# Riga Nordic University (ex-ISMA)

> private · Riga · latvia

## Facts

- **Tuition, non-EU:** €3300 — verified 2026-07-22
- **IELTS minimum:** 5.5 — verified 2026-07-22
- **Financial proof for a student residence permit:** €9,360 per year (2026, PMLP — necessary subsistence: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/necessary-subsistence-0)

**Intakes and deadlines**

| Intake | Deadline | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| September | Aug 31 | Rolling admissions. SSL certificate on isma.lv expired as of Jun 2026 — access via HTTP or contact admissions directly. |

Deadlines verified 2026-07-22.

## Profile

- **Country:** latvia (LV)
- **City:** Riga
- **Type:** private
- **Fields:** it, business, tourism, creative-industries
- **Study routes:** direct-bachelor
- **Website:** https://rnu.lv/en/
- **Address:** Lomonosova iela 1, LV-1019 Riga, Latvia
- **Data verified:** 2026-07-22

## About

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.

## Strengths

- 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.

## Watch out for

- 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.

## Scholarships

- **National schemes:** Latvian State Scholarship: €500–700/month (UA/KZ/UZ only)
- **Note:** Latvian State Scholarship available for UA/KZ/UZ (cycle 2026/27 currently closed; check studyinlatvia.lv). RU/BY not eligible for state scholarship.
- **Researched:** 2026-05

## Accommodation

- **University dormitory:** yes
- **Dormitory cost:** €160–390
- **Private housing:** €200–360
- **Rent figures describe:** the city of Riga
- **How to apply:** On-campus housing available ~€150-300/month. Contact gramatvediba@isma.lv for availability.
- **Notes:** SSL certificate expired on isma.lv as of Jun 2026 — website accessible via HTTP. Contact admissions to verify current status.
- **Source:** https://rnu.lv/en/for-students/accommodation/

## National and EU scholarships for this destination

- [Latvian State Scholarships](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/latvian-state-scholarship.md) — €500/month (Bachelor's), €600/month (Master's), 2026/2027
- [Erasmus+](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-plus.md) — Monthly mobility grant set by the home institution + possible top-ups
- [Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-mundus.md) — Full scholarship: tuition + travel, visa & a monthly living allowance (set per programme)

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Canonical page: https://studyroute.app/institutions/isma-university
Source of this file: https://studyroute.app/institutions/isma-university.md

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Where no date is shown, none is claimed — the figure is real, its check date is not on record.