Iceland (IS)

Iceland is a North Atlantic volcanic island nation of extraordinary natural beauty — home to geysers, glaciers, lava fields, midnight sun, the Northern Lights, and some of the world's most active volcanoes.

Capital: Reykjavik

Region: Europe

Language: Icelandic

Currency: ISK (kr)

Cost of living: Expensive (index 85)

Emergency: 112

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in Iceland.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

Leikskóli (pre-school / kindergarten) ISK 45,000–75,000/month (after municipal subsidy). Full cost ISK 90,000–130,000/month; subsidy covers 50–75% depending on household income.

Age: 1–6 years

Subsidy available

Municipalities subsidise leikskóli based on household income. Lower-income families receive higher subsidies. Reykjavik operates an income-based sliding scale for parental contribution.

Apply through Reykjavik municipality leikskólaráðgjöf or your local municipality. Submit application with child's kennitala, proof of address, and parent contact details. Notification when a place becomes available.

⏱️ Register your child on the leikskóli waiting list as soon as you arrive in Iceland — ideally before birth or immediately upon moving. Waiting lists in Reykjavik can be 6–18 months for desirable neighbourhoods. Children are prioritised by age and waiting time. Siblings of existing attendees often get priority.

Dagmamma (home childminder) ISK 60,000–90,000/month

Age: 1–5 years

Subsidy available

Registered dagmamma services may be subsidised by municipalities. Unregistered informal arrangements are not subsidised.

Contact dagmamma directly. Verify they are registered and licensed with the municipality. Sign a contract.

⏱️ Dagmamma are licensed individual childminders who care for small groups (maximum 5 children) in their home. Easier to access than leikskóli with shorter waits. Find through leikskólaráðgjöf or Facebook parent groups.

🏫 Schools

Public primary school Free

Grunnskóli (Primary and lower secondary, ages 6–16)

Ages: 6–16 years · Language: Icelandic (primary language). English taught from age 8–9. Danish taught from age 10–11. Some schools offer international programmes.

Contact your local grunnskóli (assigned by residential address) through the municipality school administration (skólaskrifstofa). Bring child's kennitala, proof of address, and vaccination records. Non-Icelandic-speaking children are assessed and may be placed in special language support groups (íslenska sem annað mál) initially.

Compulsory education runs from age 6 to 16 (10 years). The grunnskóli covers both primary and lower secondary in one school. Academic standards are high. Strong emphasis on outdoor activities, arts, and self-directed learning. After age 16, students continue to menntaskóli (upper secondary, ages 16–20) which is free but not compulsory.

Upper secondary school Free

Menntaskóli / Framhaldsskóli

Ages: 16–20 years · Language: Icelandic (with English widely used in some subjects)

Apply directly to the menntaskóli of your choice (not assigned by address, unlike grunnskóli). Application in spring for September start. Admissions based on grunnskóli grades.

Multiple menntaskólar in Reykjavik and other towns. Options include academic (university preparation), vocational, and arts-focused programmes. The major Reykjavik schools: Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð (MH), Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík (MR), Keilir, and others. International Baccalaureate (IB) available at some schools. International students may need supplementary Icelandic language support.

International Schools

Reykjavik has one international school operating in the English language: International School of Iceland (ISI — internationalschool.is), serving students from pre-school through secondary (age 4–18). Curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate (IB). Annual fees: approximately USD $28,973 (ISK ~3,800,000 at 2026 exchange rates) for grades K–10; confirm current ISK amounts directly with ISI as fees are set in USD. The school is relatively small (reflects Iceland's small expat population). For most expat families, integration into the Icelandic public school system (grunnskóli/menntaskóli) is recommended for language acquisition and integration — the quality is very high.

University

Tuition fee

Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland) and most public universities charge a registration fee only: approximately ISK 75,000/semester (2026) — effectively free compared to most English-speaking countries. Reykjavik University (private): approximately ISK 200,000–400,000/semester. No tuition fees in the UK/US sense.

Semester fee

ISK 100,000/semester (registration fee — Háskóli Íslands, 2026/27; increased from ISK 75,000 in 2025/26). Non-EEA/EFTA students may face tuition fees from 2026 intake depending on forthcoming government decisions — confirm at hi.is before applying.

Student visa

EEA students: no visa needed, register right of residence. Non-EEA students: apply for student residence permit at Útlendingastofnun after receiving university acceptance. See visaInfo for details.

Health insurance

Registered students with kennitala are covered by the public healthcare system after the 6-month residency period (or immediately for EEA students with EHIC).

Application process

Apply directly to the university (e.g., haskolinn.is for University of Iceland). Application deadlines typically in spring (March–April) for September start. Icelandic language proficiency required for most programmes. Some programmes offered in English.

🗣️ Language Courses

Íslenska sem annað mál (Icelandic as a Second Language)

Provider: Múlaþing Adult Education Centre and various municipalities · Duration: Varying: 10-week intensive courses to year-long programmes · Levels: A1 through C1. Most adult courses run A1–B2 in structured levels.

Subsidised or free for registered residents in many municipalities. Typically ISK 30,000–80,000 per module at private providers.

These courses are the main pathway to Icelandic language for adult immigrants. Registration at your municipality may give access to subsidised classes. Completion of B2 level (required for citizenship). Some employers and trade unions fund language courses for employees.

Íslenska fyrir útlendinga (Icelandic for Foreigners)

Provider: Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland) · Duration: Semester-based (September–December, January–April) · Levels: A1 through C1

ISK 50,000–120,000 per term

University-level Icelandic language courses open to the public. High quality, academic approach. Can be combined with other university studies. Evening courses available for working adults.

Íslenska í vinnu (Icelandic for the Workplace)

Provider: Various providers funded by Vinnumálastofnun · Duration: 4–12 weeks intensive · Levels: Workplace-focused A2–B1

Often free or heavily subsidised through Vinnumálastofnun for eligible workers

Specifically designed for immigrants in employment. Focuses on workplace vocabulary and practical communication. Funded by the Directorate of Labour. Check availability at vinnumalastofnun.is.

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