Public Universities in Iceland

Known as the land of fire and ice, Iceland attracts scores of international students every year from around the world. Apart from being a perfect place to travel to, studying in Iceland is truly a transforming endeavour as you can pursuing higher studies at low tuition fee costs and study at its internationally acclaimed universities that are renowned for academic and teaching excellence. You can also opt for an even more affordable education budget for higher studies in Iceland by applying to public universities in the country. This blog brings you all the information about public universities in Iceland.

Top Public Universities in Iceland

Iceland is a small island nation and is home to a total of 7 universities out of which four are public universities and there are also various public colleges that international students can choose from.

Here are the public universities in Iceland:

1. Bifröst University
2. Iceland Academy of Arts
3. Holar University College
4. University of Akureyri
5. University of Iceland
6. Reykjavík University

Let’s elaborate more on each of these public universities in Iceland in further detail:

Bifrost University

Located in Island, Bifrost University is a famous business school in Iceland. However, it offers courses in social sciences and law as well at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. The university is renowned for specialisations in Law, Politics, Business and Management and also provides foundation programmes for international student who are unable to fulfil the requirements to study in Iceland. This public university in Iceland started its first English-taught master’s program in International Economy in 2019, a one-of-its-kind course offered in Iceland.

Iceland Academy of Arts

Located in Reykjavík, Iceland Academy of Arts is a famous public university that offers university-level degrees in the arts in Iceland. Specialisations in the stream of arts include fine arts, theatre, design, architecture, theatre-making, dance, music. It is one of the most popular public universities in Iceland for art courses and is home to a total of four faculties each providing degree courses at bachelor’s and master’s level. The institute is also renowned for its diploma in Music course.

Holar University College

Located in Hólar, Iceland, this public university was renamed Hólar Agricultural College in 1882 and finally was known as the Hólar University in 2007. It was founded in 1106 and is an important historical centre of education. The college offers courses in –  equine science, aquaculture and aquatic biology, and tourism studies.

University of Akureyri

Located in Akureyri, this Icelandic university was founded in 1987. The University of Akureyri is well known for offering courses in health sciences, humanities and social science, business and science. It is situated in the friendly student city of Akureyri, which is also known as the capital of North and offers a unique specialisation in Arctic Studies under which master’s courses like Polar Law and West Nordic Studies are provided.

University of Iceland

Located in Reykjavík, Iceland University of Iceland is the country’s oldest and largest institution of higher education, It is a public research university well known for the courses it offers in arts at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. It is amongst the best public universities in Iceland and provides more than 500 courses across various branches of science including, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Humanities etc.

Check Out: Top Reasons to Study in Nordic Countries

Cost Of Living in Iceland

For studying in Public Universities in Iceland, students must note that no tuition fees are applicable however, enrollment fees must be deposited. The enrolment fee differs depending upon the institute whether it is state-funded or private. Barring these expenses, there are certainly other expenses that must be taken into consideration by students planning to pursue higher studies in the Public Universities in Iceland.  The expenses vary on the basis of factors like the location of your university, accommodation room & lifestyle. Here are some major expenses that might be incurred while studying in Iceland.

Category	Expenses (INR) (approx figures)
Transportation	8,000
Accomodation	90,000
Grocery	13,000
Miscellaneous	9,000

Also Read: Cheapest Universities in the World for International Students

Application Process 

For students who wish to pursue studies in Iceland, they must follow an application process. Follow the steps mentioned below to pursue higher studies in Iceland. 

• Firstly, students must wisely choose the course and the university. Students must research about the program, its core syllabus, duration and universities offering the course.
• Once students have chosen the course, the next step should be to check your eligibility as every university has a different eligibility criteria.
• Thirdly, students must fill the Application form accurately. As there is no common admission portal for admission, they must apply to the official university website. 

To fill up the application form, students must follow the following steps :

• Visit the official website and click on the admission tab that will redirect you to another page.
• Upon visiting the page, enter your email address & create an account.
• Enter your login information, Username & password.
• You have to fill in your personal information (Name, age, date of birth, contact address) & educational background.
• You can also add employment details if you have any.
• Upload the required documents.
• Pay the application fee to complete the process.
• You can also track the progress of your application by logging into your university admission account.

Requirements to Study in Iceland

Students must keep a list of documents ready while applying for public universities in Iceland. Given below are certain essential documents needed for the application process:

1. Updated CV/Resume
2. English Language Proficiency Test Scores
3. All official academic Transcripts and grade cards
4. Letter of Recommendations
5. Passport size photographs 
6. Visa
7. Statement of Purpose 
8. Passport photocopy

Iceland Visa Application Process

The most crucial step for securing admission in Iceland is the visa application process. Students must follow the steps mentioned below for applying for a visa. 

• Students must correctly fill up the Visa application form which can be downloaded online or can be collected by visiting the embassy/Consulate.
• No column should be left blank. If no information is available, mention N/A.
• Students must file for a visa at least three weeks before their scheduled travel date.
• Students must make a note of all the documents needed and collect the documents likewise. 
• Students must appear for the interview and prepare well beforehand. 
• Then students are requested to make the visa fees payment i.e. 12,000 ISK (7,800 in INR)
• And finally, they must wait for a response which is usually 15 days and in few cases might extend to 45 days.

Documents Required for Visa:

• Health insurance
• 2 copies of passport
• Secure housing
• Medical examination
• One passport size photograph
• Financial Support
• Registered in full-time studies

FAQs

Thus, we hope that this blog provided you with all the details about public universities of Iceland. Want to pursue higher studies in Iceland? Sign up for a free session with our Leverage Edu mentors and we will help you find the best course, university and scholarship and further assist you throughout the admission process.