Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta / National Union of Icelandic Students

What Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta / National Union of Icelandic Students does

Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta (LÍS), the National Union of Icelandic Students, is a nonprofit umbrella organization founded on November 3, 2013, that represents over 22,000 Icelandic university students through eight member unions spanning the University of Iceland, University of Akureyri, Reykjavík University, Bifröst University, Iceland Academy of the Arts, Agricultural University of Iceland, Hólar University College, and Icelandic students studying abroad (SÍNE). Headquartered at Borgartún 27 in Reykjavík with a six-person staff, LÍS operates as the sole national-level advocacy body for Icelandic higher-education students, engaging with the Ministry of Higher Education, Innovation and Culture, the Alþingi (parliament), and university leadership on policy consultations. Its core "products" are advocacy outputs rather than commercial offerings: the Háuskóli fyrir öll (University for All) information portal on student rights, the Student Refugees initiative co-hosted with the Icelandic Red Cross, policy campaigns such as "Mennt var máttur" and the "Kröfur stúdenta" student-loan reform framework, and a published library of resolutions, statements, and economic research (notably the joint LÍS-BHM analysis of the Menntasjóður námsmanna loan system). The organization's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded through member-union contributions and public grants, with no pricing, products, or services sold. Outreach and member engagement occur via the studentar.is website, social media, the "Á Öðrum bjór" podcast, email, the annual Landsþing general assembly (39 delegates), and earned media on Stöð 2 and Vísir.is. Internationally, LÍS maintains affiliations with the European Students' Union (ESU, ~20 million students across 40 countries), Nordisk Ordförande Møte (NOM, Nordic-Baltic cooperation since 1946), and North Atlantic Island Student Cooperation (NAIS, with Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Denmark).

Name

Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta / National Union of Icelandic Students

Legal name

Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta

Website

https://studentar.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LÍS is the national nonprofit umbrella organization representing over 22,000 Icelandic university students through eight member unions, advocating on student loans, equality, mental health, and higher-education policy domestically and via ESU, NOM, and NAIS internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Advocacy and Higher Education Policy Representation

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDALANAE

International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/International Student Services & Immigration Support

SECONDARYEDADAHAL

International Student Funding & Mobility Grants Administration

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Student advocacy services
• Higher education policy
• Student representation
• Member union services
• Education policy reform

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership-based representation (non-revenue): LÍS is a voluntary membership organization funded through member union contributions and public grants. The union does not sell products or services. Its revenue model is based on institutional funding and member dues, serving as a representational body for over 22,000 students rather than a commercial entity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta (LÍS) is an umbrella non-profit organization that represents more than 22,000 Icelandic university students through 8 member unions. It delivers advocacy on higher education policy, student rights, accessibility, and student welfare, and represents Icelandic students in international forums such as the European Students' Union (ESU).

Product overview

LÍS (National Union of Icelandic Students) is an umbrella organization for eight student associations representing over 22,000 Icelandic students in higher education. Rather than a technology product company, LÍS operates as a student advocacy and rights organization. Its primary offerings include the 'Háskóli fyrir öll' (University for All) information database on student rights and accommodations, the 'Student Refugees' initiative assisting asylum seekers with accessing higher education, and various advocacy campaigns focused on reforming Iceland's student loan system (Menntasjóður námsmanna). The organization also maintains official policies, statements, and publications on higher education topics. LÍS connects students to international networks including ESU (European Students' Union), NOM (Nordic Student Cooperation), and NAIS (North Atlantic Island Student Cooperation).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Háskóli fyrir öll (University for All) Accessibility-focused initiative by LÍS that documents and advocates for higher-education access for students with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in Iceland.
• Student Refugees advocacy program Advocacy initiative supporting refugee students' access to and participation in Icelandic higher education.
• Mennt var máttur (Education was Power) Advocacy campaign by LÍS promoting the role of higher education in Icelandic society and pushing policy positions on student equality and access.
• Student Loan Reform Demands Policy position demanding reform of Iceland's student loan system, including conditions, repayment terms, and debt burden faced by Icelandic university students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Number of student loan borrowers fell from 12,393 (2009-2010) to 4,979 (2019) — a 60% decline attributed in part to the deterioration of the student loan system under MSNM rules
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BHM — Bandalag háskólamenntaðra (Icelandic Federation of Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025LÍS and BHM jointly commissioned an economic analysis of the Menntasjóður námsmanna (MSNM) student loan system, conducted by economist Nanna Hermannsdóttir. The analysis examined impacts of the 2020 reforms on student finances, educational outcomes, and gender inequality. Results were presented at a public event on May 7, 2026 with Minister Logi Einarsson attending. BHM represents university-educated professionals in Iceland.
• European Students' Union (ESU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESU is the umbrella organization for European student movements, with 44 member unions from 40 countries representing approximately 20 million students. LÍS participates in ESU Board Meetings (BM) twice yearly and European Student Conventions (ESC). LÍS contributed three resolutions at BM90 in Vienna (December 2025): on student participation in HEI mergers, protecting non-EU/EEA international students' rights, and easing visa access for Palestinian students. ESU is a core international partnership for LÍS.
• Nordisk Ordförande Møte (NOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOM is a cooperation forum for student unions in Nordic and Baltic countries, established in 1946. LÍS attends NOM meetings annually and contributed resolutions at NOM87 in Oslo (October 2025) on student participation in university mergers and opposing registration fee increases. LÍS has participated in NOM meetings including NOM85 in Tórshavn and NOM87 in Oslo. NOM represents over one million students across member countries.
• North Atlantic Island Student Cooperation (NAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAIS is a cooperation forum for student unions from North Atlantic islands: Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Denmark. Founded in 2019. LÍS attended NAIS6 in Tórshavn (October 2025). The theme was 'Opportunities for education on North Atlantic islands.' AVALAK (Greenlandic students in Denmark) and ILI ILI (Greenlandic students in Greenland) are also members along with MFS (Faroese students).
• Danske Studerendes Fællesråd (DSF) — National Union of Students in DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLÍS and DSF jointly organized climate activism workshops for students, held May 23–25 in Copenhagen and September 26–28 in Reykjavik. Travel, accommodation, and meals were covered by both organizations. The workshops aimed to develop student climate activism projects and cross-border collaboration between Icelandic and Danish students.
• Rauði krossinn — Icelandic Red Cross (Student Refugees project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLÍS co-hosts the Student Refugees (Flóttamenn í námi) project with the Icelandic Red Cross. The project assists refugees and asylum seekers in Iceland to access higher education. Monthly application cafes are held with Red Cross volunteers. The project is based on the principle that education is a human right.
• Gæðamat háskóla / IAQA — Icelandic Authority for Quality Enhancement in Higher EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLÍS and IAQA collaborate on university quality reviews, including recruiting student reviewers for institutional evaluations (e.g., University of Iceland and Hólar University review). Students are paid to participate in review panels. LÍS also participates in the annual IAQA conference.
• Q-félag hinsegin stúdenta (LGBTQ+ Student Association) and ERGIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLÍS, Q-félag (LGBTQ+ students), and ERGI (LGBTQ+ students in North Iceland) issued a joint solidarity statement in September 2025 condemning rhetoric and actions undermining the existence and rights of trans and gender-diverse people in Iceland. The statement called on universities and society to condemn hate speech and ensure safe learning environments.
• ÖBÍ réttindasamtök — Organization for the Rights of Disabled People in IcelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Háskóli fyrir öll (University for All) information portal is funded by ÖBÍ réttindasamtök, providing information on laws, rights, and support services for students with disabilities in higher education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deutsches Studentenwerk (DSW): German national student services organization representing ~2.4 million students at German HEIs. Comparable mandate covering student welfare, financial support advocacy, and HEI policy consultation; useful LÍS peer for benchmarking scale of student support infrastructure.
• Norsk Studentorganisasjon (NSO): National union of Norwegian university students. Closest functional peer to LÍS in Nordic structure; Norway's grant-based system is the explicit reform model LÍS advocates for (Styrkjakerfi að norskri fyrirmynd), and both participate in NOM and ESU.
• Union Nationale des Étudiants de France (UNEF): France's principal student union. Comparable national-level student advocacy organization with formal government consultation rights, focus on student financing reform, and active membership-driven policy campaigns. Larger scale than LÍS but operates with the same representational model.
• National Union of Students UK (NUS UK): UK's national student union confederation. Direct structural peer to LÍS in operating as an umbrella for university student unions with national policy representation, formal government consultation, and individual-membership advocacy programs.
• Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer (SFS): National confederation of Swedish university student unions. Comparable in mandate and structure to LÍS; represents Swedish students nationally and internationally, participates in NOM and ESU, and serves as a reference point for LÍS's Nordic policy advocacy.
• Danske Studerendes Fællesråd (DSF): National union of Danish university students. Direct structural peer to LÍS: similar membership model, operates as umbrella for Danish student associations, engaged in loan-system advocacy, and is already an active LÍS partner (joint climate activism workshops in Copenhagen and Reykjavik, May/Sept 2025).

Broad incumbents

• European Students' Union (ESU): LÍS's umbrella international body and an active partner. ESU represents 44 member unions from 40 countries (~20 million students); functions as LÍS's European policy forum and platform for joint resolutions (BM90 Vienna, Dec 2025). Comparable in being student-led and policy-focused but operates at much broader geographic and membership scale.

Regional players

• MFS (Mentaðir Føroya Studentaskrá) / Faroese student org: NAIS partner organization representing Faroese students. Most geographically and culturally proximate peer to LÍS: similar small-population constraints, participates in NAIS and NOM, and shares LÍS's interest in small-island student mobility and loan-system reform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landssamt%C3%B6k-%C3%ADslenskra-st%C3%BAdenta-national-union-of-icelandic-students

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta / National Union of Icelandic Students