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Háskóli Íslands — University of Iceland

About Háskóli Íslands — University of Iceland

Háskóli Íslands was founded in 1911, just 11 years after Reykjavík got its first electricity and three years before Iceland got its first telegraph connection. The decision to establish a university at this early stage of national development reflects the extraordinary value Icelanders have always placed on learning and literature — a tradition dating back to the saga writers of the 13th century. The university now has eight faculties covering arts, sciences, engineering, medicine, social sciences, law, business and education. It has produced the vast majority of Iceland's academic and intellectual leadership. The main building on Suðurgata is open to the public and worth visiting for its architecture alone. The central hall features portraits of Icelandic scholars and the dramatic staircase is one of the finest interior spaces in Reykjavík. The campus also contains the Nordic House next door and several other significant cultural institutions.

🐉 A Nation Educating Itself

When Iceland founded its university in 1911, most of the country had no roads and no electricity. But the parliament decided: a university comes first.

📖 History of Háskóli Íslands — University of Iceland

Founded 1911 with four faculties: theology, medicine, law and philosophy. It was one of the first institutions to teach in Icelandic (rather than Danish) as a political statement of national identity. The current main building was completed 1940, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson. The university grew rapidly after Icelandic independence in 1944 and now has campuses across Reykjavík.

💡 Did You Know?

Iceland has one of the highest rates of university enrolment per capita in the world — about 40% of adults have a university degree. The country also publishes more books per capita than any other nation.

Key Facts

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Founded 1911 — Iceland's oldest university

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Main building designed by Guðjón Samúelsson (architect of Hallgrímskirkja)

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~14,000 students (4% of Iceland's total population)

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Campus open to public

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Adjacent to Nordic House (Norræna Húsið by Alvar Aalto)

💎 Hidden Gems

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The Main Hall Portraits

The central hall of the main building is lined with portraits of Iceland's greatest scholars and intellectuals — a quiet, moving tribute to a small nation's intellectual ambition.

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The Campus in Autumn

The university campus in September, with the first frost on the grass and students crowding the café, has a particular Icelandic autumn atmosphere that's completely different from the tourist version of Reykjavík.