The Foreigner’s Guide to Icelandic Colleges

Many consider the choice of studying in Iceland as somewhat of an oddity, but the main attraction must lie in the modest tuition fees and the rather lenient admission qualifications. These facts could possibly undermine one’s expectations to a decent study on this isolated island, but it turns out Iceland’s education establishments are doing OK. Now when  the school season is quickly approaching it is appropriate to  find out what it is exactly that  they are offering.

It’s wise to begin with the oldest and most established college in Iceland, the University of Iceland. It offers the most versatile studies in their numerous departments. Their medicine, engineering and law departments are the most popular and they have the luxury to pick out the most eligible applicants out of the hundreds that apply every year. The other departments are however open to all and are equally prolific. There is no tuition, but the registration fee is 45.000 ISK per year.

If you wish to try your luck in the dangerous perimeters of the arts, The Icelandic Academy of the Arts is a good option. The recent outburst in artistic excellence in Iceland can partly be blamed on this fine institution, which has practically raised the bulk of Icelandic artists, but the tuition is a little high. Their design, music and theatre departments are outstanding although some might find the lack of departments such as film and photography demoting for the school’s reputation.

If you’re more into business-wise education, the newly founded business academy next to Reykjavík’s beloved Commerce High School might arouse your attention. It has attracted all the yuppie kids with stockbroker dreams in recent years. In order to prevent common hillbillies from attending the establishment they decided to have that tuition sky-high

These three establishments basically grasp the college scene in Iceland but there are several smaller institutions, such as Akureyri University and Bifröst University. So if you’re thinking about studying here it is apparent that the selection is vast indeed.