Low Tuition Universities in Iceland, Admission Requirements and Essential Information for International Students

Are you interested in studying abroad in this fascinating country? This article explains everything you’ll need to know about Iceland’s universities including the higher education system, tuition fees, admission requirements, living costs and also list of low tuition universities in Iceland

About Iceland

Iceland is an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and North America. The country is situated on a strategic location between North America and Europe, about 840 km north west of the United Kingdom

Iceland is home to just 350,000 people. Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. The official currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krone (pronounced ‘krona’). The official and national language of Iceland is Icelandic

Higher Education System

Iceland is part of the Bologna Process. This means that its higher education is divided into three tiers:

First Tier – this is the undergraduate level. Bachelor’s degrees take three or four years to complete. Some subjects, like medicine or engineering, take the full four years.
Second Tier – this is the postgraduate level. Master’s degrees take one to two years to complete. Some part-time courses can take three years to complete.
Third Tier – this is the doctoral level. Most PhDs take three to five years to complete. It depends on what you’re studying and whether or not you teach whilst researching.

Tuition Fees

As an international student (of both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA countries), you won’t be charged tuition fees at Iceland’s public universities, but you’ll be required to pay an annual admin fee of ISK 75,000 (around £454).

If you’re applying from a non-EEA country, you’ll also have to pay an application fee. At the University of Iceland, this is ISK 8,000 (£48).

However, if you opt to study at a private university you’ll be required to cover the costs of

your tuition. These vary by institution and course, so check individual university websites for exact fees.

Living Costs

Accommodation Costs:

Accommodation in the land of greenery costs too much, even for a native.

People usually have to give out half the salary for the monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment which is not a luxurious one.

If you choose a single room or studio apartment, you can probably get away with 1000 to 1500 dollars a month.

Sharing a three-bedroom apartment outside the center with a few friends can cost $2357.95.

Food Costs:

After housing rent, the next major expense that a student has to face is the daily food and grocery expenditure. According to a given expenditure statistical diagram food and other market items take 29.9% of the total budget.

In Iceland, generally, a loaf of bread costs around 400 ISK which is equal to 3 Euros. Similarly, a liter of milk costs around 160 ISK which is equal to 1 Euro. Likewise, other items include vegetables, dairy items, meat and beverages. Moreover dining out in Iceland can cost you around 1500 ISK and above.

Transportation Costs:

A broad network of public transportation in Iceland allows its citizens to get around the country safely and fast.

Bus routes, ferry boats, taxis, and local airports all aim at making your travel as comfortable as possible.

Although, the prices for tickets are one of the most expensive ones in the world.

A monthly pass will cost you $101.40, still, it’s cheaper than buying a one-way ticket for $3.79 every time you go anywhere.

Admission Requirements

Letter of motivation
Two letters of recommendation
English language proficiency test.
Your passport
Proof of payment of the application fee
A scan of your diploma (high school or Bachelor’s degree)
A transcript/record of your previous courses
A scan of your passport and/or birth certificate
Your CV
Portfolio or writing samples