What Háskóli Íslands does

Háskóli Íslands is the oldest and largest public university in Iceland, founded in 1911 and headquartered at Sæmundargötu 2, Reykjavík. It operates as an autonomous state institution under the Icelandic Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, delivering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across five faculties: Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Education, and Engineering and Natural Sciences. The institution serves a domestic Icelandic student body together with a small international cohort, supported by 400+ international university partnerships and the Aurora network. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through on-campus instruction in Reykjavík, the Hólum satellite campus, and a growing distance-learning (Fjarnám) channel with regional exam centers. Auxiliary revenue comes from nominal student fees (distance exam fees of 3,000 ISK domestic / 5,000 ISK international; retake fees of 6,000 ISK) and competitive research grants.

The core technology stack centers on the Ugla student information system for course registration, schedules, grades, and academic records, combined with the Inspera electronic examination platform for computer-based assessments. ReadSpeaker provides text-to-speech accessibility across public-facing pages. The technology perimeter is operational rather than productized — no external API or developer portal is documented, and there is no disclosed AI/ML capability beyond integrated accessibility tooling. Supporting services include the Science and Innovation Division, Vísindagarðar science park, Sprettur startup incubator, Uppskera community engagement platform, and a dedicated Graduate Study Center (Miðstöð framhaldsnáms).

Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the university's economics are dominated by direct Icelandic government appropriations, augmented by tuition-equivalent fees, research grant funding (including via the Stýrihópur HÍ og LSH joint steering committee with Landspítali National University Hospital), and partnership revenue from international collaboration programs. The institution holds ISO 27001 (referenced), Jafnlaunavottun equal-pay certification, and operates in GDPR compliance. As a state-funded entity, growth is paced by public budget cycles, demographic trends in the small Icelandic market, and competitive performance for Nordplus, Erasmus+, and bilateral research funding.

Name

Háskóli Íslands

Legal name

Háskóli Íslands

Website

https://hi.is

Company type

Public

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Háskóli Íslands is Iceland's largest public university, founded in 1911, offering undergraduate through doctoral programs across five faculties to Icelandic and international students via on-campus and distance-learning channels, supported by a research and innovation ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI), International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Academic degree programs
• Distance learning programs
• University research services
• Doctoral education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Háskóli Íslands is Iceland's largest public university, delivering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across five faculties: Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Education, and Engineering and Natural Sciences. The university provides instruction through on-campus programs in Reykjavík and the Hólar satellite campus, as well as distance learning (Fjarnám), supported by the Ugla student portal and the Inspera electronic examination system.

Product overview

Háskóli Íslands is Iceland's largest university, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services organized into five faculties: Félagsvísindasvið (Social Sciences), Heilbrigðisvísindasvið (Health Sciences), Hugvísindasvið (Humanities), Menntavísindasvið (Education), and Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (Engineering and Natural Sciences). The university provides degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels through both on-campus and distance learning formats (Fjarnám). Supporting services include the Vísinda- og nýsköpunarsvið research division, Aurora international exchange network, Sprettur startup incubator, and the Ugla student information portal. The institution also operates the Háskólasamstæða (university group) including HÍ á Hólum campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aurora: International collaboration program for student and staff exchanges
• Sprettur
• Vísindagarðar
• Vísindavefurinn

Products and services

• Félagsvísindasvið (School of Social Sciences) Faculty offering BA, MA, and doctoral programs in sociology, economics, law, political science, business studies, and social work. Aimed at prospective undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
• Heilbrigðisvísindasvið (School of Health Sciences) Faculty offering degrees in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, psychology, food and nutrition sciences, and public health. Targets students pursuing health-profession careers and clinical research.
• Hugvísindasvið (School of Humanities) Faculty offering studies in theology, Icelandic language and culture, languages, history, philosophy, media studies, and film. Aimed at students pursuing humanities education.
• Menntavísindasvið (School of Education) Faculty providing teacher education, sports science, leisure studies, and educational sciences. Targets prospective teachers and education researchers.
• Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (School of Engineering and Natural Sciences) Faculty covering engineering disciplines, natural sciences, earth sciences, life and environmental sciences, and computer science. Targets students seeking STEM education and research training.
• Fjarnám (Distance Learning) Comprehensive distance learning programs allowing students to complete degree programs entirely online through real-time virtual classes, digital course materials, and remote proctored exams. Targets students unable to attend on-campus programs.
• Aurora (International Exchange Network) International exchange and collaboration network connecting Nordic and partner universities for student and staff mobility programs. Targets students and staff seeking international experience through Aurora member institutions.
• Endurmenntun HÍ (Continuing Education) Continuing education and professional development courses for working professionals. Targets professionals seeking skill updates, career changes, or specialized certifications.
• Vísinda- og nýsköpunarsvið (Science and Innovation Division) Division supporting research activities, doctoral programs, innovation, startup companies, and technology transfer through initiatives including the Vísindagarðar science park. Targets researchers, doctoral candidates, and startups.
• Sprettur (Startup Hub) Startup incubator and innovation support initiative helping students and researchers commercialize ideas and create new ventures. Targets university-affiliated founders and researchers.
• Háskólinn á Hólum (University of Iceland at Hólar) Wholly-owned regional campus offering programs in disciplines such as tourism, fisheries, and rural development in North Iceland. Targets regional students seeking higher education.

Quantifiable outcome

• University graduates students three times annually (February, June, October) with official diplomas and transcripts
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Aurora NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAurora is a strategic international collaboration network involving multiple universities. Háskóli Íslands participates in Aurora alongside other partner institutions, providing students and staff with international exchange opportunities and collaborative educational initiatives.
• Over 400 International Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHáskóli Íslands maintains partnerships with over 400 universities worldwide for student exchange programs (skiptinám), enabling students to study abroad for portions of their degree programs. Partnerships include Erasmus+, Nordplus, Nordic Centre, and bilateral agreements.
• NordunetcoreTechnology or IntegrationNordunet is a Nordic research and education network providing high-capacity connectivity and collaboration infrastructure for research and education institutions across the Nordic and Baltic regions.
• RHnetcoreTechnology or IntegrationIcelandic research and education network providing IT infrastructure and connectivity services for Icelandic academic institutions.
• Landspítali (National University Hospital of Iceland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical partnership for medical education and research collaboration. Háskóli Íslands and Landspítali operate jointly under a steering committee (Stýrihópur HÍ og LSH) for coordination of medical training and research activities.
• Vísindagarðar (Science Park)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience park connecting the university with industry for innovation and startup support, facilitating technology transfer and collaborative research.

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stockholm University: Stockholm University is a public Nordic comprehensive research university with comparable faculty breadth, international partnerships, and a public-finance model similar to Háskóli Íslands.
• University of Helsinki: University of Helsinki is a comprehensive Nordic public research university with multiple faculties, an active science park and innovation ecosystem, and substantial international mobility — directly comparable to Háskóli Íslands' structure and mandate.
• Uppsala University: Uppsala University is a comprehensive Nordic public research university with a similarly long history, broad faculty structure, and significant international student exchange — a close institutional peer to Háskóli Íslands.
• University of Bergen: University of Bergen is a Norwegian public comprehensive research university of similar relative scale to Iceland, with broad faculty coverage and strong research focus — a relevant peer for a small-population flagship university like Háskóli Íslands.
• University of Copenhagen: The University of Copenhagen is a comprehensive Nordic public research university with multiple faculties, a major international partnership network, and a science park — the closest functional analog to Háskóli Íslands as Iceland's flagship comprehensive research university.
• Lund University: Lund University is a major Swedish public research university with broad faculty coverage, significant international exchange activity, and a comparable public-mandate role — a strong structural peer to Háskóli Íslands.
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU): NTNU is a major Nordic public research university with engineering, science, and humanities faculties, active technology-transfer and innovation activity, and an international student body — comparable to Háskóli Íslands' engineering and natural sciences faculty.
• Aarhus University: Aarhus University is a comprehensive Danish public research university with strong research output, a multi-faculty structure, and active participation in Nordic exchange networks — directly comparable to Háskóli Íslands' mandate and footprint.
• University of Oslo: University of Oslo is a Nordic public research university with multiple faculties, broad international collaborations, and significant research output — directly comparable to Háskóli Íslands in mission, structure, and public-finance model.

Regional players

• Reykjavik University: Reykjavik University is a private Icelandic university focused on technology, engineering, business, and law — operates in the same country and market as Háskóli Íslands, with overlapping STEM and social science programs, providing direct domestic competition for students and faculty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HIvarp
• Facebookfacebook.com/HaskoliIslands
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/h%C3%A1sk%C3%B3li-%C3%ADslands
• Instagraminstagram.com/haskoli_islands
• Xx.com/Haskoli_Islands

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Háskóli Íslands