University of Iceland

About

The University of Iceland, located in Reykjavik, is renowned globally for its exceptional research and academic programs in earth sciences, renewable energy, environmental studies, and glaciology. As the country's largest and most prestigious institution of higher education, it offers a growing selection of full degree programs taught entirely in English, particularly at the master’s and doctoral levels, alongside numerous undergraduate courses available to exchange students. The university's International Office provides comprehensive support services, including orientation events, housing assistance, and Icelandic language courses designed to help newcomers transition smoothly into campus life. Its most distinctive characteristic is its living laboratory setting, where students studying volcanology, renewable energy, and geothermal engineering have direct, hands-on access to Iceland's unique and dynamic natural phenomena. International students benefit from a diverse, welcoming academic community where nearly ten percent of the student body comes from abroad, fostering a globally minded and collaborative learning environment.

Background

The University of Iceland (Icelandic: Háskóli Íslands [ˈhauːˌskouːlɪ ˈistlan(t)s]) is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about 14,000 students in twenty-five faculties. Teaching and research is conducted in social sciences, humanities, law, medicine, natural sciences, engineering and teacher education. It has a campus concentrated around Suðurgata, a street in central Reykjavík, with additional facilities located in nearby areas as well as in the countryside.

Location

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