The Icelandic Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education has officially opened applications for its annual scholarships designed for international students who wish to pursue the BA programme in Icelandic as a Second Language at the University of Iceland, Reykjavík. Administered by the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, this prestigious program offers approximately 12 scholarships each year for the academic period from September 1 to May 31.
Funding Package
The scholarship covers registration fees at the University of Iceland and provides a monthly stipend to support room and board for one person. Payment is disbursed from September to April. In addition, grant recipients are offered the option to rent rooms at the Gamli Garður student dormitory, ensuring affordable accommodation in Reykjavík.
Short Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must have:
- Completed at least one year of university study in humanities.
- A basic knowledge of Icelandic, equivalent to completing Icelandic Online 1 and 2 (free online self-study courses).
- Proficiency in English, as English will be used as a second instructional language.
- Preference is generally given to candidates under 35 years of age.
Eligible Nationalities
Nationals of Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US may apply.
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Applicants from the U.S. must apply through the U.S. Fulbright Program, while all other eligible nationals must apply directly to the Árni Magnússon Institute in Reykjavík.
Application Timeline
- Application Deadline: All applications must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2025. E-mail applications are not accepted.
- Decision Announcement: Results will be announced in January 2026.
- University Admission: Successful applicants must separately apply for admission to the University of Iceland by February 15, 2026.
- Online Language Exam: Admission exams to assess Icelandic language knowledge will be held in June 2026.
Scholarships may be renewed for up to three (3) academic years, provided recipients reapply before the deadline and meet program requirements.