University of Iceland

The University of Iceland is a progressive educational and scientific institution, renowned in the global scientific community for its research. It is a state university, situated in the heart of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. A modern, diversified and rapidly developing institution, the University of Iceland offers opportunities for study and research in almost 400 programmes spanning most fields of science and scholarship: Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Education, Natural Sciences and Engineering. Some of the resources available at the University are uniquely Icelandic. These include the manuscripts preserved in the Árni Magnússon Institute, Icelandic census records dating from 1703, exceptionally complete genealogical data and climatological, glaciological, seismic and geothermal records. The University of Iceland also holds a leading role in sustainable energy and environmental research. The University of Iceland has set itself the long-term goal of being ranked among the 100 best universities in the world and to employ internationally recognized quality standards in all appraisement of its work. We want a degree from the University of Iceland to carry a definitive mark of quality that can be relied upon throughout the world. This goal will be the strength of the University’s students in the future.

Vision and Strategy

The University of Iceland aims to be one of the world’s leading universities and apply approved standards to all quality assurance of its operations. The university holds itself and its lecturers, management and other staff to high standards. High demands are also made of students; this ensures that a degree from the University of Iceland is considered to be of high quality and is trusted all over the world.

In 2006, the University of Iceland set itself the ambitious long-term goal to become one of the 100 leading universities in the world. In order to achieve that goal, the university intends to focus on outstanding research, teaching and support services. The university now works purposefully towards implementing this strategy, and has already enjoyed great success. The university applies rigorous internal quality assurance measures to all its operations. External assessment regularly shows that the university is fully in line with international standards.

Working at the University

The University of Iceland is one of the largest employers in the country. The university employs around one thousand permanent staff and around two thousand external lecturers and temporary staff

Governance

The University Council and the Univeristy Forum are responsible for development and the enhancement of the University. The executive power or a mandate for administrative decisions are though in the hands of the Rector and the University Council.

Facts and figures

• Students
  • 9,500 undergraduates
  • 4,000 Master’s students
  • 500 Ph.D. students
  • 1,100 international students
• Staff
  • 500 full-time staff
  • 630 full-time faculty staff

• The university
  • 5 schools
  • 25 faculties
  • 450 study programmes
• Degrees awarded
  • PhD. degrees: 60
  • Master’s degrees: 900
  • Bachelor’s degrees: 1,700