MBBS in Latvia is a good option for Indian students. Latvia, a small but rapidly developing country, became a member of the European Union in 2004.
It is important that, if you wish to complete the study of medicine in Europe, you try to choose a nation that is a member of the EU. Apart from better career options, you also get a better overall experience due to better infrastructure and administration.
MBBS in Latvia for international students
The most outstanding feature that medical education in Latvia displays is the intensified focus on clinical practice. The WDOMS itself highlights this fact when speaking of Latvian medical universities.
The standard of education in Latvia is always praised by students. There is a definite rise in the number of Indian students choosing to study MBBS in Latvia.
Medical Universities in Latvia
There are many medical universities in Latvia, but most of them do not have English as the medium of instruction. The two most prominent universities in Latvia that feature in the WDOMS list are:
Owing to the fact that the ECTS prevails in most of Europe, there are certain uniformities in the education protocols followed in the member nations. One of these is that every European university offers a 6-year MBBS.
So, after the NMC guidelines that to appear in NEXT, a student must have a 5-year MBBS program apart from a year of internship, interest in European MBBS is rising rapidly.
So, MBBS in Latvia has a duration of 6 years. So, you need not have any insecurity regarding your eligibility to practice in India after studying MBBS in Latvia.
Living Cost
The cost of living in Latvia is reasonable, like in the rest of Europe. If we exclude the accommodation charges, you will spend at most €300 per month as miscellaneous living costs if you spend lavishly. However, if you are a little careful, you can easily manage €250 per month.
The costs of some common goods are:
Goods
Prices (in Euros)
Milk (1 litre)
1
Loaf of bread
0.86
Eggs (a dozen)
1.92
Rice/pound
0.77
Meal at an average restaurant
8.0
Monthly travel pass
45.0
Utilities (Gas, Electricity, etc.)
210
Hostel
Though the universities provide hostels, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to get a room because they are mostly occupied and the number of available rooms is not sufficient.
However, there are numerous apartments available for rent that you can easily share with a few other students. These accommodations are meant for students only and thus have all the amenities a student may need.
If you share these apartments, you can easily manage by paying €200 for boarding.
MBBS in Latvia tuition fees
Like all MBBS abroad destinations, the cost of the MBBS in Latvia is primarily the tuition fee. On average, the tuition fee charged by medical universities offering MBBS in Latvia in English is around €12,000 per year. For 6 years, this comes out to be around €72,000.
There are certain other costs, like visa extensions, medical insurance, etc., that will cost a total of €15,500 for the entire degree.
The cost mentioned above may vary among universities.
MBBS in Latvia eligibility
The eligibility criteria that you must have for MBBS admission in Latvia include:
Class XII
50% PCB (Riga Stradins requires 80% PCB)
NEET
Qualified
Entrance Exam
None
Age
17-25 years
Why study medicine in Latvia?
English-taught medical programs with good academic standard
The EU's advantage in infrastructure and opportunities
The medical universities are recognised & accredited
6 years MBBS, so eligible to practice in India
There are no entrance exams or language tests.
PG Options After MBBS in Latvia
NEET PG or NEXT
success ratio to get Clinical PG Seat in Govt Medical College which is 9% only, broadly we can say that only 1 out of 10 will get Govt Seat, even after paying 1.5-2 Cr in Pvt Medical college your chances are just 1 out of 6.
NEXT Exam is applicable from 2024 batch onward, replacing NEET-PG and FMGE. NEXT aims to assess knowledge in Pre, Para, and Clinical subjects nationally.
USMLE is a 3 step Exam. One can appear in USMLE Step 1 after 2nd Year, USMLE Step 2 CK during an internship, and Step-3 during your residency (Medical PG). The USMLE is an online exam and can be taken at the PROMETRIC centres present across India any time.
USMLE Exam passing ratio is 60% which is 6 time the NEET-PG Exam. NEXT Exam designed on USMLE pattern, refer the table below
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