Study and find schools in Iceland

Studying in Iceland

Iceland is a small Nordic country in the North Atlantic with a compact, accessible higher-education sector. Statistics Iceland put the population at 396,500 at the end of the second quarter of 2026. Icelandic is the national language and the main language of teaching, but universities also offer courses and some full programmes in English for international students.

According to Study in Iceland, the official portal run by the Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís) and Business Iceland, there are seven nationally accredited higher-education institutions: the University of Iceland, Reykjavik University, the University of Akureyri, the Agricultural University of Iceland, Bifröst University, Hólar University and the Iceland University of the Arts. With so few institutions, each has a clear profile, and students apply to each one directly.

The education system in Iceland

Higher education in Iceland follows the European three-cycle model and uses ECTS credits, where 60 credits are one year of full-time study and 30 credits one semester. The academic year has an autumn (fall) semester and a spring semester. The main qualifications are:

• Bachelor's degrees (BA, BS, BEd), after three to four years of study (180-240 ECTS credits)
• Candidatus degrees (kandidatsgráða), professional degrees that usually take four to six years
• Postgraduate certificates, after one year of postgraduate study in some subjects
• Master's degrees (MA, MS), after two years of postgraduate study with a substantial thesis or research project
• Doctorates (PhD), awarded after a doctoral programme and the defence of a thesis

Grades are given on a scale of 0 to 10, and 5 is normally the pass mark. Assessment combines written, oral or practical examinations with papers and assignments during the semester. A typical programme combines one major subject with one or more minor subjects.

Admission and recognition

There is no central admissions system in Iceland: applicants apply directly to the university. For a bachelor's degree, the usual requirement is a completed upper-secondary matriculation exam or an equivalent qualification, and some subjects, typically medical sciences, economics and law, have extra requirements or entrance exams. For a master's degree, universities expect a good bachelor's degree in a closely related subject. Application deadlines for international students differ between universities but usually fall in the spring, and some universities charge certain international applicants an application fee.

Language is the key question. At the University of Akureyri, for example, the principal language of instruction is Icelandic and most bachelor's degrees are taught in Icelandic; the programmes taught entirely in English are master's programmes, including Polar Law. Students who want a full degree in English should check the language of each programme before applying, while exchange students can usually build a semester from English-taught courses.

Student residence permit

Citizens of the EU/EEA and EFTA do not need a permit to study, but they must register their stay. Students from other countries, including all of Latin America, must apply to the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun) for a residence permit for students, and it must be approved before they travel. The official requirements, as published on Ísland.is (checked October 2026), are:

• Admission to full-time studies at an Icelandic university, or another recognised study programme
• A valid passport
• Proof of secure means of financial support
• Health insurance confirmation and a criminal record certificate
• Payment of the processing fee, which is ISK 70,000

The application must be submitted on paper, with the original documents, by post or at the Directorate's drop box in Kópavogur. To have a permit before term starts, the application and documents must arrive by 1 May for the autumn semester or by 1 October for the spring semester. Applicants who need a visa to travel to Iceland may not be in the country while the application is processed.

Costs

At the University of Akureyri, students currently pay a registration fee rather than tuition: ISK 100,000 for the academic year, rising to ISK 115,000 if paid after 4 July. This is changing: the Icelandic government has authorised universities to introduce tuition fees for students from outside the EEA/EFTA and Switzerland from the autumn semester of 2027. Students who start in autumn 2026 are not affected, doctoral programmes are exempt, and the fee levels had not yet been set when we checked in October 2026. Applicants from Latin America and other non-European countries should check the fee for their programme with the university.

Housing is the main living cost. According to Study in Iceland, there are student flats near most universities, and the international office of each university helps students find housing; students at the University of Iceland apply through the Icelandic Student Services (Félagsstofnun stúdenta). At Reykjavik University, the rent for student apartments includes housing fees, heating and electricity. Scholarships are awarded mainly by individual institutions, and the Icelandic government offers a small number of scholarships for the study of Icelandic language, literature and history at the University of Iceland.

Where to study

Most students choose between the two main university cities:

• Reykjavík, the capital, home to the University of Iceland, the country's oldest and largest university, and to Reykjavik University (RU), which has about 3,700 registered students according to Study in Iceland and teaches in seven departments: Business, Computer Science, Sports Science, Psychology, Applied Engineering, Engineering and Law
• Akureyri, Iceland's second city and the capital of the north, home to the University of Akureyri (UNAK), which has been teaching since 1987 and is organised in three schools: Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Business and Science; it also specialises in Arctic studies, such as its master's in Polar Law

Climate and practical life

Iceland has a cool maritime climate warmed by the Gulf Stream. Study in Iceland gives average summer temperatures of 10-13 °C and an average winter temperature around 0 °C, but the weather changes quickly, winds can be strong and winter storms are frequent. Warm, waterproof clothing is needed all year.

Students from outside the EU must have health insurance before they arrive; insurance from the home country is accepted, or it can be bought from an Icelandic insurer. EU students should bring their European Health Insurance Card. The emergency number is 112. Citizens of the EEA can work without a work permit, while citizens of all other countries need one, so non-European students should not plan to finance their studies with a job.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a residence permit to study in Iceland?

Yes, if you are not a citizen of the EU/EEA or EFTA. You apply to the Directorate of Immigration after you are admitted, and the permit must be approved before you travel.

Is university free in Iceland?

Not entirely. The University of Akureyri, for example, charges a registration fee of ISK 100,000 a year rather than tuition. From autumn 2027, universities may charge tuition fees to students from outside the EEA/EFTA and Switzerland; students who start in autumn 2026 are not affected.

Can I study in English in Iceland?

Yes, but mainly at master's level or as an exchange student. Most bachelor's degrees are taught in Icelandic, so check the language of each programme before you apply.

When should I apply for a student residence permit?

The Directorate of Immigration must receive the application and documents by 1 May for the autumn semester or by 1 October for the spring semester. Start early, because documents such as a criminal record certificate take time.

Can international students work in Iceland?

EEA citizens can work without a permit. Students from other countries need a work permit, so they should not count on a job to pay for their studies.