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

What You Get

This scholarship from the Icelandic Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education covers your tuition fees at the University of Iceland and pays a monthly allowance to help with accommodation and living costs. Around 12 scholarships are awarded each year. The award runs from 1 September to 31 May (one academic year), and you can reapply to extend it - up to three academic years in total.

What You Study

You enrol in the BA programme in Icelandic as a Second Language at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík (School of Humanities). The programme combines practical language training - speaking, reading and writing modern Icelandic - with academic subjects such as morphology (how words are formed), syntax (sentence structure), phonetics, medieval and modern Icelandic literature, and the history of Iceland from its settlement to the present day.

Who Can Apply

• Nationality: You must be a national of one of these countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States.
• Current study: You are a student of modern Icelandic at a university outside Iceland.
• University experience: You have completed at least one year of university study in humanities.
• Icelandic level: You have basic Icelandic knowledge equivalent to completing Icelandic Online 1 and Icelandic Online 2 (free self-study courses available at icelandiconline.com).
• English: You meet the University of Iceland's English proficiency requirements (English is used as a second language of instruction at the start).
• Age: Preference is given to candidates under 35 years old.

How to Apply

Download the official application form (Word document) from the Árni Magnússon Institute website. Send your completed application by post only (no email applications accepted) to:

Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies

Edda, Arngrímsgata 5

107 Reykjavík, Iceland

Include these documents, written in English, Icelandic, or another Scandinavian language:

• CV
• Certified university transcripts and copies of diplomas with grades
• Two letters of recommendation from academic supervisors at your university
• Proof of English proficiency
• Photocopy of your passport

US applicants: You must apply through the US Fulbright programme / Institute of International Education (IIE), 809 United Nations Plaza, New York NY 10017 - a different deadline applies.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: 1 December each year (postmark date counts).
• Results announced: January.
• University of Iceland admission deadline: Successful applicants must also apply separately to the University of Iceland by 1 February.
• Renewal deadline: If you want to extend your scholarship for another year, reapply to the institute before 1 December.