University of Iceland
Reykjavík, Iceland • World Rank #1082
Updated May 2026
Overview
The University of Iceland was founded in 1911 and was formed by a merger of the Theological Seminary (est.
1847), the School of Medicine (est. 1876) and the School of Law (est.
1908), which each formed a faculty, in addition to the newly-established Faculty of Philosophy. Since its foundation the University of Iceland has developed from a professional school of four major programmes to a fully-fledged research university offering a variety of academic and professional programmes at undergraduate, Master’s and Doctoral levels.
Through most of the 20th century University of Iceland was the only comprehensive HEI in Iceland, and served as a center of training, competence and consulting at most levels of Icelandic society.
Being a national university and the only comprehensive international research university in Iceland, University of Iceland is still by far the largest higher education and research institution in the country with over 70% of all students in higher education.
Location & Contact
University of Iceland's campus address and the ways prospective students can reach the institution. For visa queries, contact the international student services office directly rather than central admissions.
Academic Details
University of Iceland's student-to-faculty composition and recognition standing are listed below. Student support staff (advisers, counsellors) are typically separate from academic staff and often uncounted here.
Degrees
University of Iceland's qualification tiers and the degrees within each. Foundation years for international students often run separately and feed into year-one of a bachelor's programme.
Other 111 programs
- American Studies
- Anthropology
- Applied Mathematics
- Archaeology
- Arctic Studies
- Art Education
- Art History
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Bioinformatics
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Civil Engineering
- Classical Languages
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Education
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Criminology
- Curriculum
- Danish
- Dental Technology
- Dentistry
- Development Studies
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Testing and Evaluation
- Educational and Student Counselling
- Electrical Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- English
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Epidemiology
- Film
- Fishery
- Folklore
- Food Science
- Foreign Languages Education
- French
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- Geology
- Geophysics
- German
- Gerontology
- Health Education
- Health Sciences
- Higher Education
- History
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Icelandic
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Sciences
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- International Studies
- International and Comparative Education
- Italian
- Japanese
- Law
- Leisure Studies
- Linguistics
- Literacy Education
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Education
- Mechanical Engineering
- Media Studies
- Medicine
- Medieval Studies
- Midwifery
- Molecular Biology
- Museum Studies
- Native Language Education
- Natural Resources
- Nordic Studies
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Pedagogy
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Physical Therapy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Preschool Education
- Primary Education
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Religious Studies
- Russian
- Science Education
- Secondary Education
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Spanish
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Sports
- Statistics
- Theology
- Tourism
- Vocational Education
Faculties & Divisions
University of Iceland's academic divisions and the subject areas each houses are mapped below. Knowing where your subject lives helps navigate department websites and identify the right contact points.
Education (School) 23 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Art Education
- Computer Education
- Curriculum
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational and Student Counselling
- Educational Testing and Evaluation
- Foreign Languages Education
- Health Education
- Higher Education
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- International and Comparative Education
- Leisure Studies
- Literacy Education
- Native Language Education
- Pedagogy
- Preschool Education
- Primary Education
- Science Education
- Secondary Education
- Sports
- Teacher Training
- Vocational Education
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Engineering and Natural Sciences (School) 29 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Applied Mathematics
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Bioinformatics
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Electrical Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Fishery
- Geography
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Industrial Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Resources
- Physics
- Software Engineering
- Statistics
- Technology
- Tourism
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Health Sciences (School) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Dental Technology
- Dentistry
- Food Science
- Medicine
- Midwifery
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Radiology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Humanities (School) 26 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Chinese
- Classical Languages
- Comparative Literature
- Cultural Studies
- Danish
- English
- Film
- Folklore
- French
- German
- History
- Icelandic
- Italian
- Japanese
- Linguistics
- Medieval Studies
- Native Language Education
- Nordic Studies
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Russian
- Spanish
- Theology
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Editor
- Cultural Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Social Sciences (School) 17 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anthropology
- Business Administration
- Criminology
- Economics
- Education
- Ethnology
- Folklore
- Information Sciences
- Law
- Library Science
- Management
- Media Studies
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Sociology
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Social Worker
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Search and filter University of Iceland's available programmes by degree level. The list reflects the institution's current catalogue and may not include programmes that are paused or pending approval.
452 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Iceland
Other Programs 452 programmes
Showing 10 of 452.
How to apply to University of Iceland
Application guidance for University of Iceland, structured as five practical steps with attention to documents and admissions communication.
-
1
Research programmes at University of Iceland
University of Iceland's catalogue includes 452 programmes. Browse by level, identify candidates matching your prior qualifications, and note their entry requirements for the next step.
-
2
Review admissions criteria
Entry requirements vary by programme and degree level. Verify academic minimums, language tests (if international), and any additional documents required for University of Iceland's admissions process.
-
3
Gather supporting documents
Typical documents include academic transcripts, identity proof (passport or national ID), language proficiency test scores, a personal statement or motivation letter, and recommendation letters. International applicants should account for translation and notarisation time.
-
4
Lodge your application
Submit your completed application through University of Iceland's official website at www.hi.is. Most institutions use an online portal — register an account, complete the application form, and upload your prepared documents. Keep copies of all submissions and confirmation receipts.
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5
Confirm receipt and track progress
Follow up to confirm your application was received and is being processed. You can reach the institution by email at [email protected] or by phone at 600169-2039. Admissions teams may request interviews or additional documents — respond promptly to keep your application active.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Iceland
The questions below summarise University of Iceland's vital institutional details — useful as a quick reference before drilling into specific sections.
Where is University of Iceland located?
University of Iceland is located in Reykjavík, Iceland.
What is University of Iceland's control type?
University of Iceland is a public institution.
What is the student enrolment at University of Iceland?
Student enrolment at University of Iceland is around 12,992.
Where does University of Iceland stand in university rankings?
It ranks #1082 globally and #1 in Iceland.
Is University of Iceland accredited?
Yes, University of Iceland is recognised by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
How do I find University of Iceland online?
University of Iceland's official website is www.hi.is.
Faculties at nearby universities
Public transport hubs near University of Iceland affect access to all the universities below similarly. Major transit nodes often correlate with where the cluster of institutions is densest.
Universities Compared with University of Iceland
When students choose University of Iceland, they typically weigh it against institutions of similar standing. These universities sit at a comparable level — useful comparisons before committing to a final choice, especially when programme content is similar across the options.
Studying in Iceland: guides and resources
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