IELTS Band Requirements for Universities in Iceland

Iceland is one of the most underrated destinations for international students. The country has seven universities, and most higher education institutions are run by the state or by private, nonprofit organizations with state support. Around 18,000 students are enrolled in higher education, and about 5% are international students. International students can attend Icelandic higher education institutions as exchange students or degree-seeking students, depending on the university and program. In this article, we look at the current English-language test requirements, especially IELTS, for universities in Iceland.

Minimum IELTS Band Requirements for Universities in Iceland 

1. Holar University College

• IELTS Band Requirement: Program-specific

Holar University College is a specialized higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate education in Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Equine Studies, and Tourism Studies. Hólar has a long educational history dating back to 1106, with an agricultural college established in 1882 and university status granted in 2007. Current admission information does not publish one universitywide IELTS minimum for all programs. Some programs require proof of English proficiency, so applicants should check the admissions page and the relevant course catalog before applying.

2. University of Iceland

• Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5 for most international programs; some programs require higher scores

Founded in 1911, the University of Iceland is the country’s oldest and largest university. It has around 14,000 students, including more than 2,000 international students, and offers a wide range of study options through five schools and 26 faculties. Like other Icelandic universities, the University of Iceland requires applicants to meet the language requirements of their chosen program. For most international undergraduate programs, the minimum English test scores are IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, or PTE Academic 58. However, some programs have higher requirements; for example, the BA in English requires IELTS 7.0, and some graduate programs in the School of Humanities require IELTS 7.5.

3. Agricultural University of Iceland

• IELTS Band Requirement: Program-specific; 6.5 for the Environmental Changes at Higher Latitudes MS

The Agricultural University of Iceland focuses on agriculture, environmental sciences, forest sciences, planning, and design. Its main campus is located at Hvanneyri, and the university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies, including international master’s programs. English-language requirements are program-specific rather than one fixed universitywide IELTS score. For example, the Environmental Changes at Higher Latitudes MS requires, when an English test is needed, IELTS 6.5 with no section below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 92 with a writing score of 22, or an equivalent accepted test.

4. Reykjavik University

• Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5

Reykjavik University was formally established in 1998 and is located in Reykjavik. It offers programs through departments and fields such as Business, Computer Science, Sport Science, Psychology, Applied Engineering, Engineering, and Law. Programs are offered in Icelandic and English, depending on the level and subject. For international admissions, Reykjavik University lists IELTS Academic 6.5 as the minimum accepted IELTS score. It also accepts TOEFL iBT 91 or TOEFL paper-based 577.

4. University of Akureyri

• IELTS Band Requirement: Program-specific; 6.5 on several listed English-taught programs

The University of Akureyri is located in Akureyri in northern Iceland. Most courses are taught in Icelandic, although the university offers some courses in English for exchange students, and Polar Law is listed as its only full-time program taught in English. Applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency, and accepted tests include TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Cambridge English exams, and PTE Academic. Several listed English-taught programs use minimum scores such as IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, or PTE Academic 58, but applicants should confirm the requirement on the page for their chosen program.

5. Bifrost University

• IELTS Band Requirement: No general IELTS minimum listed; TOEFL iBT is listed instead

Bifrost University was founded in 1918 and now offers fully online university studies. Its main academic areas include business, law, and social sciences. The university states that Icelandic is the primary language of instruction, with a selection of courses available in English. Current admission information does not list a general IELTS minimum. Instead, applicants whose first language is not Icelandic must meet Icelandic-language requirements, and the university lists a TOEFL iBT score of at least 94, with no section below 20, as part of the language documentation for relevant programs.

6. The Iceland Academy of the Arts

• IELTS Band Requirement: Program-specific; 6.5 on listed English-taught master’s programs

The Iceland University of the Arts, formerly known in English as the Iceland Academy of the Arts, offers university-level education in fields such as fine arts, theatre, dance, music, design, architecture, and art education. English-language requirements vary by program. For listed English-taught master’s programs such as Design and New Environments MA and Architecture MArch, the university requires IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 90 with a written section score of 20, PTE Academic 62 with a writing score of 61, or an equivalent accepted test. Applicants should check the exact requirement for their chosen program before applying.

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