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
| INSTITUTION NAME | MIN. SCORE (UNDERGRADUATE) | MIN. SCORE (GRADUATE) |
|---|
| University of Iceland | 6.5 for most international undergraduate programs; English BA: 7.0 | 6.5 for many programs; some programs require higher scores |
| Agricultural University of Iceland | Program-specific | Program-specific; 6.5 for the Environmental Changes at Higher Latitudes MS |
| Reykjavik University | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| University of Akureyri | Program-specific; 6.5 on several listed English-taught programs | Program-specific; 6.5 on several listed English-taught programs |
| Iceland Academy of the Arts | Program-specific | Program-specific; 6.5 on listed English-taught master’s programs |
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Reykjavik University
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.
4. 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.
We hope that this article on IELTS Band requirements for universities in Iceland was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
