Studying in Riga: the guide for exchange and Erasmus students

The universities

Riga has around a dozen universities, from the big public ones, the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University and Rīga Stradiņš University, to well-regarded private schools like the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and Turība. Most exchange and Erasmus places run through these. Our universities guide shows where each one is and which residence is closest to your campus.

Student life

You will live alongside students from all over the world. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) runs events, trips and parties through the semester, so it is easy to make friends fast. Riga is cheap enough that your grant goes a long way: the weekday set lunches, the specialty-coffee cafés around Miera iela, a lively bar scene and cheap trains to the coast at the weekend. See our guides to things to do in Riga, food and drinks and day trips.

What it costs

Riga is one of the more affordable capitals in Europe, which makes a student budget stretch. Many students live comfortably on roughly €600 to €900 a month including an all-inclusive room. Our cost of living guide breaks the budget down category by category.

Your first weeks

The practical setup, registration and residence formalities, a local bank account, a SIM card and getting around, is quick if you prepare. Our moving to Riga guide walks you through it step by step, and the getting around guide covers the airport and public transport. The single best tip: sort your accommodation before you arrive, so you land into a room that is ready.

Where to live

An exchange semester is short, so you do not want to lose weeks flat-hunting. Our coliving residences are built for exchange and Erasmus students: fully furnished, all-inclusive rooms in central Riga, with international flatmates and a team that helps you settle in. All are a walk or short tram ride from the universities, and our Tower Hill Residence sits right by the campuses in Torņakalns.

See available rooms for your semester, or read more on our accommodation for exchange students page.