Venuka Mabotuwana studied for her MD degree at the University of Latvia in Riga, Latvia and graduated in January 2010. She shares her undergraduate experiences regarding the application process, studying Medicine and living in Latvia. Details about the MD program can be accessed via http://www.lu.lv/eng/faculties/fm/. The admissions counsellor Agnese Indriksone can be emailed at agnese.indriksone@lu.lv.
MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS:
In which school did you study for your Advanced Levels and what subjects did you study?
I studied at Visakha Vidyalaya and studied Biology, Chemistry and Physics for my GCE A/L Examinations.
Why did you decide to study at the University of Latvia? What factors did you consider when selecting medical schools?
My decision was based on both the personal recommendation of the University's academic program by a friend and also on Latvia joining the EU the year I joined the University 2003/2004. The University of Latvia seemed to be a great place to study at a reasonable price and to get an EU/ WHO/ FAIMER accredited degree.
What was the application process like?
The application process was handled by a student agent at the time, but the process has changed since. As far as I know, there are no student agents at the moment. Prospective students can contact the University directly and get the process started. More details can be found at http://www.mf.lu.lv/foreignstudents/
What requirements did you need to apply?
The University required GCE A/L in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Natural Sciences. There is also an English language proficiency requirement. More details on this could be found at http://www.lu.lv/eng/istudents/degree/study/autumn-2011-academic-year-20112012/higher-medicine/. Admission is not very competitive; therefore you'll probably be guaranteed a place as long as you fulfill the admission requirements. Admissions for Fall 2011 are closed. The deadline for Fall 2012 applications will likely be end of May 2012. Please check the University of Latvia's website for the specific date.
What is the cost of the application process?
The application fee for Sri Lankan citizens is about SLR 7,700 (50 Euro or USD 70). Details can be found here: http://www.lu.lv/eng/istudents/degree/study/autumn-2011-academic-year-20112012/higher-medicine/
Do you need a visa? How much does it cost and how do you get it?
A visa was required. There is a Latvian Consulate in Sri Lanka where students could submit the documents to. Their website is http://www.latvia.lk/. I'm not sure about the cost, but you could find out by sending an email to consulatlatvia@sltnet.lk. The visa process was quite difficult before the opening of the Latvian Consulate in Sri Lanka, but I think it should be much easier now. The visa is stamped annually. This visa allows you to travel in the EU (except the UK) without a visa and travel within Europe is very reasonable.
MEDICAL SCHOOL EXPERIENCE:
How difficult and competitive were the courses? How big are the classes? Were there many international students?
As the country joined the EU, the standards, courses and exams got tougher. The classes/lectures were quite small and had all international students (~30) but the practical classes had about ~15 in the class. There were many students from other EU countries such as Germany, Switzerland and also Middle Eastern countries.
How many courses did you have to take and how long did it take before you graduated?
The course was full-time 6 years (12 Semesters), totalling to 360 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits which corresponds to EU standards and professional requirements set for MDs.
The full study program could be found at http://www.mf.lu.lv/fileadmin/user_upload/lu_portal/projekti/mf/foreignstudents/Higher_prof_study_program_MEDICINE_2010_2011.pdf
Was there an internship requirement?
There isn't a compulsory internship requirement for graduation. The clinical hours required to graduate are included in the 6 year program, however students have the opportunity to complete a one year internship in Latvia after graduation or enter a residency program for specialisation. The length of these programs is dependent on each specialisation. Students could also apply for residency programs in other EU countries. The biggest barrier especially to work in the UK is not being an EU national. EU nationals with the University of Latvia MD degree could apply for medical residencies without having to sit the screening exams (i.e PLAB) but non-EU nationals need to sit for these exams to practise in the UK. However other EU countries such as Norway and Germany accept non-EU nationals for residency programs if they satisfy the language requirements.
Do you have to learn another language when studying there?
The MD degree program is conducted in English. However, Latvian language classes are conducted once a week in the first year as it is required to communicate with patients.
How were the Professors? Were they helpful?
The professors were very helpful. Some professors who taught at the faculty were the best in Eastern Europe. They were very humble and helpful.
Were there any Sri Lankans in the University at that time?
There were six Sri Lankans in my batch. They were friendly and supportive of each other. Overall there were about 25 Sri Lankans in the program. The seniors were very helpful and always advised the juniors about living in Riga and studies at the faculty.
How recognized is your degree around the world? Are there students who went to other countries to practice medicine or applied for higher education/other jobs?
The degree is recognised by almost all international organisations including FAIMER, ECFMG and WHO. Degree holders have free movement in the EU which means they could practise without having to sit exams. Some countries do require you to sit language exams though.
What is the procedure to practice medicine in Sri Lanka and how well did your University education prepare you for it?
Most students who sat for the ACT 16 in Sri Lanka have got through and are practising medicine is Sri Lanka. As I have not sat for these exams I am unable to comment accurately.
What is the total cost of the program?
The total 6-year tuition fee for students starting their studies in 1st year (for 2011-2012) is SLR 7.7 million (50,533 Euro or USD 70,850). You can get a break down of the costs by visiting this link: http://www.lu.lv/eng/istudents/degree/study/autumn-2011-academic-year-20112012/higher-medicine/.
Include about US$500 a month for living and air fare cost to go home during summer.
Are there any scholarships available?
There were no scholarships available for non-EU residents during the time I was there.
What was the overall experience of studying like?
It was a good experience. The winter season can be tough, but if you have a car it would make things easier.
LIFE IN CITY RIGA, LATVIA
Can you describe the first few weeks of settling down?
I stayed at the student hostel. The average price in the hostel for a month was about US$350. A student would need ~US$500 a month for living expenses, including accommodation and a travel pass.
Do most students live in hostels/off campus?
Most students do live in University hostels. These are off-campus and centrally located. One student hostel is located in the heart of Riga and is a 2 minute walk to everything. Public transport in Riga is excellent. Even if you live in a hostel a bit far from the city you'll still be able to catch a trolley, tram or an auto bus to anywhere you want to go. Average travel time from the furthest hostel to the University is about 25 minutes by bus. There are supermarkets and shopping malls close to all University hostels. Clinical rotations are in different hospitals in Riga, therefore some might be very close to the hostel while the others are a bit far. In this instance, having your own car would be great especially during winter.
Does the University have study lounges, library facilities? How was the security on and around campus?
I never had any problems during my six years at the University. The medical library has a good collection of books and there is a much larger main library as well. There is also access to many journals from the University website and the library computer room. I found Riga to be very safe.
Where did you hang out during your spare time outside the University?
Old Riga is full of little coffee shops, tea houses and restaurants. It's a very beautiful place to stroll when you need a break from studies.
How big is the Sri Lankan community? How helpful were they? Did they have any events?
At the beginning (in 2003) there was quite a big Sri Lankan community and there were annual Sinhala and Hindu New Year and Independence Day celebrations sponsored by the Consulate of Sri Lanka in Latvia. Most Sri Lankan students have graduated since and left, and there is a relatively smaller Sri Lankan community now with most of them being expatriates now living in the EU. The reason for the decline in Sri Lankan students is probably that students opt to go to universities much closer to Sri Lanka (i.e India, China) as these degrees are also recognized by the SLMC and most now costs less than a degree from the University of Latvia. Sri Lankan students who are interested in entering University of Latvia now are those who wish to work in the EU.
Any advice for other students thinking of applying?
It's a great place to study. However, it is quite far from home and airfare is quite expensive as are the calling charges from Sri Lanka. However, if you are planning to live in the EU it would open up new opportunities. Many Sri Lankan students who graduated are continuing their medical education (residencies) in Latvia and other EU countries such as Norway.
Where do you work now?
I recently migrated to the US and have completed USMLE Step 1. At the moment I am preparing for STEP 2 CK and CS, and am hoping to apply for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) in September 2011.
SL2College would like to thank Venuka Mabotuwana for sharing her experience at University of Latvia, Riga, and would like to wish her the very best in her future endeavours. Aindri Hurulle from the SL2College editorial team, is also thanked for working with Venuka in developing this article.
Date of publication in the Sunday Observer: July 17 and 24, 2011 (in 2 parts).
This and other related articles are available on www.sl2college.org, under the resources section. SL2College is a global community that provides FREE advice and guidance to Sri Lankan students. Envisioned in 2005, SL2College helps Sri Lankan students access relevant information that would assist them in making informed decisions about their educational goals. Please post your queries on: www.sl2college.org or email - info@sl2college.org
