Riga Stradins University har røtter tilbake til 1950 og er i dag en ledende utdanningsinstitusjon i Latvia. Det medisinske fakultetet legger stor vekt på å stadig forbedre sine undervisningsmetoder og å integrere klinisk praksis i utdanningen. 
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Why study medicine in Latvia?
Our Medicine programme is specifically designed to teach students the core competencies that are required in order to become highly skilled doctors who, upon graduation, are capable of pursuing a wide variety of careers. This programme is characterised by student cooperation and active engagement in group work. Studies involve working on a series of patient-centred problems, revealing the basic principles that influence human health and disease. Medical knowledge and practical clinical skills are gained by giving students the opportunity to work with patients from the 3rd year onwards.

The Faculty of Medicine offers professional education, and the opportunity to study medicine under the guidance of professors from Latvian universities and hospitals, as well as from abroad. As a student of the “Medicine” programme, you will acquire up-to-date knowledge and skills, which are competitive in Europe and the rest of the world.

Study environment
The study programme is comprised of compulsory and elective courses. Studies in medicine take place in small groups of max. 12 people, and studies are divided into three blocks:
Basic subjects (year 1 to 2)
Preclinical subjects (year 3)
Clinical subjects (year 4 to 6)

Study methods
Basic, clinical, biological and social sciences are taught simultaneously, with communication skills serving as an important part of the curriculum.
Dissection of cadaver is carried out when studying anatomy of the human body. This draws the study environment closer to real life situations, since, unlike with study models, each cadaver has its unique anatomical features.
A significant part of study time (~30%) is devoted to the understanding of disease prevention – how a GP-supervised family health service team works and how it promotes patient engagement in healthcare and supports the use of preventive measures, thus noticeably reducing the number of hospitalised patients.
Technological advances are fostered by systematic use of information technology and the developing of students’ computing skills.
Professional development and ethics is an integral part of the programme.
Lifelong learning skills are acquired by systematically using diverse learning approaches.

​Unlike medical studies at most European institutions of higher education, studies at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Faculty of Medicine are more integrated with clinical practice. Students learn the basics of the profession at RSU clinical hospitals and the main medical treatment and scientific institutions in Latvia: P. Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Riga East University Hospital, Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics. 

The departments within the Faculty of Medicine coordinate the training of students in all clinical and theoretical medical disciplines. In cooperation with the institutions of higher education and scientific institutes in other countries the faculty departments have become scientific schools and research centres, ensuring the professional quality of the RSU academic teaching staff. 

Starting with the second year of studies the students of the Faculty of Medicine have the option of acquiring in-depth knowledge in paediatrics. Placements in clinical patient care, internal diseases, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology are also included in the study process to supplement theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

Message from the Vice-Rector: 
Being a physician is not only a profession but also a life choice and momentous  decision and a student feels happy when they  manage to make the dream about working in medicine come true with hard work, self-discipline and willpower. A physician’s work is also the taking on of responsibility – towards a patient’s health,  taking their life in your own hands and having it on your conscience. A physician’s work provides huge satisfaction and real joy about a job that is well done, a person’s health has been improved or a patient’s life has been saved. All of these emotional, professional and ethical values are valued highly at RSU Faculty of Medicine. We supplement them with a modern study environment, cutting-edgetechnologies and our biggest asset – the experience of outstanding specialists and teaching staff in all fields of medicine and their friendly approach towards the students. Striving for excellence in our profession and in life in general!

Prof. Guntis Bahs, Vice-Rector for Health Studies, Riga Stradins University