University: Riga Stradins University

City: Riga

Country: Latvia

Continent: Europe

Field of study: medicine

Study type: Other courses

Hello, my dears,

I’m Linda, 21 years old and I’ve just finished my first semester in Medicine at Rigas Stardina Universitate. And first of all: I am super glad that I took the step and went to Riga. I really don’t regret a single second! Then I’ll start from the beginning. When I looked at what the university wanted from me for application documents, I was a bit flabbergasted at first, and therefore super happy that I could ask MicroEdu for advice at any time and that they themselves made suggestions for improvement after I had already sent my complete application to MicroEdu. I have to say that it was great support. Check liuxers.com to see how to open a US bank account.

When I got my confirmation email a few weeks later, I was of course totally over the moon and couldn’t believe it. The organizational stress started immediately. Where do I live? Do I go to a hostel first? Do I look for a flat share right away or do I open one myself? When do I fly? What do I have to think about? questions upon questions. It is important that you make contact with the other students who have also applied via MicroEdu. You get a lot of ideas as a collective. For my part, I talked to two other students and had the intention of moving into a shared flat with them. As a result, I flew to Riga a week before the orientation week (fresher week) started and looked at many, many, many apartments. Some were really unreasonable and others were also suuuper nice. I can tell you one thing: Don’t take the first thing that comes your way, but don’t hesitate too long either, otherwise someone else will have grabbed the apartment. And if you want the apartment, you have to sign it immediately, but please only a contract that has also been translated into English. Otherwise you will experience your blue miracle. It is best to try to find an apartment in Oldtown or Centrs. And hire a broker! Then you won’t be ripped off so quickly. The university is on the other side of the river, but public transport has a very good connection to the university. I lived in a hostel until I could move into the apartment I found with my roommate. It’s worth an experience too! Next time I would make sure that I am in the same hostel with many people from my degree program. Then you get to know each other a little better.

If anyone is shy about studying in English. You don’t have to worry at all. In some cases, the English you speak is better than that of the professors, it’s really easy to get into it. Of course you can’t avoid the fact that you have to look up a word from time to time. That’s very easy. No fear!
Of the subjects that I have as a medical doctor, some are of course super interesting, such as anatomy and biology, these are also the two subjects that were most important! And of course there are a few subjects that seem a bit unnecessary, but that was the way it was at school. So nothing unusual. If you get stuck with something, we always have several contacts at the university who will also be at your side with advice and action. Oh yes, and you get a so-called buddy in the orientation week, i.e. a student from a higher semester, who tells you everything at the beginning, shows you the university and other buildings you have to go to during your studies. Your buddy will explain how to get tickets and how to register at the Citizens’ Registration Office. So you don’t have to be afraid of having to fend for yourself in Riga. I was also very interested in going to Riga because you study with many international students. It’s just that, as usual, the German students make up the majority, so for everyone who wants to speak English not only at the university but also in their free time and wants to get to know many different cultures and people. Make friends with non-German people so don’t just talk German to each other so that a Finn, for example, can understand a word;) that the German students form the majority, so for all those who want to speak English not only at the university but also in their free time and want to get to know many different cultures and people. Make friends with non-German people so don’t just talk German to each other so that a Finn, for example, can understand a word;) that the German students form the majority, so for all those who want to speak English not only at the university but also in their free time and want to get to know many different cultures and people. Make friends with non-German people so don’t just talk German to each other so that a Finn, for example, can understand a word;)

Arriving in Riga, of course, you have to get used to a lot of new and unknown things, but over time you learn to love the city. Especially in summer when everything is blooming. The residents too. Riga is really a beautiful city. In winter you have to know how to deal with temperatures down to -30°C. You’ll just freeze and freeze and every now and then you won’t feel your toes anymore. But for that you can go to the beach quite often in the summer and get a tan! You can go out for a drink in the evenings in Riga, there are countless bars, there are also many sports facilities and the university also offers a wide range of sports. Well, in the first semester I had a wonderful life with a lot of free time, of course there are a few stressful phases from time to time when you think I’ll never make it. But you prepare yourself for that right from the start when you decide on medicine. When it comes to prices, you have to be careful. Latvia won’t get the €uro until 2014. So don’t immediately think uhh everything is cheap here! No no! The first thing to do is to convert. In the next year we will all see how expensive the things we buy in our everyday life cost.

(In the photos you can see the beach near Jurmala in winter and in summer at Midsummer, as well as a photo of Riga on my daily way to university.)

I hope I could help you in your decision! Maybe we’ll see each other in Riga soon!