Iceland is a small island nation in the North Atlantic, located just south of the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its dramatic scenery, hot springs, lava fields, glaciers, geysers, and volcanoes. While small and relatively isolated, the country is home to several universities and a vibrant culture. For students interested in studying engineering, below are two strong universities to look into if you want to study in Iceland!
Top Schools Offering Engineering Programs in Iceland
1. University of Iceland
Located in the capital city of Reykjavík, the University of Iceland is Iceland’s oldest and largest university and a major option for engineering in Iceland. Founded in 1911, it began with 45 students in its first academic year. Today, it is made up of five schools and 26 faculties and offers more than 400 study programs.
The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences is the provider of many of these courses. Undergraduates at the university can choose from engineering-related areas such as civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering. The University of Iceland also offers master’s and doctoral programs in engineering fields, with many graduate programs listed as international programs.
The University of Iceland also has an active student life. The Student Council organizes events for UI students, and students can join subject organizations, dance, theater, choirs, and other activities through the university and the Student Council.
2. Reykjavik University
Reykjavik University is a private university in Reykjavík and one of Iceland’s main institutions for technology and engineering. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, Reykjavík University is listed in the 801–1000 band overall and in the 801–1000 band for engineering. The same ranking profile lists a student total of 2,851.
Degrees in engineering-related areas are available at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. The Department of Engineering lists BSc programs such as biomedical engineering, electric power engineering, energy engineering, engineering, engineering management, financial engineering, mechanical engineering, and mechatronic engineering. At the master’s level, it lists programs including biomedical engineering, electric power engineering, engineering management, engineering, financial engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronic engineering, sustainable energy engineering, and sustainable energy science. The Department of Engineering also offers Ph.D. studies in engineering or applied sciences. Additional applied and technical options are available through the Department of Applied Engineering, where most courses are offered at the diploma or BSc level and are taught in Icelandic.
Reykjavik University is also closely connected to industry and innovation. The Department of Engineering emphasizes collaboration with companies, three-week courses, internships, and sustainability in compulsory and elective courses. RU also offers an Innovation and Entrepreneurship course in which students develop business ideas over three weeks with guidance from teachers and experts from the business community.
Finally, the International Office supports students who want to gain international experience through exchange studies. Reykjavik University has exchange agreements with around 200 universities in more than 30 countries, giving students many options to study abroad for one or two semesters.
With all this in mind, Iceland offers a focused but worthwhile selection of engineering courses at different study levels. Both of the universities mentioned above are well worth looking into if you are set on studying engineering in Iceland.
We hope that this article on the best universities for engineering in Iceland was helpful. If you’re looking to study abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students.
