Háskóli Íslands — University of Iceland

Background

History & Background

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.

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.