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Meta title: Applying to Latvian Universities: 2027 Deadlines | StudyU
Meta description: How to apply to Latvian universities: grades, IELTS, LU's SAT, deadlines by citizenship, documents and when a school-leaver can realistically start.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Applying to Latvian Universities: Requirements, Deadlines and Steps

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There is no central admissions system for international students in Latvia. You apply online to each university separately, and selection rests on school grades, an English certificate and an interview. LU adds an SAT requirement of 1200+ for school-leavers educated outside the EU, and RTU a short maths test. Once admitted, the university sends a study agreement and requests an invitation, on the basis of which the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) decides on your residence permit.

The timing trap most applicants miss: citizens of Russia apply earlier than everyone else — by 1 April at RSU and by 1 May at LU and RTU (the 2026 pattern). A Russian school-leaver does not yet have a final certificate on those dates, so the realistic start is RSU's February intake for medicine and dentistry, RTU's January intake for selected programmes, or September of the following year.

The University of Latvia Academic Centre in Torņakalns. Photo: Latvijas Universitāte / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Latvijas_Universit%C4%81tes_Akad%C4%93miskais_centrs.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## Who decides what {#section-1}

| Stage | Decision-maker | What you do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recognition of your certificate or diploma | Academic Information Centre (AIC), at the university's request | provide a scan with an apostille and a certified English translation |
| Admission | the university's admissions committee | upload documents, pay the fee, attend interviews and tests |
| Invitation for the residence permit | PMLP approves the invitation filed by the university | sign the agreement and pay as the university requires |
| Residence permit | PMLP | file the application at an embassy or, if you entered on a visa, in Latvia |
| Long-stay (D) visa | Latvian embassy | for Russian citizens, only after PMLP approves the permit |

## Is an 11-year school certificate enough? {#section-2}

Yes. Latvian universities accept certificates from 11-year school systems directly; no foundation year is required for that. What they check is your grades in the key subjects and the AIC recognition of the document.

RSU publishes minimum grades by country. For bachelor's programmes and medicine they apply to compulsory subjects; other grades simply need to be passes.

| Country of certificate | Scale | RSU minimum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan | 1–5 (0–5 in Uzbekistan) | 4 |
| Belarus, Georgia, Moldova | 10-point | 7 |
| Ukraine | 0–12 | 8 |

For medicine RSU also requires at least 70% in English, mathematics and biology or chemistry, and 80% in biology and chemistry for dentistry, where having both biology and chemistry counts in your favour.

LU converts grades to its 10-point scale. Non-EU citizens need an overall average of at least 6/10 and at least 8/10 in the key subjects (mathematics for Computer Science and Business Administration, biology and chemistry for medicine). If you finished school outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, LU also requires an SAT total of at least 1200 and holds an online interview; see our guide to [SAT or ACT](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-sat-or-act).

RTU sets a general bar of 60% of the maximum grade at the previous level, with an emphasis on mathematics and physics for technical programmes.

RISEBA also sets a 60% threshold for non-EU applicants.

## English: which results are accepted {#section-3}

| University | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Other options |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RSU | 6.0 | 80 | Cambridge (170+), PTE Academic, Oxford Test of English; certificate no older than 5 years |
| RTU | 5.5 | 72 | Cambridge B2 First, PTE Academic 59, TOEIC 780 |
| LU | B2 level | B2 level | an internationally recognised B2 certificate |

If your whole previous education was in English, RSU and RTU accept a medium-of-instruction letter instead of a test.

## Interviews and entrance tests {#section-4}

- RSU: a motivational interview on Zoom is compulsory for applicants from outside the EU unless they live in the EU. Expect questions about why this programme and RSU, how it fits your plans, and what you know about Riga and Latvia. You are invited only once your file is complete.
- RTU: you record a video interview online at a time that suits you, within 7 days of the invitation. Bachelor's applicants also take a 10-question online maths test.
- LU: an online interview for bachelor's applicants; the MBA International Business adds a written exam in international economics and requires at least two years of work experience.

## Deadlines by citizenship {#section-5}

Deadlines differ by university and by passport. Citizens of the countries on Latvia's additional-check list, which includes Russia, Belarus and Tajikistan, apply first.

| University and intake | Additional-check countries | Other visa countries | EU and visa-free countries |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RSU, medicine and dentistry, September 2027 | 1 March – 1 April 2027 | 1 March – 1 May 2027 | 1 March – 1 July 2027 |
| RSU, medicine and dentistry, February 2027 | 4 September – 1 October 2026 | 4 September – 1 November 2026 | 4 September – 1 December 2026 |
| RSU, master's, September 2027 | 1 September 2026 – 1 April 2027 | by 1 May 2027 | by 1 July 2027 |
| LU, September 2026 (past cycle) | by 1 May 2026 | by 21 June 2026 | by 16 August 2026 |
| RTU, September 2026 (past cycle) | by 1 May 2026 | by 15 July 2026 | by 1 August 2026 (EU) |
| RTU, January 2027 | already closed on RTU's application portal (checked 29.09.2026) | 15 November 2026 | 1 December 2026 (EU, EEA and EU candidate countries) |

LU and RTU publish their September 2027 dates closer to opening. In the last cycle LU opened applications on 1 December or 1 January depending on the programme, and RTU on 1 January.

## When can a school-leaver realistically start? {#section-6}

LU does not accept applications with provisional results, and RTU asks for a final secondary certificate. RSU lets only certain systems send certificates after the deadline: German Abitur, IB and school-leavers from Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands. A Russian school-leaver receives the certificate at the end of June, after the deadlines for that passport have closed.

| Passport of a 2027 school-leaver | Realistic options |
| --- | --- |
| Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan | RSU in February 2028 (medicine, dentistry), RTU's January intake for selected programmes if you meet the early deadline (in 2026 it passed in September), or September 2028 |
| Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia | September 2027 at LU (deadline around 21 June) and RTU (around 15 July) if the certificate is issued in time; RSU in February |
| Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine | September 2027 at all three: visa-free countries get the latest deadlines |

Applicants who left school earlier can apply for September in the usual way.

## Application documents {#section-7}

The core bachelor's file:

- passport (for Russian citizens, biometric only);
- school certificate and transcript in the original language plus a certified English translation;
- an apostille on the certificate (Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other Hague Convention members issue it domestically; other countries require consular legalisation);
- an English certificate or medium-of-instruction letter;
- a motivation letter (at RSU, on the official form and no older than two years);
- references: two at RSU from teachers or employers, not relatives; one at RTU;
- an SAT score for LU;
- proof of the application fee: $110 (€100) at RSU, $190 (€165) at RTU, $190 (€170) at LU, none of which is refundable.

For a master's, replace the school certificate with a bachelor's diploma and supplement and add a CV. Some programmes ask for more, for example a 1,000-word essay for RSU's International Relations and Diplomacy.

## Recognition and legalisation {#section-8}

After you pay the fee, the university sends your certificate to the AIC, Latvia's ENIC-NARIC centre, which decides which Latvian qualification and European Qualifications Framework level it corresponds to. RSU says this usually takes up to a month, or up to four months if more information is needed; LU quotes 4–6 weeks.

Legalisation and recognition are different things: the apostille proves the document is genuine, recognition establishes its level. RSU insists on original stamps and signatures from the authority that legalised the document, and LU asks you to complete legalisation before applying for a visa or residence permit.

## After you are admitted {#section-9}

1. Agreement and payment. RSU expects the tuition fee and other payments within two weeks of the offer, then payment each semester. LU requires the full first year before you apply for a visa or permit. RTU takes a deposit, $570 (€500) on its portal for Russian and CIS citizens, and refunds unused amounts if a visa or permit is refused, once the embassy confirms it.
2. Invitation. The university's immigration officer files an invitation that PMLP approves; this is standard for all non-EU students.
3. Residence permit and visa. Some students apply for the permit at an embassy before travelling; others enter on a D visa and apply in Latvia. For Russian citizens the order is fixed: PMLP decision first, then the visa. Details in our guide to the [student residence permit in Latvia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-latvia).
4. Arrival. Orientation week, the university's residence-permit briefing, an X-ray, health insurance and registering your address.

## Sample timeline: a Russian school-leaver aiming for September 2028 {#section-10}

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Spring 2027 (final school year) | shortlist 2–3 programmes, start preparing for IELTS or TOEFL; register for the SAT if LU is on your list |
| June–July 2027 | receive the certificate, apostille it, order translations |
| August–September 2027 | take the English test; if RSU's February intake suits you, apply by the early deadline for additional-check countries |
| Autumn 2027 – March 2028 | for September 2028, apply as soon as applications open and before 1 April (RSU) or 1 May (LU, RTU) |
| Spring–summer 2028 | agreement, payment, invitation, residence permit file at the embassy, then the D visa after PMLP's decision |

For citizens of Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan the same plan moves one year earlier: you can apply in June–July of your final school year if the certificate is already issued.

## If your English is not there yet {#section-11}

RTU runs a General English Foundation course: a full year costs $3,970 (€3,500) and one semester $2,840 (€2,500). It raises your English level but does not replace programme requirements; you still go through normal selection afterwards. At RSU and LU the English certificate is needed at the point of application, so start preparing early.

## Common mistakes {#section-12}

- Planning September straight after a Russian school. The early deadlines for Russian citizens close before school finals; start with the February or January intakes.
- Forgetting LU's SAT. Without it, a non-EU school-leaver's application to Computer Science, Business Administration or Medicine will not be considered.
- Sending documents without an apostille or with copies instead of original stamps. The university will not enrol you until the document is legalised.
- Paying the fee before checking your passport. Latvia does not accept non-biometric Russian passports for visas or residence permits.
- Putting everything on one university. Fees are small compared with losing a year; two or three applications give you a fallback.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Are there entrance exams for Latvian universities?

There is no national exam. RSU selects on grades and a motivational interview, RTU uses a video interview and a short maths test, and LU requires SAT 1200+ plus an online interview for school-leavers from outside the EU. Some master's programmes set their own exams, such as LU's MBA International Business.

### Can I apply to a Latvian university after 11 years of school?

Yes. Latvian universities accept 11-year school certificates if your grades in the key subjects meet the threshold and the AIC recognises the document. RTU's foundation course is only needed if your English is not yet good enough.

### What grades do I need?

It depends on the university. RSU requires at least 4 out of 5 in compulsory subjects for Russian, Kazakh and Uzbek certificates and, for medicine, 70% in the key subjects. LU asks for an average of 6/10 and 8/10 in key subjects; RTU for 60% of the maximum.

### How much does it cost to apply?

The application fee is $110 (€100) at RSU, $190 (€165) at RTU and $190 (€170) at LU, and none is refunded. Apostilles, translations, the English test and, for LU, the SAT are extra.

### Can Russian citizens apply to Latvian universities now?

Universities accept their applications, with the early deadline, and the law keeps a residence permit for full-time study available to them. The embassy issues the D visa only after PMLP approves the permit, so the whole process takes longer than for other applicants. Each stage is decided by the university, PMLP and the embassy respectively.

### Can I apply to several Latvian universities at once?

Yes. There is no central limit; each university reviews applications separately and charges its own fee. Combining a university with an early September deadline and one with a January or February intake makes sense.

## How StudyU can help {#section-14}

Choosing programmes, checking your grades and English against each university's requirements, preparing letters and the document file and supporting your application are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission rests with the university, the residence permit with PMLP and the visa with the Latvian embassy. If you want to know which intake is realistic for your graduation year and passport, [send us a request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply). For a country overview see [study in Latvia](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-latvia), and for a comparison of universities, [universities in Latvia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-latvia).

## Sources {#section-15}

- [RSU: September and February deadlines](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-here/admissions/when-apply), [general requirements](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-here/admissions/general-requirements-studies-english), [English requirements](https://www.rsu.lv/en/requirements-english-proficiency), [interview, recognition, legalisation](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-here/admissions/additional-procedures), [application documents](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-here/admissions/application-guide-and-document-forms), [Admissions Procedure 2026/27, Annexes 11–12 (PDF)](https://www.rsu.lv/sites/default/files/imce/SSD/admissions_procedure_2026_2027_eng.pdf), [fees and payment terms](https://www.rsu.lv/en/study-here/admissions/tuition-fees-studies-english)
- [LU: international admissions, 2026 deadlines and post-admission steps](https://www.lu.lv/en/admissions/degree-studies/); programme requirements [Computer Science](https://www.lu.lv/en/studies/study-programmes-1/bachelors-study-programmes/computer-science-en/), [Business Administration](https://www.lu.lv/en/studies/study-programmes-1/bachelors-study-programmes/business-administration-en/), [Medicine](https://www.lu.lv/en/studies/study-programmes-1/bachelors-study-programmes/medicine-en/), [MBA International Business](https://www.lu.lv/en/studies/study-programmes-1/masters-study-programmes/international-business-en/)
- [RTU: admission and deadlines](https://www.rtu.lv/en/studies/admission-1), [apply.rtu.lv](https://apply.rtu.lv/), [BSc Computer Systems: requirements and January intake](https://apply.rtu.lv/courses/course/4-bsc-computer-systems), [General English Foundation Year](https://apply.rtu.lv/courses/course/235-fs-general-english-foundation-year), [refund after visa refusal](https://www.rtu.lv/en/studies/request-refund/visa-residence-permit-refusal)
- [RISEBA: terms of enrolment](https://riseba.lv/en/come-study/terms-of-enrolment/)
- [Academic Information Centre (AIC): recognition of foreign diplomas](https://aic.lv/en/recognition-of-foreign-diplomas/)
- [Cabinet Regulation No. 554: additional-check countries](https://likumi.lv/ta/id/212364)
- [PMLP: restrictions for Russian and Belarusian citizens, biometric passports](https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/restrictions-issuing-visas-citizens-belarus-and-russian-federation)

ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10. Details verified on 29.09.2026.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Student Residence Permit in Latvia: Documents, Timing and Rules by Citizenship](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-latvia)
- [Universities in Latvia for International Students: How to Choose](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-latvia)
- [SAT or ACT: Which Test to Take for US Admission in 2026–27](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-sat-or-act)
- [Studying in Latvia for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-latvia)
- [Cost of Studying in Latvia for International Students, 2026/27](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-latvia)
- [Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU): Medicine in English, Admission and Fees](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-rsu)

Updated: September 2026