Iceland is home to several major universities, but the two largest are the University of Iceland, a publicly funded research university, and Reykjavík University, a private university that specializes in business, law, engineering, and several other fields.
It may not come as a surprise that some of the top university programmes are in fields that you may already associate with Iceland.
Geosciences stands out as a good example, as Iceland’s unique geological features make it one of the few places in the world where glaciologists and vulcanologists can work side by side with their peers. The University of Iceland is also home to several research institutions in this field, such as the Earthquake Engineering Research Centre and the Nordic Volcanological Centre. Similarly, Iceland is also home to several programmes that specialize in renewable energy, giving prospective engineers and environmentalists the opportunity to work hands-on with hydroelectric and geothermal energy providers.
Because of the wealth of historical sources and the small populations, Icelanders are also known for their interest in their own genealogies. It’s no surprise then that Iceland is also known for well-regarded programmes in molecular biology and genetics. The biopharmaceutical company deCODE, founded in 1996, made great strides in the study of population-wide genetics, and deCODE’s influential work has also fostered the development of various programmes in Iceland, including biotechnology, bioinformatics, and bioengineering.
For those with a more humanitarian bent, the University of Iceland also offers programmes in medieval history and literature. The presence of the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies and countless medieval manuscripts means that Iceland is one of the best places in the world for scholars who want to study the Old Norse language and its literary corpus.
Prospective students in Iceland may be interested in these schools:
- University of Iceland
- Reykjavík University
- Bifröst University
- University of Akureyri
- University Centre of the Westfjords
