Icelandic Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education - Scholarships in Icelandic as a second language at the University of Iceland

What you get

You will receive a monthly stipend of about 830 EUR (a scholarship is a fixed grant to cover living costs). It covers the living costs for one person and is paid at the start of each month from September to May, making a total of 9 payments. Your tuition fees and enrolment fees at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík will also be covered, and you will be provided with a room in the ‘Gamli Garour’ student hall of residence. The scholarship runs for one academic year, from 1 September to 31 May. You may renew it each year, but for a maximum of three years in total. To renew it, you must pass exams totalling 30 ECTS credits in the first semester and submit a new application by 1 December. The funding is provided by the Icelandic Government. You are studying the Bachelor’s degree programme ‘Icelandic as a Second Language’, which combines practical language training (speaking, reading, writing) with academic subjects such as grammar, phonetics, Icelandic literature and the history of Iceland.

Who can apply

• What you study: You are studying Modern Icelandic at a university outside Iceland.
• Prior study: You have completed at least one year of a degree course in the humanities at a university.
• Icelandic level: You have a basic knowledge of Icelandic, roughly equivalent to the level you would achieve after completing the free online courses ‘Icelandic Online’ 1 and 2.
• English: You can demonstrate that you speak English, which is used as a second language of instruction.
• Nationality: You are a national of one of the eligible countries, including Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Nordic countries, several Central and Eastern European countries, Canada, China, Japan and the United Kingdom.
• Age: Applicants of all ages are welcome to apply, although preference is generally given to applicants under 35.

How to apply

Please post the completed application form to the organisation in Reykjavík that awards the scholarship. Applications sent by email will not be accepted, and the envelope must be postmarked no later than 1 December. A selection committee will make a decision in January. If you are selected, you must then apply separately for admission to the University of Iceland by 1 February. Applicants from the United States should instead apply via the Fulbright Programme, which has its own application deadline.

How realistic are your chances?

Around 12 scholarships are awarded each year. The number of applicants is not published, so it is not possible to calculate the exact level of competition.

If this Icelandic Government scholarship is not the right fit for you, our guide Scholarships in Austria lists further funding options available in Austria.