Good to know
Admission requirements
In general, for bachelor level education, an applicant in Iceland needs to have completed a high school examination/matriculation exam or equivalent. Higher education institutions may, under their own discretion, take applicants without such an examination if they deem them to have a comparable level of maturity, knowledge and experience for the course they are applying to. For some subjects, however, there may be additional entry requirements and/or entrance exams set by the university. Typically, these are in subjects such as the medical sciences, economics, and law.
Students enrolling in post-graduate education should possess a good bachelor’s degree in a subject that corresponds closely to the post-graduate degree being applied for.
Admission requirements can differ between universities. There is no central admissions system in Iceland and applicants must apply directly to the university. Application deadlines for international students differ between universities but usually fall in the spring. Some universities also require an application fee for certain international students.
A student permit is required for those who study in Iceland more than three months. Most students don’t need require a permit if they’re studying in Iceland for less than three months. If you come from a country outside the EU/EEA you have to apply for a residence permit for studies – before you enter Iceland. Students from the EU or EEA do not need a residence permit but have to register. Please visit the website of the Directorate of Immigration in Iceland for detailed information on the application process, documentation needed, and next steps to take in order to become an enrolled student in one of capital area fine universities.
