Reykjavik University

What Reykjavik University does

Reykjavik University is a private, non-profit higher education institution headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, founded in 1998. It operates across two schools (School of Technology and School of Social Science) containing seven academic departments spanning engineering, computer science, law, business, psychology, and sports science, supported by more than a dozen named research centers including CADIA, CRESS, ICE-TCS, ICCAM, NANO, RU FINTECH, and Seres Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. The portfolio includes undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and executive programmes such as the Executive MBA, MPM in Project Management, and AI-focused MSc degrees in Artificial Intelligence and AI and Language Technology. The institution also runs the Iceland School of Energy, a sustainability-focused school, and operates 252 on-campus student apartments and an integrated library.

The university serves primarily domestic and international students seeking higher education, with a secondary audience of Icelandic and European industry partners seeking research collaboration, technology transfer, and graduate talent. Revenue is generated through tuition and fees, government accreditation and funding via the Icelandic Ministry of Education, research grants (including internal RU Research Fund and RU Infrastructure Fund plus external awards), and industry collaboration through technology transfer and licensing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the Startup Social project receives ISK 3 million annually from Reykjavik City for 2025-2026.

Strategically, the university has been expanding its international footprint through membership in the NeurotechEU European alliance (with blended intensive programmes alongside Karolinska Institutet, Radboud University, Boğaziçi University, Université de Lille, and Universidad Miguel Hernández) and through a 2026 partnership with Southern Utah University connecting the Iceland School of Energy to the US geothermal sector. It is accredited by Iceland's Ministry of Education, holds European Commission recognition as a workplace adhering to EU standards for researchers, and carries PwC-verified equal pay certification. The current President is Dr. Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, and a new Board of Directors was seated in June 2026 following elections at the April 2026 Annual General Meeting.

Name

Reykjavik University

Legal name

Reykjavik University

Website

https://en.ru.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Reykjavik University is a private Icelandic higher education institution founded in 1998, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and executive programmes across technology, business, law, social sciences, psychology, and sports science to domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University programs
• Engineering degrees
• Computer science research
• Executive education

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition fees for domestic and international students across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes.
2. Government Funding: Government of Iceland accreditation and funding through Ministry of Education, including strategic research programme grants.
3. Research Grants: Funding through RU Research Fund, RU Infrastructure Fund, and external research grants including European Commission recognition.
4. Industry Collaboration: Innovation partnerships with industry through technology transfer, licensing, and collaborative research arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reykjavik University delivers higher education programs across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels in technology, business, law, social sciences, psychology, and sports science. The university operates through two schools (School of Technology and School of Social Science) comprising seven academic departments and 12+ research centers, complemented by student services such as library access and on-campus housing.

Product overview

Reykjavik University is Iceland's leading higher education institution offering a portfolio of academic programs across technology, business, law, social sciences, psychology, and sports science. The university's product offerings include specialized schools (Iceland School of Energy for sustainable energy education), professional graduate degrees (Executive MBA, MPM), AI-focused computer science programs (AI and Language Technology MSc, Artificial Intelligence MSc), and student support services (library, housing). Research centers including CADIA, CRESS, ICE-TCS, and RU FINTECH support innovation. The institution participates in international collaborations such as NeurotechEU for neurotechnology research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Iceland School of Energy (ISE) A specialized school within Reykjavik University focused on sustainable energy education and research, connecting students to Iceland's geothermal and hydroelectric energy systems and global energy networks.
• Executive MBA A professional master's degree program in business administration designed for executives and working professionals, featuring international faculty from North America, Europe, and Iceland.
• MPM - Master of Project Management An advanced master's degree program for individuals with undergraduate degrees seeking project management expertise, requiring a minimum of professional experience for admission.
• AI and Language Technology MSc A two-year (120 ECTS) master's program focused on artificial intelligence and language technology, preparing students for advanced work in AI and natural language processing.
• Artificial Intelligence MSc A master's program in artificial intelligence covering various aspects of AI theory and applications within computer science.
• RU Library University library providing research support, databases, citation guides (APA, Oscola, IEEE), Zotero integration, and study assistance services for students and faculty.
• RU Student Housing Student accommodation comprising 252 apartments in two residential complexes at Nauthólsvegur 83–85, offering self-contained living spaces with private entrances near the main campus.
• NeurotechEU Program A European university network collaboration including blended intensive programs on robotic rehabilitation and brain-computer interface applications, involving five European universities and offering 4 ECTS courses combining online and on-site learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 720 graduates in 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southern Utah UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026New partnership between Iceland School of Energy at Reykjavik University and Southern Utah University to advance sustainable energy education, research, and workforce development. Building on Southern Utah University's collaboration with Fervo Energy and Utah's geothermal sector, connecting students, researchers, and industry.
• StratNeuro-NeurotechEUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Hosting hybrid seminars on neurotechnology topics including brain-machine interfaces, sleep measurement technology, artificial neurons, and soft robotics. Seminar features presentations from researchers across Europe.
• NeurotechEUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Reykjavik University is a member of NeurotechEU, a European university alliance focused on neurotechnology. The partnership involves joint programmes including a blended intensive programme on robotic rehabilitation and BCI applications, doctoral networks, and collaborative seminars. The university hosted the Summer School of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback as part of this alliance.
• MITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with MIT mentioned as part of international collaboration initiatives at Reykjavik University.
• Karolinska InstitutetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through NeurotechEU framework, specifically on the Summer School of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback: Translating Evidence into Practice.
• Radboud UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through NeurotechEU framework on blended intensive programmes including the Summer School of Applied Psychophysiology and the robotic rehabilitation and BCI programme.
• Boğaziçi UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NeurotechEU blended intensive programme on robotic rehabilitation and BCI applications (24 August to 4 September 2026).
• Université de LillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NeurotechEU blended intensive programme on robotic rehabilitation and BCI applications.
• Universidad Miguel HernándezcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NeurotechEU blended intensive programme on robotic rehabilitation and BCI applications.
• NorditaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic institute for theoretical physics involved in Iceland's quantum ecosystem collaboration with Reykjavik University.
• Nordic Quantum NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration network for quantum computing initiatives involving Reykjavik University.
• Reykjavik City - Startup SocialminorOthersReykjavik city provides annual financial support of ISK 3 million for 2025 and 2026 to the Startup Social project involving local universities and international partners. Project focuses on social innovation with success stories like Bergið Headspace and Green Bytes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• KTH Royal Institute of Technology: Sweden's premier technical university with strong engineering, computer science, and energy research. Comparable in technology-focused research output, industry partnerships, and graduate-program portfolio.
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU): Norway's largest university, with deep engineering, computer science, and energy research. Comparable in multi-school structure, doctoral output, and NeurotechEU-adjacent European research networks.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU): Nordic technical university with extensive applied research, sustainability focus, and industry collaboration. Comparable in technology research intensity and energy/sustainability positioning.
• University of Copenhagen: Comprehensive Nordic research university with strength in life sciences, law, and social sciences. Comparable in multi-disciplinary research scale and EU research-grant capture.
• Aalto University: Leading Nordic private-style research university combining technology, business, and arts. Comparable in multi-disciplinary structure, industry-tied research centers, and strong emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Regional players

• Bifröst University: Small Icelandic private university focused on business, law, and social sciences. Comparable in private-Iceland higher-education positioning, though smaller and more specialized than Reykjavik University.
• Iceland University of the Arts: Iceland's specialized arts higher-education institution. Operates in the same Icelandic private higher-education ecosystem with similar size, governance, and Ministry of Education oversight.
• Boğaziçi University: Turkish research university partnering with RU on NeurotechEU robotic-rehabilitation and BCI intensive programmes. Comparable as a NeurotechEU alliance partner contributing to joint European neuroscience offerings.
• Karolinska Institutet: Swedish medical university collaborating with RU via NeurotechEU on psychophysiology and biofeedback summer schools. Comparable as a Nordic partner in cross-border neuroscience/digital-health programmes.

Direct peers

• University of Iceland: Iceland's largest public research university, offering overlapping undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across law, business, engineering, and social sciences. It is the primary domestic competitor for students, faculty, and research funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ReykjavikUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/haskolinnireykjavik
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/reykjavik-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/haskolinnireykjavik

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Reykjavik University