Information Regarding Organisation of Study Process at Rīga Stradiņš University, Starting 2021/22 Academic Year

In order to provide both new and current students of Rīga Stradiņš University with the information on the commencement of the study process in 2021/2022 academic year, the University shall provide an explanation regarding the applied University Rector's Decree No. 5-1/246/2021 of 19 May 2021 On Amendments to the Rector's Decree No. 5-1/132/2021 of 8 March 2021 “On further organisation of the study process under conditions of the spread of COVID-19 infection” (hereinafter – the Decree), as well as the planned organisation of the study process in 2021/2022 academic year.

The University informs that the academic year 2021/2022 will start on 30 August 2021. Until 4 October 2021, the study process will be organised remotely online for all University students, except for the 1st year students of the social sciences study programmes, for whom the study process is planned in person from 30 August 2021 in the University's premises, observing the epidemiological safety measures imposed in the country. 1st year students will be informed about the course of the study process within 3 (three) working days after matriculation, as well as the information will be posted in the University’s e-environment (e-studies and the University’s student portal MyRSU).

On 4 October 2021, the University will start the on-site study process in all study programmes for all study years in accordance with study programmes and the agreed schedules of medical institutions, if no national decisions on containment of the spread of COVID-19 infection will be made by then.

Changes in the Rector’s Decree and organisation of the study process may be made taking into account the tendencies in the spread of COVID-19 infection and the epidemiological safety measures laid down in the country. Both information on the schedule of lectures and classes for the autumn semester of the academic year 2021/2022, as well as other relevant information on the organisation of the study process will be provided 10 (ten) working days before the beginning of the semester in the University’s e-environment (e-studies and the University’s student portal MyRSU), in accordance with the Academic Regulations I.

In order to ensure an epidemiologically safe environment at the University in accordance with the Decree, persons with a valid interoperable vaccination or recovery certificate will be able to participate in studies on-site. In Latvia, those persons will be considered vaccinated, who could provide documentary evidence on vaccination with vaccines registered by the European Medicines Agency or an equivalent regulator or vaccines recognised by the World Health Organisation. Consequently, students who have received other COVID-19 vaccines abroad will not be considered vaccinated in Latvia.

List of vaccines recognised by the World Health Organisation

University informs that an equivalent regulator to the European Medicines Agency is a regulator with a concluded mutual recognition agreement with the European Medicines Agency regarding the recognition of manufacturers' inspections and these agreements have been recognised in Latvia (learn more). The European Medicines Agency has concluded agreements with Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States.

In order to be able to provide on-site studies for all students, incl. for foreign students who have yet not been vaccinated, the University will provide an opportunity to receive vaccines against COVID-19 at the University premises, respectively it will be possible to receive the first vaccine dose on 27 August 2021 and the second dose of vaccine three weeks after the first vaccine – on 17 September 2021. Therefore, the University invites to plan the arrival in Latvia in time, and to fully participate in the study process of the 2021/2022 academic year.

Please be informed that if a student has received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in his/her country of residence, there will be an opportunity to receive the second dose of vaccine at the University at the time indicated above.

In addition, in accordance with the Rector’s Decree, the University has provided an opportunity for persons, incl. for students who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, to present an interoperable certificate confirming that the person has been tested for COVID-19 for SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA and a negative test result is confirmed. The Decree stipulates that payment for this test will have to be made by the person himself/herself. The University states that it does not plan to organise the possibility of conducting such tests uniformly on the University premises. The mentioned requirements will be updated in accordance with the requirements of regulatory enactments, which will be laid down in Latvia at the time of commencement of studies.

We also inform that study placements take place under their schedule and have been coordinated with the medical institutions, which in accordance with the regulations in force in Latvia have determined that only students with an interoperable vaccination or recovery certificate will be able to participate in the process.