University of Iceland

MAUI-Utrecht Network Exchange Program

This program is part of the MAUI-Utrecht Network Exchange and is open to students from member institutions only. Interested students should contact their local study abroad coordinator regarding the application/placement process and for additional information. Application deadlines for all MAUI-Utrecht Network programs, including fall semester, winter semester, or academic year abroad, is in February. Spring semester placements may be available after the deadline: contact the Study Abroad Coordinator.

University of Iceland

Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the border of the temperate and the arctic zones, with its extreme northern point touching the Arctic Circle. Its nearest neighbor to the west is Greenland, to the southeast lie the Faroe islands.

The University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) is a state university founded in 1911. Today, the University of Iceland serves a nation of approximately 320,000 people and provides instruction for some 15,000 students studying in five schools and 25 faculties. In addition to the major schools there are numerous research institutes attached to the University. With its 635 tenured teachers, some 2.000 non-tenured teachers, and numerous researchers and administrators, the University of Iceland is the largest single work-place in the country.

A modern, diversified, and rapidly-developing institution, the University of Iceland offers opportunities for study and research in many degree programmes in the humanities, science and social sciences, and in professional fields such as theology, law, business, medicine, odontology and engineering. 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.

Full name of university	University of Iceland
Number of MAUI students you can accept during 2009/2010 (indicate total number of semesters)	4 semesters
Areas of study open for MAUI students	All regular courses taught at the University, especially courses taught in English for foreign students (http://www.hi.is/page/courses_in_english)
Areas of study restricted to prior bilateral agreements between the exchanging departments or faculties	School of Health Sciences
Utrecht Network contact person (name, full address, phone/fax/email)	Karitas Kvaran Director Office of International Education Haskolatorg Saemundargata 4 101 Reykjavík Iceland Tel: +354 525 4304 Fax: +354 525 5850 karitask@hi.is
Contact person for incoming students (name, full address, phone/fax/e-mail)	Erla Björk Atladottir International Coordinator Office of International Education Haskolatorg Saemundargata 4 101 Reykjavík Iceland Tel: +354 525 4469 Fax: +354 525 5850 ebjork@hi.is incoming@hi.is (student enqueries)
General web site of the university	http://www.hi.is
Web site of the international office/information web site for incoming students	http://www.hi.is/en/university/office_of_international_education
Academic calendar	The academic calendar can be found online at: http://www.hi.is/en/university/academic_calendar The academic year is divided into two semesters: Fall semester: Late August/Early September – 21.12 Spring semester: Early January – 15.5 The calendar varies somewhat from one faculty to another. Please consult the Office of International Education at the University of Iceland for exact dates of the beginning and the ending of the academic calendar in your field of study.
Examination period(s)	In autumn semester from 10-21 December In spring semester from 29 April - 30 May These days may vary slightly from year to year.
Orientation session(s) for incoming students	Orientation meeting in the first week of September and the first week of January, free of charge. A programme called Introduction to Iceland is open to all foreign students. This is a combination of excursions and day trips and lectures on Icelandic matters (history, geology, arts, government, industry etc.). Lectures are free of charge some payments are required for bus fares.
ECTS available	All
Application deadline(s) for admission	May 1st for the fall semester or a full academic year and October 1st for the spring semester only
Application material on the web site or being mailed	All nominations must be submitted on-line by the international coordinator two weeks before the deadline. Applications from your students to the University of Iceland can only be considered if you nominate them using the following website: http://www.hi.is/en/nomination You will be asked to enter name, email, field of study and term of study for each of your students. After you have done so, we will review the nominations and email these students with detailed application instructions and a copy to you. http://www.hi.is/en/exchange_student_application Further information and an access to the application form will be sent to nominated students Students need to send the following: A printed version of the online application (signed by the student and his/her coordinator) One passport photograph Transcript of records. Original copy in English or a Nordic language (DK, NO, SE, IS) Applications lacking the required signature by faculty/departmental/exchange coordinator or missing any of the required documents when the application deadline has passed can not be considered. Original copies are required, faxed/scanned forms are not accepted.
Course registration deadline(s)	Students register for courses at the start of the semester
Language requirements	A good selection of courses taught in English and other foreign languages is available but Icelandic is the principal language of instruction. Teaching includes lectures, essay and project writing and reading texts. Some textbooks are in English or other foreign language (mostly German and Scandinavian languages) and exchange students can be allowed to write examinations and essays in English (or own language if possible). This is, however, always subject to approval of each faculty and instructors whom you should consult beforehand.
Language test certificate requirements	No
Preparatory language course for incoming students	Four week intensive course in Icelandic, held in August in the West Fjords. Price approx. ISK 40-50.000. This course is an elementary course for beginners, altogether 70 hours, specially meant for students attending other subjects than the degree programme in Icelandic for international students. All students can apply, but exchange students have priority to attend the course.
Courses taught in English	http://www.hi.is/en/university/programmes_on_offer
Internships available	Possible in some cases, like in the field of nursing.
Student employment	Non-European students need to apply for a work permit
Housing assistance	The Office of International Education assists exchange students in finding housing for the academic year/semester (Sept 1st. - May 15th). Accepted exchange students will be given access to a database with available accommodation. Students can therefore choose the accommodation they prefer from that list and contact the chosen landlord directly.
Housing options	The types of housing that are available are: -Rooms in student dormitories (very limited number) -Rooms in guesthouses, with access to kitchen and bathroom -Shared apartments/ flats with other students -Rooms in private houses
Housing application deadline(s)	Same as the application deadline for exchange studies (May 1st and October 1st)
Cost estimates per month (in EURO) Housing Meals Books Local Transportation Health Insurance	housing: 350 – 600 Euro meals: varies books: varies Buses: one ticket 2 Euro, monthly pass 50 Euro (approximates) Health Issues - Citizens of countries other than EU and EEA Students from non-EU/EEA/Nordic countries should have health insurance from an insurance company in their country that is licensed to operate in Iceland, or buy insurance from an Icelandic insurance company. The cost of insurance is approximately ISK 15,000. Applicants for a student permit coming from Central and South America, including Mexico, non-EEA European countries, Asia or Africa must undergo a medical examination with respect to infectious diseases. If the applicant, in the opinion of a physician, has a valid medical certificate from the applicant’s home country, which has been issued less than three months before, the applicant concerned does not have to undergo a medical examination. People coming from the EEA (other than Romania and Bulgaria), Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, the USA and Canada do not have to submit such a medical certificate, see www.landlaeknir.is. Students in need of a health check should go to the Health Centre, at Þönglabakki 1, 109 Reykjavík. The purpose of the visit is a blood test and tuberculosis test. The result of these tests are then sent directly to the Directorate of Immigration. The cost varies depending on where you are from: ISK 6,700–21,200, and you need to make an appointment by calling: +354 585 1390 (open on weekdays 08:20–16:15).
Additional fees to pay	None
Comparable health insurance coverage from abroad allowed/not allowed	Insurance must cover at least 2,000,000 ISK and shall be issued by an insurance company authorised to provide services in Iceland. If your insurance company is not on this list: http://fme.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?itemid=3219, you need, without exception, to buy Icelandic insurance. The name of your insurance company has to be 100% correct in the list, i.e. if you see Sun Life, London on the list but you are insured at Sun Life, Canada, it is not valid. If you are unsure whether your insurance company is on the list, you can send an enquiry to The Financial Supervisory Authority in Iceland (www.fme.is). The address is: Suðurlandsbraut 32, 108 Reykjavík, phone number: +354 525 2700, fax: +354 525 2727 and e-mail: fme@fme.is.
Health facilities at the university	A sport center on campus
Other relevant information	Student residency and work permits - Citizens of countries other than EU and EEA must obtain the student permit before entering Iceland. The deadline to submit an application with the Directorate of Immigration is July 15th for the fall semester and November 15th for the spring semester. Some nationals outside EU and EEA are exempted from the obligation to carry a visa on arrival in Iceland for a stay of up to a total of three months within the Schengen area. The total stay within the Schengen area must not exceed three months in any period of six months. (See website www.utl.is, which countries are part of the Schengen agreement). The student permit is applied for at the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration.If a student permit is granted, the applicant shall, upon arrival in Iceland, register his domicile with the National Registry and get his picture taken at the Directorate of Immigration. All citizens should bring a passport which is valid at least three months after the scheduled departure.
Last update of this information	January 2009