Iceland

Placement Information

• Partner Organization: Fulbright Iceland
• Eligible Program Dates: 3-6 months from January – mid-June 2026 or mid-August – December 2026
• Host Institution Expectations: The University of Iceland School of Education will serve as a host for the selected candidate. More information can be found on the School of Education‘s page. The candidate may have additional hosts.
• Language Requirement: None
• Monthly Allowance: Between $5,700 - $6,300 (exact amount to be confirmed at a later date)
• Dependent Information: An allowance of $2,000 per eligible dependent will be provided as part of the grant. Children can attend primary and lower-secondary public schools at little or no cost, which is a great way to integrate into Icelandic society. The Commission can assist grantees in finding an appropriate local public school. Grantees with dependents should read the family guide on our webpage. Please note that tuition support for dependents is subject to availability and requests for funding are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to research schooling options for their dependents during the application phase. 

Country Overview

Iceland is a small Nordic country, an island republic in the North Atlantic, between the U.S. and the European mainland. Iceland is technologically advanced; English is widely spoken. The population of now 388,000 has changed drastically as the immigrant population has risen from about 3% to 20% since the start of the millennium. As a small, highly technologically advanced country, Iceland can support many types of research. English is widely spoken and used in academia. Fulbrighters can generally expect good access to people, institutions, and information for research purposes.

Iceland has spectacular nature and offers an opportunity for unique outdoor experiences, in addition to a vibrant cultural scene and a cuisine that has been gaining international recognition. The Fulbright Commission in Iceland prefers to maintain close ties with Fulbrighters during their stay and provide a sense of community. There are monthly grantee activities sponsored by the Commission, in addition to access to Fulbright alumni events and other social activities.

Educational System Overview

The education system in Iceland is divided into four levels: pre-school, compulsory, upper secondary, and higher education. The system is pre-dominantly publicly funded with very few private schools. The central government has the overall responsibility at all levels of education and sets the policies. Local authorities are responsible for the operation of pre-schools and the single structure compulsory school level (primary and secondary schools) in their area.

A fundamental principle of the Icelandic education system is that everyone should have equal opportunity to acquire an education, irrespective of sex, economic status, residential location, possible handicap, and cultural or social background. The Education Strategy 2030 was adopted in 2021 and is a ten-year plan that establishes Iceland’s objective to achieve a dynamic and flexible education system to drive economic and social change.

Six fundamental pillars of education are elaborated on in the National Curriculum Guide. These are:  

• Literacy
• Sustainability
• Health and welfare
• Democracy and human rights
• Equality
• Creativity

The current educational challenges include a general decline in literacy and science skills and an increasing achievement gap between socially disadvantaged students and their peers (OECD, 2021). Although the majority of students in compulsory school report a feeling of belonging and general satisfaction in school, students of immigrant background are more likely to experience a lack of connection with teachers and their peers. 

Here are additional resources on the National Education System and Curriculum in Iceland.

Possible Topics of Interest for U.S. Educators

• Wellbeing and education (Education as Flourishing): Recent policy changes in Iceland mark an important shift to the education that focuses on the student as a whole, holistic skills, and student well-being. The aim of the Education Strategic Plan 2030 is to “… provide excellent education in an environment where everyone can learn and everyone matters” (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, 2021). The Education Strategic Plan and the Act on the Integration of Services in the Interest of Children’s Prosperity were both established in 2021, with the former being developed in collaboration with OECD. That same year, a new Ministry of Education and Children was established in 2021 to oversee the implementation of these components.  

  Well-being is a strategic pillar in these policy changes and highlights the importance of health promotion, mental health, school counselling, and student voices. The new laws are being implemented throughout the Icelandic municipalities through cross-sectoral professional collaboration. Iceland is an interesting case to explore the connection between global well-being trends in education and extended education, as Iceland has historically valued quality public education.

• Sustainable Education: Sustainability has been a core component of education since 2011, integrated into pre-school through secondary school curricula and emphasized in teacher education and pedagogy courses. All student teachers take a mandatory sustainability education course, and as of 2022, it is also a specialization in the five-year teacher education program. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals further guide research and studies at the School of Education.

  Recognizing the importance of social and educational innovation, the School of Education partnered with the City of Reykjavík to establish the Innovation Hub for Education. This initiative connects academia, professionals, students, and businesses to develop new approaches to school and extracurricular activities. In 2022, the School introduced NýMennt, a unit focused on the societal impact of educational research. Key projects include collaborations on educational technology, promoting STEAM education, and enhancing parenting skills with schools and government support. These efforts aim to foster professional development, drive innovation, and contribute to a more sustainable society. 

• Inclusive Education: The Icelandic education system is built around the notion of open and accessible education for everyone. Inclusive education is a strong focus and children should be able to attend their local compulsory school. There are many concerns about the quality of support services and recent governmental initiatives serve to strengthen support services for school, teachers, and students around the whole country.  

Additional topics might include:

• Multicultural education and language acquisition
• Icelandic saga tradition, folklore, and culture