University of Iceland

General website

www.hi.is

(english.hi.is)

International Office

http://english.hi.is/university/office_of_international_education

Exchange students

http://english.hi.is/university/international_exchange_students

Contact information

University of Iceland

All incoming & outgoing to non-

International Office

European countries:

Háskólatorg, Sæmundargata 4

Ms. Aníta Hannesdóttir – outgoing:

101 Reykjavík

anita@hi.is – incoming: incoming@hi.is

Iceland

Outgoing to European countries:

Tel: +354 525 4311, Fax: +354 525 5850

Harpa Sif Arnarsdóttir: hsa@hi.is

E-mail:ask@hi.is

Director:

Ms. Friðrika Harðardóttir - fridrika@hi.is

Erasmus code

IS REYKJAV01

EUC number

28332

Application

Autumn term

deadlines

• Non-EEA/EFTA citizens: 1 March

• EEA/EFTA European citizens: 1 May

Spring term

• Non-EEA/EFTA citizens: 1 August

• EEA/EFTA European citizens: 1 October

The application documents should be posted latest on the day of the application

deadline.

Nomination of

International coordinators are requested to nominate their students online at least

exchange students

two weeks before the respective deadline

https://ugla.hi.is/umsoknir/nominations/index.php

Online application

Further information and an access to the online application will be sent to nominated

students

Application

• An online application (with course selection)

checklist

• A printed version of the online application (signed by the student and his/her

coordinator)

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International Office, University of Iceland, December 2014

• One passport photograph

• Transcript of records. Original in English or a Nordic language (DK, NO, SE, IS)

– with a university stamp mark (no copies)

Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered. Original documents are

required, faxed/scanned forms are not accepted.

Application

University of Iceland - International Office

documents must be

Incoming student exchange application

sent to

Háskólatorg, Sæmundargata 4

101 Reykjavík

Iceland

Application status

Students can keep track of their application status online at:

http://english.hi.is/university/application_status

Academic year

The academic year is divided into two semesters, autumn and spring, each

semester lasting thirteen weeks. The academic calendar varies somewhat from one

faculty to another, http://english.hi.is/university/academic_calendar

Expected date of

Approx. 19 August – 1 September (varies between schools/faculties) and the first

arrival

week of January for the spring semester. Exact dates will be given to students after

acceptance.

All exchange students are required to arrive in time for the start of the

semester and to attend the orientation meeting.

Programmes on

Education Studies, Teacher Education, Engineering, Computer Science, Physical

offer

Sciences, Life and Environmental Sciences, Earth Science, Food Science and

Nutrition, Humanities, Languages, Business, Law, Political Science, Social and

Human Studies (http://english.hi.is/university/courses_english).

Programmes closed

• MBA is closed.

to exchange

• The Faculty of Economics is closed.

students

• The Faculties of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmaceutical Sciences are

restricted to prior agreements between the exchanging faculties.

• The Faculty of Law does not accept undergraduates (who have finished less

than five terms).

• Courses in the English Language Programme are only available to exchange

students majoring in English at their home university or students who are

very proficient in English (except the course “English for Practical Purposes”)

• Courses taught in Icelandic are generally not open to exchange students,

(except Nordic students and students who can speak, write and understand

Icelandic).

Course catalogue

General Course Catalogue: http://english.hi.is/university/study_programmes_0

Courses taught in English: http://english.hi.is/university/courses_english

Credits and grading

60 ECTS credits amount to one year offull-timestudy and 30 ECTS credits

system

constitute one term’sfull-timestudy. Further information on credits and grading

system: http://english.hi.is/university/credit_system_and_grades

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International Office, University of Iceland, December 2014

Language of

The principal language of instruction at the University is Icelandic, but most faculties

Instruction

give courses in English as well. Various programmes are taught entirely in English.

Examples of these are Medieval Studies, graduate studies in Environment and

Natural Resources, studies in Renewable Energy Engineering, International Studies

in Education, Earth Science and an international L.L.M. programme.

Language

We do not request a TOEFL score (or similar) but rather rely on our partner

proficiency

institutions to evaluate the student’s English proficiency and to only nominate

students with excellent knowledge of English. This is to make sure students do not

have problems during their exchange period as they cannot expect any special

assistance due to language problems. Aself-assessmentof English proficiency is

included in the student application.

Icelandic language

The Faculty of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies offers a full degree

courses

programme in Icelandic for international students.

Intensive Language Preparation Course in Icelandic for Exchange Students is

organised by the Office of International Education and is held in August each year.

Further information: http://studyiniceland.is/page/ilpc

Timetables

http://english.hi.is/university/timetables

Orientation

An introductory session for all new international students is held at the start of each

semester. The organisation and requirements for the study program are presented.

Various events are available to students during the first week in the autumn

semester, among others a guided tour on campus, concerts, lectures etc. Please

note: Students are required to attend the orientation meeting.

Student residency

An EEA/EFTA citizen may stay and study in Iceland without changing their domicile

for up to six months from the date of arrival in the country. If the student resides

longer in Iceland, he should register his right to residency with the Registers Iceland,

(i. Þjóðskrá Íslands). When requesting registration a student needs to present: a

certificate from an accredited educational institution (acceptance letter),

documentation confirming means of support, a passport or another valid travel

document, birth certificate and certificate of health insurance(E-104).These

documents have to be in English or a Nordic language. Residence in another Nordic

country is not deducted from the residency period.

Citizens of countries outside the EEA/EFTA must obtain a student residency

permit before entering Iceland. The deadline for submitting an application to the

Directorate of Immigration (i. Útlendingastofnun) is 1 July for the autumn semester

and 1 November for the spring semester.

Instructions on how to apply for a student permit in Iceland can be found in the

booklet “How to Apply for a Student Permit in Iceland” (which is available online:

english.hi.is/practical_information) and on the website of the Directorate of

Immigration (www.utl.is).

Health Issues

European (EEA/EFTA) students must bring the European Health Insurance Card

(EHIC) and/or the insurance formE-104.This is proof that they are entitled to health

insurance at home. For further information or if in doubt, see the website of Icelandic

Health Insurance, www.sjukra.is.

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International Office, University of Iceland, December 2014

Students from non-EEA/EFTA/Nordiccountries 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, for the first six months of their

stay. The cost of such insurance is approximately ISK 15,000.

Applicants for a student permit coming from Central and South America, including

Mexico,non-EEAEuropean 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 Division of Communicable

Disease Control at arrival. Information in the Guide for International Students.

Mentor system

To help exchange students get a good start, the University of Iceland has a well-

organised Mentor system. The main task of the Mentor person is to provide the

student with practical information about the University of Iceland and Icelandic

society, as well as to introduce him/her to students and student life in general.

Cost of living

The estimated cost of living in Iceland for a single person is ISK 163,635 per month

(minimal support guidelines set by the municipalities).

Bus fare from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík

ISK 1,950

Overnight stay at a hostel

ISK3,200-5,000

Rent for a single room

ISK45,000-70,000

Access to a swimming pool

ISK 550

Movie ticket

ISK 1,350+

Theatre

ISK 4,750+

Daily newspaper

ISK 425+

Public bus ticket

ISK 350+

Bus card valid for a month in Reykjavík

ISK 9,300

1 loaf of bread

ISK 400

1 liter of milk

ISK 150

Glass of beer (0.5l)

ISK 850

Bottle of wine

ISK 1,600+

Lunch at a restaurant

ISK 1,800+

Dinner at a restaurant

ISK 3,500+

1 liter of petrol/gasoline

ISK 250+

Transcript of

Exchange students get two copies of their transcript of academic records free of

records

charge at the end of their stay. They are sent directly to the home university (or

ISEP when applicable).

Further information

Guide for International Students is published for each academic year and can be

found at http://english.hi.is/practical_information.

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International Office, University of Iceland, December 2014