RSU Rector Professor Aigars Pētersons stated that every year the number of foreign students at RSU increases, and a large group is students from Germany who have come here to study medicine and dentistry.
"It is no secret that most of them go back to their home countries after their studies. We want them to be able to demonstrate not only excellent theoretical and practical knowledge when they enter the job market, but also to have mastered the specifics of their country's healthcare system.
"By opening this branch, we are sending a clear message to current and potential foreign students that Latvia - RSU is the right place to get a quality and competitive higher education," said Pētersons.
The cooperation with Elbe Hospital started four years ago. Since 2022, five groups of students, 46 students in total, have gone there to learn new knowledge and skills within the pilot project. This year, 26 students are starting their studies at the RSU Stade branch.
The establishment of the RSU Stade Branch will not only provide internships, but also clinical studies at the hospital. Starting from the 4th academic year, the RSU branch offers a full course of studies, where the content of the curriculum and examinations is still determined by Latvian legislation, and the awarding of degrees is in accordance with Latvian legislation.
Thus, the RSU Stade branch will offer the RSU-accredited programme "Medicine" in English. The strategic objectives of the branch are to implement the study process mainly for students from Germany or with German language proficiency at C1 level, as well as to offer new opportunities for research and modernization of study programs by integrating the best experience of Western European partners.
In September, 19 lecturers from Stade will start working in the new branch, and at least 10 more by the end of the semester.
Currently, around 690 students from Germany study at RSU, 21% of all international students. 99% of German students do their internships in their home country.
