Iceland’s Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education funds about 12 scholarships a year for students from foreign universities to take the BA in Icelandic as a Second Language at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies runs the scheme.
The degree combines language training with Icelandic linguistics, medieval and modern literature, and history. Nationals of 27 listed countries can apply; US nationals go through Fulbright instead.
Benefits & funding
- University of Iceland registration fees paid
- Monthly stipend meant to cover one person’s room and board, paid at the start of each month from September to April
- Award period 1 September–31 May; renewable by reapplying before 1 December, up to three academic years in all
- Rooms can be rented in the Gamli Garður student dormitory
- Recipients must pass 30 ECTS of exams in the autumn semester to continue and to reapply for spring
Eligibility
- Nationals of: Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States
- At least one year of university study in the humanities, coming from a university outside Iceland
- Basic Icelandic at the level of the free Icelandic Online 1 and 2 courses
- Proficient English, with a certificate in the application; English is a teaching language early on
- Candidates under 35 are, as a rule, preferred (not a hard limit)
- US nationals apply via Fulbright (IIE), under a different deadline
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“The scholarships are intended for students of modern Icelandic who have completed at least one year of university study in humanities.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
Austria · Bulgaria · Canada · China · Croatia · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Faroe Islands · Finland · France · Germany
+ 15 more
Netherlands · Hungary · Italy · Japan · Latvia · Lithuania · Norway · Poland · Russia · Slovakia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · UK · USA
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Complete the Word application form, including a motivation statement, with the listed documents and two letters of recommendation from academic supervisors.
- 2Post it to the Institute in Reykjavík, postmarked by 1 December; email applications are not accepted.
- 3A committee decides; results come in January.
- 4If selected, apply separately to the University of Iceland by 1 February.
Program timeline
Application deadline (postmark)
1 December 2026
Decisions
January 2027
University of Iceland admission deadline
1 February 2027
Online Icelandic admission exams
Second week of June 2027
Scholarship period
1 September 2027 – 31 May 2028