The
University of Iceland is a
publicA public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
research university in
ReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
,
IcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about 14,000 students in twenty-five faculties. Subjects covered include
social sciencesSocial science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
,
humanitiesThe humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
,
medicineMedicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, natural sciences,
engineeringEngineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and
teacher educationTeacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
. It has a campus concentrated around
Suðurgata street in central Reykjavík, with additional facilities located in nearby areas as well as in the countryside.
History
The University of Iceland was founded by the Alþingi on June 17, 1911, uniting three former post-secondary institutions:
Prestaskólinn,
Læknaskólinn and
Lagaskólinn, which taught theology, medicine and law, respectively. The university originally had only faculties for these three fields, in addition to a faculty of
humanitiesThe humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
. During its first year of operation 45 students were enrolled. The first
RectorThe word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the university was Björn M. Ólsen, a professor in the faculty of humanities.
For its first 29 years the University was housed in the Icelandic Parliament building,
AlþingishúsiðAlþingishúsið is a classical 19th century structure which stands by Austurvöllur in central Reykjavík, Iceland. It houses Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament...
, in central
ReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. In 1933, the university received a special licence from Alþingi to operate a cash-prize lottery called
Happdrætti Háskólans. The University Lottery, which started in 1934, remains a major source of funding for the construction of new university buildings. In 1940, the university moved into the main building, designed by Icelandic state architect
Guðjón SamúelssonGuðjón Samúelsson was a State Architect of Iceland.Notable designs include main building of the University of Iceland, the National Theatre of Iceland, the Landakot Roman Catholic Cathedral in Reykjavík and the Church of Akureyri; however his final and most recognized work is the Hallgrímskirkja...
. The main building forms the core of the university campus on Suðurgata, where most of the principal buildings of the university are located today.
In recent years there has been some major restructuring. In 2008 the university was divided into five different schools. Simultaneously,
Iceland University of EducationIceland University of Education was a normal university in Iceland. It merged with University of Iceland in July 2008 and is now called the School of Education. Enrolment was around 2300 students with more than half of them being distance learning students. The university offered B.A., B.Ed. and...
was merged with the University of Iceland to become its School of Education. Increased competition from local colleges has encouraged the university to greatly improve its marketing strategies, which had previously been deemed unnecessary.
School buildings
The university's main campus lies immediately south-west of
TjörninTjörnin is a small lake in central Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Although it is not among the biggest lakes in the country, it is one of the best known....
in the centre of Reykjavík. It covers about 10 hectares in total. There are around 30 buildings in total, the oldest of which,
Gamli GarðurGamli Garður is a dormitory at Iceland's most prominent and internationally renowned university, Háskóli Íslands , first opened in 1934. It is Iceland's oldest residence hall and the oldest building still standing on campus...
, was built in 1934. The Main Building overlooks a semicircular lawn, featuring a statue of Sæmundur fróði. In 2007, a new service centre was opened next to the main building, and many of the most vital service desks were relocated there. Some lectures take place in Háskólabíó cinema at the northern end of the campus. There is also a gym, several dormitories and smaller research institute buildings on the grounds. Most buildings are located on the main campus and nearby neighbourhoods. The Faculty of Sport, Leisure Studies and Social Education, on the other hand, is located in the town of
LaugarvatnLaugarvatn is a lake and small town in the south of Iceland. It is a bit smaller than the neighbouring Apavatn.It is situated at a popular touristical round-trip, the Golden Circle and acts as a popular staging post in the area. There is a small but popular hostel situated in the town...
.
Library
In 1994 the university library (formally established in 1940) merged with the national library of Iceland,
Landsbókasafn Íslands (est. 1818) to form one large
academic libraryAn academic library is a library that is attached to academic institutions above the secondary level, serving the teaching and research needs of students and staff...
, the
National and University Library of IcelandLandsbókasafn Íslands — Háskólabókasafn is the national library of Iceland which also functions as the university library of the University of Iceland. The library was established on December 1, 1994 in Reykjavík, Iceland, with the merger of the former national library, Landsbókasafn Íslands...
. The library main building,
Þjóðarbókhlaðan, is situated next to the main campus.
Hospital
Education and research at the University of Iceland is closely tied with the Landspitali National Hospital in Reykjavík. The facilities of the School of Health Sciences are therefore largely located on the hospital grounds.
Administration
The University Council is the highest administrational authority within the institution and consists of the rector and ten other members, including two students and two members endorsed by the University Forum. The University Forum consists of the rector, faculty heads and various domestic representatives. It does not have any executive powers but works with the Council on the overall strategy of the university. The five academic schools and their faculties are headed by deans and have much control over curricula and day-to-day administration.
Kristín IngólfsdóttirProfessor Kristin Ingólfsdóttir, Ph.D. is the current rector of the University of Iceland and a professor at the University's faculty of pharmaceutical sciences. She took over from Páll Skúlason, having won an election where faculty and students had a vote, and is the first female to serve as...
is the current
RectorThe word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Iceland. She took over from
Páll SkúlasonPáll Skúlason was born 4 June 1945 in Akureyri, Iceland. He is a professor of philosophy and former Rector of the University of Iceland.-Books:...
in 2005. She is the first woman to serve as Rector.
Schools and Faculties
The University of Iceland is divided into five
schools (svið) which are further divided into a total of twenty-five
faculties (deildir). Prior to 2008, it was divided into eleven faculties which were then divided into
departments (skorir). The largest current school is the School of Social Sciences with over 4,700 students, while each of the other four have around half that number. The university also operates a
continuing education centreContinuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
.
The university consists of the following schools and faculties:
- School of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Business and economics
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Social sciences
- Faculty of Social Work
- Faculty of Political Science
- School of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Nursing
- Faculty of Odontology
- Faculty of Pharmacology
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition
- Faculty of Psychology
- School of Humanities
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Language, Literature and Linguistics
- Faculty of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies
- Faculty of History and Philosophy
- School of Education
- Faculty of Sport, Leisure Studies and Social Education
- Faculty of Teacher Education
- Faculty of Educational Studies
- School of Engineering and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Industrial-, mechanical engineering and computer science
- Faculty of Earth Sciences
- Faculty of Life and environmental sciences
- Faculty of Electrical and computer engineering
- Faculty of Physical sciences
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Institutes
There are over sixty research institutes and seven rural research stations run by the university. Some of the most notable are:
- Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies
- Institute of Earth Sciences
- Social Science Research Institute
- Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute of Foreign Languages
Academics
In addition to the major faculties there are numerous research institutes attached to the university. With more than 400 tenured teachers, approx. 1,800 non-tenured teachers, and about 281 researchers and administrators, the University of Iceland is the largest single work-place in
IcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
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.
Education
The University of Iceland offers studies in more than 160 undergraduate programmes in the humanities, science and social sciences, and in professional fields such as theology, law, business, medicine, odontology, nursing, pharmacology and engineering. Postgraduate studies are offered by all faculties, most of them research-based although not exclusively. There are also several multidisciplinary master's programmes available in the fields of health and environmental sciences, some of them in cooperation with other European universities.
The principal language of instruction is
IcelandicIcelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
. Textbooks are mainly in
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Icelandic. Most departments offer courses in English and allow foreign students to take their examinations in English. Icelandic language, medieval studies and environmental sciences are some of the university's strongest specialties, owing to Iceland's unique literary heritage and nature. A growing number of English-taught programmes is offered in these fields and others, attracting a large number of foreign students.
Rankings
In 2011, Times Higher Education ranked the University of Iceland in the 276-300 band globally. This was the first appearance of an
Icelandic university on the list.
Student funding
The University of Iceland is a public, government-funded university, and as such it does not charge tuition (although an enrollment fee must be paid). In terms of living expenses, most students at the University of Iceland either work part-time to finance their studies or receive student loans at favourable interest rates from the
Icelandic Student Loan FundThe Icelandic Student Loan Fund is a government-funded and government-run student loan fund for Icelandic citizens. It provides loans for living expenses of up to 7 years of university studies. Repayment of the loans is at below-market-rate interest, with a two year grace period upon completion of...
.
The Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture annually offers awards to foreign students for the study of
Icelandic languageIcelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
, history and
literatureIcelandic literature refers to literature written in Iceland or by Icelandic people. It is best known for the sagas written in medieval times, starting in the 13th century. As Icelandic and Old Norse are almost the same, and because Icelandic works constitute most of Old Norse literature, Old Norse...
at the University of Iceland. Scholarships are usually restricted to students from selected countries each year. Awards are tenable for one academic year and aim to cover board and lodging.
The major source of funding available to foreign graduate students is the
Eimskipafélag ÍslandsHf. Eimskipafélag Íslands is a large Icelandic investment company, focused on investments in the transportation industry. The company was formed on January 1, 2005, from several long standing companies. In 2005, Eimskipafélag Íslands was ranked the second fastest growing business in Europe by the...
University Fund, which is open to both scholars and current or prospective
PhDPHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
students. Each grant from the fund is approximately 2,5 million
ISKIsk or ISK may mean:* Icelandic króna, the national currency of Iceland* Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund, a now-defunct German socialist party* Iso suomen kielioppi* the currency in the space MMORPG Eve Online...
per year, for a period of up to three years, and is intended to cover living expenses.
Student politics, unions and services
The
Students' Council is the official representative of those studying at the university. It handles all kinds of rights issues and relations with internal and external authorities. Elections for the council take place every year. There are three major parties that participate in the student politics. These are Vaka,
RöskvaRöskva is a student body organization at the University of Iceland that has had a list to the Student Council of the UI since 1988. The tag line of the organization is Organization of socially minded students at the University of Iceland.-History:...
and Skrökva. Many local politicians started their careers as members of the council.
There are over 60 student unions in operation within the university. Each union is made up of students of a particular subject or a few related ones. Postgraduate students in some fields have their own unions. Membership is optional. A large part of the unions' function revolves around social activities, the most common of which are the so called "science trips", a tradition where companies and organizations in the industry invite students in a relevant field over for a presentation and drinks. Some postgraduate student unions also organize small-scale academic seminars.
Félagsstofnun stúdenta is a self-owned institution that runs several services in and around the campus. These include kindergartens, low-rent apartments, cafeterias, and a large bookstore.
Notable faculty members
Current
- Brynhildur Davidsdottir
Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir is an associate professor and director of UMAUD Environment and Natural Resources studies the Program for Environment and Natural Resources Studies at the University of Iceland...
(ecological economist)
- Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson
Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson is a professor of political science at the University of Iceland and a frequent commentator on current affairs in the Icelandic media...
(political scientist)
- Páll Skúlason
Páll Skúlason was born 4 June 1945 in Akureyri, Iceland. He is a professor of philosophy and former Rector of the University of Iceland.-Books:...
(philosopher)
- Snorri Agnarsson (computer scientist)
- Trausti Valsson
Trausti Valsson is a registered architect and urban planner and a professor of planning, at the University of Iceland Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering....
(engineer)
- Vilhjálmur Árnason
Vilhjálmur Árnason is professor of philosophy at the University of Iceland. Internationally he is best known for his research on ethical aspects of controversial genetic research in Iceland by deCODE Genetics.-Books:...
(philosopher)
- Þorvaldur Gylfason (economist)
- Þór Whitehead
Þór Whitehead is an Icelandic historian. He is currently a professor at the University of Iceland.Whitehead has written extensively on the history of Iceland during World War II and the Cold War. His best known work is the multi-volume series "Ísland í síðari heimsstyrjöld"...
(historian)
Former
- Erlendur Haraldsson
Erlendur Haraldsson is a Professor emeritus of psychology at the Faculty of social science at the University of Iceland who, despite having retired from his former post at the University of Iceland, continues to be an active academic. He has published work in various parapsychology journals, and...
(social scientist)
- Guðmundur Finnbogason (writer, teacher)
- Halldór Ásgrímsson
Halldór Ásgrímsson is an Icelandic politician, formerly Prime Minister of Iceland from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Progressive Party from 1994 to 2006.-Education and early life:...
(lecturer, 1973–1975)
- Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth and current President of Iceland. He has served as President since 1996; he was unopposed in 2000, re-elected for a third term in 2004, and re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2008. He is the longest-serving left-wing president in the history of...
(political scientist, now President of IcelandThe President of Iceland is Iceland's elected head of state. The president is elected to a four-year term by universal adult suffrage and has limited powers. The president is not the head of government; the Prime Minister of Iceland is the head of government. There have been five presidents since...
)
- Sigurður Nordal
Sigurður Nordal was an Icelandic scholar, writer and ambassador. He was influential in forming the theory of the Icelandic sagas as works of literature composed by individual authors....
(Medieval literature scholar)
- Sigurður Þórarinsson
Sigurður Þórarinsson was an Icelandic geologist, volcanologist, glaciologist, professor and lyricist. He is considered a pioneer in the field of tephrochronology, and he made significant contributions in many areas of geology, especially volcanology and glaciology, both in Iceland and...
(geologist)
- Þorsteinn Gylfason
Þorsteinn Gylfason was an Icelandic philosopher, translator, musician, poet, art enthusiast and intellectual. Þorsteinn was born and raised in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. His parents were Guðrún Vilmundardóttir and Gylfi Þ. Gíslason, a university professor and government minister...
(philosopher)
Notable alumni
- Arnaldur Indriðason
Arnaldur Indriðason is an Icelandic writer of crime fiction. He has repeatedly proved to be the most popular writer in Iceland in recent years — topping bestseller lists year after year...
(Writer)
- Ásgeir Ásgeirsson
Ásgeir Ásgeirsson was the second President of Iceland, from 1952 to 1968.Educated as a theologian, Ásgeir graduated with honours from the University of Iceland in Reykjavík in 1915, but was considered too young to be ordained as a minister. He married Dóra Þórhallsdóttir in 1917. Dóra was the...
(politician)
- Björn Bjarnason
Björn Bjarnason is an Icelandic politician. His father was Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister of Iceland, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs and Mayor of Reykjavík....
(politician)
- Davíð Oddsson
Davíð Oddsson is an Icelandic politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of Iceland, holding office from 1991 to 2004. He also served as Foreign Minister from 2004 to 2005. Previously, he was Mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991, and he chaired the board of governors of the Central Bank of...
(politician)
- Elín Hirst
Elín Stefánsdóttir Hirst is an Icelandic journalist, television personality, documentary filmmaker and former anchor. She was head of news of Icelandic public television channel Sjónvarpið from 2002 to 2008....
(news anchor)
- Einar Pálsson
Einar Pálsson was an Icelandic writer. He born in Reykjavík, Iceland. He is best known for his theories about the origin of the Icelandic Saga literature as relict mythology of pagan ritual landscapes. He acquired a cand. phil. degree in 1946, and a BA degree in English and Danish in 1957...
(literature)
- Einar Már Guðmundson (writer)
- Friðrik Sophusson
Friðrik Sophusson , is an Icelandic politician and company director. He was the former director of Icelandic state-run energy firm Landsvirkjun.-Career:...
(politician)
- Guðmundur Finnbogason (writer, teacher)
- Hreiðar Már Sigurðsson
Hreiðar Már Sigurðsson is an Icelandic business manager working in international finance, and from 2003 to 2008, was the CEO of Kaupthing Bank....
(businessman)
- Kristín Steinsdóttir
Kristín Steinsdóttir is a well-known children's author and translator in Iceland.Kristín Steinsdóttir was born in Seyðisfjörður on 11 March 1946. After finishing a training to become teacher in 1968, she became a teacher in Reykjavik...
(writer)
- Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir
Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir is an Icelandic writer born on January 21, 1949 in Hafnarfjörður. She received her degree in 1991 from the University of Iceland in the fields of German and Icelandic. Her first novel Mávahlátur became a play and film...
(writer)
- Sólveig Pétursdóttir
Sólveig Guðrún Pétursdóttir is a former speaker of the Althing, the Icelandic parliament, serving between 2005 and 2007. She has been a parliament member since 1991 for the Reykjavík Constituency Sólveig Guðrún Pétursdóttir (born 11 March 1952) is a former speaker of the Althing, the Icelandic...
(politician)
- Sigurjón Sighvatsson
Sigurjón Sighvatsson , also known as Joni Sighvatsson, is a veteran Hollywood film producer and businessman. Currently he is the principal of Palomar Pictures, an independent film production company in Los Angeles. Palomar's current project Killer Elite was released September 23rd, 2011...
(film producer)
- Vigdís Grímsdóttir
Vigdís Grímsdóttir is an Icelandic writer born on August 15, 1953. She received her B.A. at the University of Iceland. She has written poetry, short stories, plays, and a children's book. One of her novels became the basis for a Swedish film...
(writer)
- Þórarinn Eldjárn
Þórarinn Eldjárn is an Icelandic writer born on 22 August 1949. He studied at the University of Lund and the University of Iceland. He has written numerous poems, stories, and novels. He has also translated numerous books into Icelandic, including Alice in Wonderland. In addition, he has produced...
(writer)
- Össur Skarphéðinsson
Össur Skarphéðinsson is an Icelandic politician who has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since February 2009.Össur matriculated from the Reykjavík Grammar School in 1973, and gained a BS in Biology from the University of Iceland in 1979, and a doctorate in physiology from the University of East...
(politician)
See also
- National and University Library of Iceland
Landsbókasafn Íslands — Háskólabókasafn is the national library of Iceland which also functions as the university library of the University of Iceland. The library was established on December 1, 1994 in Reykjavík, Iceland, with the merger of the former national library, Landsbókasafn Íslands...
- Icelandic scholars
- Icelandic Student Loan Fund
The Icelandic Student Loan Fund is a government-funded and government-run student loan fund for Icelandic citizens. It provides loans for living expenses of up to 7 years of university studies. Repayment of the loans is at below-market-rate interest, with a two year grace period upon completion of...
- UMAUD Environment and Natural Resources studies
- List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)
External links
Official homepage Official homepage