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Everything you need to know about Icelandic courses in Iceland: tuition fees, types of programs, admission process and the most popular language schools.
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Icelandic courses in Iceland are the choice of real Vikings who are not cowed by a harsh climate and unpopular language. Those who choose Iceland will enjoy low course fees and a rich extracurricular life. Students in Iceland kayak, fish in the fjords, watch whales and polar bears, enjoy the amazing nature of the "ice country", and get acquainted with authentic folk crafts. If you do not know the language in any capacity, then classes will be conveniently held in English.
| School | Program | Weeks | Tuition/Course | Cities | Hotel accommodation | Living in an apartment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mímir-símenntun | Icelandic Course 40* | 4-8 | 385 USD | Reykjavik | 166 USD/day | 1,586 USD/month |
| Icelandic Spoken 20* | 1+ | On request | ||||
SÍMEY | Icelandic Course 40* | 8 | 350 USD | Akureyri |
* number of lessons per week
When applying for a language course, a lot of time is spent searching for information and clarifying the nuances of programs and accommodation options in Iceland.
UniPage cooperates only with accredited language schools, which, in addition to quality education and comfortable accommodation, provide our clients with discounts on courses. Our experts will tell you in detail what programs are available at Icelandic schools and universities, help you fill out an application, and ultimately save your time.
| Type of program | Intensity | Group | Min. language requirements | Course cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icelandic Course | 5-10 | 8-12 | Beginner | 389 USD |
| Crash Course | 30-32 | 8-12 | Beginner | 428 USD |
| Spoken Icelandic | 10-20 | 5-10 | Elementary | On request |
| Summer Course | 20-25 | 10-20 | Elementary | 701 USD |
| Individual Course | Individual | 1-2 | Beginner | 19 USD/lesson |
Courses at Icelandic language schools do not vary from one another. The most common are:
Icelandic Courses — general Icelandic courses. They usually last 1-2 months and are available for all language levels.
Crash Courses make up an intensive program lasting 1 week. Suitable for those who want to master a basic knowledge of Icelandic in a short time period.
Spoken Icelandic — practical courses aimed at developing conversational skills. In the classroom, students learn syntax and basic grammar, as well as hone their pronunciation. The conversational course does not provide fundamental knowledge and is not suitable for beginners, requiring a minimal elementary level. The course consists of 20 lesson hours, the intensity of which can be chosen independently.
Individual Courses — individual lessons with a teacher. The student can choose the duration and intensity of his own course.
Many programs require basic knowledge of English, as the first couple of classes will be held in this language.
University language centers offer special summer programs for the Icelandic language and culture. Some of them are available for beginners, while others will require an elementary level of Icelandic and a year of studies at a university in Iceland or your home country[2]. Duration — 1-2 weeks.
In the first half of the day, students study the language. In the afternoon, they go on excursions to historical sites and national museums for greater immersion in the linguistic and cultural context of the country.
Some summer programs give students a certificate at the end of their studies, which indicates a number of credits. They can be counted towards the total amount for bachelor’s or master’s programs.
Long-term Icelandic language courses at universities are available only to current students of these universities, as well as those who came to the country through a student exchange program[3].
Enrollment in language schools takes place all year round, and the classes themselves begin at least once a month. Summer programs run in June-August. For most summer schools, applications close one month before the start date, but for some schools this date may be delayed until February. Specify information about deadlines on the official website of your chosen program.
To enroll in a language school in Iceland, you need to:
Upon arrival, students take an entrance exam. According to the results, they are distributed into groups in accordance with their language level. Some schools allow you to take this test online before coming to Iceland. Many courses require English proficiency — you must provide the results of international exams or pass an internal school test upon admission.
Iceland does not issue student visas for language courses. Therefore, the duration of all programs in the country does not exceed 3 months — the validity period of a short-term Schengen visa.
In Iceland, there is a small selection of language schools and courses, and university centers accept only active students.
At private schools, general courses of varying intensity and conversational programs are most common. On average, they last 2-3 months. At some Icelandic schools, you can start learning in English, Spanish, Lithuanian, Polish, and Russian[4]. This is due to the fact that Icelandic is a rather complex language, and it is difficult for students with zero knowledge to immediately understand.
University centers offer two-week summer programs and week-long crash courses for beginners to learn the basics of Icelandic or improve their conversation skills.
During the first half of the day, language course students study the subtleties and features of Icelandic. After lunch, they go hiking, cycling, whale and bird watching, fishing, kayaking, skiing, and visiting the hot springs that Iceland is famous for.
Icelandic language schools do not place students in a host family or residence. Only a few universities offer dormitory accommodations, but only for students of summer language programs.
| Accommodation options | Meals | Number of people per room | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment | None | 1-3 | 1,586 USD/month |
| Hotel | Optional | 1-2 | 166 USD/day |
| Student residence | None | 1-4 | 249 USD/week |
| Expense | Avg. cost |
|---|---|
| Consular fee | 90 USD |
| Medical insurance | 26 USD |
| Icelandic exam | 58 USD |
Additional expenses may also include study materials, delivery of an invitation by express mail, and airport transfers. These costs must be clarified with the chosen language school.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Complete guidance in registering for courses — language schools abroad | 455 USD |
| Complete guidance in the admission process — university language courses | from 898 USD |
| Visa guidance | from 383 to 826 USD |
In order to take language courses in Iceland, you need to apply for a Schengen category C visa, the validity of which is 3 months.
You can apply for a visa at the consulate of Iceland or at a visa center of another Scandinavian country. The application review process takes about 10 days, but in some cases it can take up to 3 months.
Documents for a visa to Iceland:
The Mímir Lifelong Learning Center was opened in 2003 with the support of the Icelandic Confederation of Labor. It offers courses for students with beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of Icelandic, as well as special conversational training.
The course durations last from 1-2 months. During this time, students master one language level and, if desired, can move to a higher level. The average tuition fee is 385 USD per course.
SÍMEY Education Center is located in Akureyri, the northern region of Iceland. Here, you can learn Icelandic in general courses. They are divided into three levels, each of which lasts 1-2 months.
The cost of the course is 350 USD.
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