Akureyri, Iceland

Spend a Fall or Spring Semester in Akureyri, Iceland

  • Spend a semester abroad in Akureyri on the northeast coast of Iceland. You'll be studying in Iceland鈥檚 second-largest urban area surrounded by mountains and fjords.
  • Enjoy life outside of class with a variety of cultural activities, local field trips, and excursions.
  • Experience Icelandic culture through your daily life in and around Akureyri and the rest of the country.
  • Take courses to fulfill your core curriculum or major requirements with courses in the humanities, marine sciences, economics, and international relations, taught in English.
A white building with a lot of windows in front of a mountainscape and blue skies
A U N E student feeds three Icelandic horses
Three U N E students climb the side of a glacier
U N E students in wetsuits sit on a small boat with snow-covered mountains in the background
A university campus and surrounding mountains covered in snow

Discover Akureyri, Iceland

Located in the North-Atlantic ocean, the stunning island nation of Iceland is the world鈥檚 most peaceful nation, a fact visible in the country鈥檚 unique Nordic culture, rugged landscapes, and strong sense of tradition. Akureyri, nicknamed 鈥淭he Green Town鈥, is located in northeast Iceland and is the nation鈥檚 second-largest urban area. It is surrounded by mountains at the head of Iceland鈥檚 longest fjord, Eyjafj枚r冒ur.

Akureyri is the site of a robust cultural scene, a beautiful waterfront downtown area, and a welcoming community. As an exchange student at the University of Akureyri, you will live and take classes in a variety of subjects at the university while experiencing all that the unique country of Iceland has to offer.

A cityscape at night that sits on the edge of water with snow-covered mountains in the background
A group of students sit under a heart-shaped sculpture in the middle of a Akureyri street

Living in Iceland

Housing

SWAG视频 will work with the University of Akureyri to determine suitable housing options. The exact type and location of housing is based on availability each semester and is typically a shared student apartment or guesthouse with whom the University of Akureyri collaborates.

Orientation

You'll begin your study abroad experience before even leaving home by participating in information sessions and a Pre-Departure Orientation with the Global Education Program staff. The orientation allows you to connect with others in the group, reflect on what you want to get out of the program and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish.

Academics

The SWAG视频 Iceland program in Akureyri offers a curriculum that meets the needs of a broad range of undergraduate majors. Courses in the humanities, marine sciences, economics, and international relations allow you to take the courses you need, taught in English, while experiencing life in a different culture.

View Sample Courses

Several U N E students stand at the back of a boat on whale watch in Iceland
A group of students in winter gear stand in front of a crater filled with frozen glacier water

Program Details

What's Included

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Support from on-site staff at the University of Akureyri
  • On-campus extracurricular activities, gym, and workshops
  • Cultural activities
  • Pre-departure and on-site orientation program
  • Travel medical insurance

Semester Dates

Students spend 16-18 weeks in Akureyri. Fall semester students arrive in Iceland in late August and return home in mid-December. Spring semester students arrive in Iceland at the beginning of January and return home in mid-May.

Prerequisites

Students are required to have a 2.5 minimum GPA. No Icelandic language experience is necessary, and all majors are welcome. Students should bring their own laptops.

Costs

Students keep all SWAG视频 scholarships and financial aid and are billed the same tuition as for a traditional on-campus semester, plus the standard SWAG视频 rate for housing without a meal plan.

Scholarships

Students participating in a SWAG视频 semester abroad program will be automatically awarded a $500 Global Education Scholarship. Students may also apply for the . This scholarship was established by Mrs. Eva M. Downs, whose late husband, Jacques M. Downs, was a much-loved history professor at SWAG视频. The Downs family are champions of global education and SWAG视频鈥檚 campus in Morocco. The scholarship was established to provide support for students who might not otherwise be able or inclined to participate in a semester abroad at the SWAG视频 Tangier Campus or other SWAG视频 semester-abroad programs. 

  • Deadline for Fall semester abroad programs: April 1
  • Deadline for Spring semester abroad programs: November 1

Other outside scholarships may be available; visit the scholarship opportunities listing or contact the Global Education team for more details.

SWAG视频 Students at Waterfall in Iceland

Apply

Ready to apply for a semester in Akureyri, Iceland? Fill out our easy  or visit us at the Global Education desk on the 2nd floor of the Commons or Decary Hall 126.

Application Deadlines

Spring 2025

September 1, 2024

Fall 2025

April 1, 2025

Spring 2026

September 1, 2025