Riga Nordic University (ex-ISMA)
About
ISMA in Riga offers English-taught degrees in IT, business, tourism, and creative industries from €3,300/year (IELTS 5.5), with two intakes a year — September and February — for flexible entry. As an EU/Schengen institution, its residence permit includes work rights of up to 20 hours/week during term and 40 during holidays.
Riga pulses with creative energy—affordable coworking spaces, a thriving startup scene, and plenty of student hangouts make it a genuinely welcoming city for young people from abroad. Student life here costs around €800–1,000 per month, far below Western Europe, and you'll find the city feels less touristy and more real than nearby capitals.
Application deadlines
- SeptemberAug 31
Rolling admissions. SSL certificate on isma.lv expired as of Jun 2026 — access via HTTP or contact admissions directly.
Accommodation
SSL certificate expired on isma.lv as of Jun 2026 — website accessible via HTTP. Contact admissions to verify current status.
SourceScholarships
- 🏛Latvian State Scholarship: €500–700/month (UA/KZ/UZ only)
Latvian State Scholarship available for UA/KZ/UZ (cycle 2026/27 currently closed; check studyinlatvia.lv). RU/BY not eligible for state scholarship.
National funding for this destination
Honestly
Why this works
- Bachelor tuition at €3,300/year is among the lowest for English-taught EU degrees in the region.
- IELTS minimum of 5.5 is accessible for CIS students without intensive test preparation.
- Latvia is an EU/Schengen member — graduates receive an EU-recognised diploma with full Schengen mobility.
- Two intakes per year (September and February) give flexible entry timing for international applicants.
- Student work rights allow up to 20 h/week during term and 40 h/week during holidays, included in the residence permit.
- Riga is the largest Baltic capital — affordable cost of living with on-campus accommodation from ~€100–250/month.
What to check
- RNU is a private applied university — brand recognition outside the Baltic states is limited for employers and graduate schools.
- The university was renamed from ISMA to Riga Nordic University in September 2025 — older listings, aggregators and rankings still use the ISMA name; check that offer letters and diplomas carry the name you expect.
- The university also runs an international branch in Fergana, Uzbekistan — a branch programme is not the same route as studying in Riga; confirm in writing which campus your programme and residence permit relate to.
- Scholarship terms and amounts are not publicly documented; do not budget for discounts without written confirmation.
- Daily life in Riga requires at least basic Latvian or Russian; English-only speakers may face barriers outside campus.
- Private health insurance (~€30–60/month) is an additional mandatory cost not included in tuition for non-EU students.
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Figures are indicative and change by academic year. Always confirm tuition, deadlines and visa requirements on the official institution and government sources before applying.