually runs according to the schedule. The schedules can be found at each public transportation stop and on “Rīgas Satiksme” website.

Immigration

Procedures regulating students’ legal stay and registration in Latvia differ for EU/EEA citizens and non-EU/EEA citizens. All non-EU/EEA citizens are obliged to undergo compulsory annual immigration procedures. You will be guided through a step-by-step immigration process during the Orientation Week. For more information, see the RSU website section Immigration Procedure.

RSU students who are citizens of EU/EEA countries have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of Latvia as long as they leave the country once in every three (3) months. RSU strongly recommends EU/EEA citizens to undergo immigration procedures nevertheless. In some cases official registration is compulsory, for instance, when/if opening a bank account in Latvia, registering your place of residence in Riga, acquiring property in Latvia, getting vaccinated in Latvia, etc. If this is the case, please ask the staff of RSU’s International Admissions Office for further details.

Transferring from another university