Hólar University

What Hólar University does

Hólar University, formally Háskóli Íslands á Hólum (HÍ á Hólum), is a public specialized higher education institution located at Hólar í Hjaltadal in Sauðárkrókur, northern Iceland. The university's core offering is undergraduate and graduate education through three narrow academic departments: Ferðamáladeild (Tourism), Fiskeldis- og fiskalíffræðideild (Fish Farming and Fish Biology), and Hestafræðideild (Horse Science). Its operational footprint is supported by 37 staff, the IRIS research gateway for institutional repository access, the Ugla student information system shared with Háskóli Íslands, and Tutor-web for academic support. Field training integrated with industry partners is a structural feature across all programs.

Following Alþingi approval in 2024, Hólar formally merged into the Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland) university conglomerate effective July 1, 2024, operating since then as HÍ á Hólum within the broader consolidated institution. Revenue is not separately disclosed; the institution is funded through a mix of government allocations, Icelandic tuition and registration fees, research grants and contracts in aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, and equestrian studies, and continuing education offerings. The customer base consists of domestic and international students pursuing specialized training, regional industries (tourism, aquaculture, equestrian) seeking applied research and workforce, and the wider Skagafjörður community engaging with university services.

Name

Hólar University

Legal name

Háskóli Íslands á Hólum

Website

https://holar.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hólar University is a public specialized university in rural Iceland, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in tourism, aquaculture, and horse science, now operating as part of Háskóli Íslands following a 2024 merger.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sauðárkrókur

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a public university operating under Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland), Hólar receives substantial government funding for educational services, research activities, and institutional operations.
2. Tuition and Student Fees: The university collects tuition fees and registration fees from students for various undergraduate and graduate programs, including continuing education courses.
3. Research Grants and Contracts: Funded research activities through partnerships with government agencies, industry stakeholders, and international research programs in aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, and equestrian studies.
4. Continuing Education and Short Courses: Revenue from professional development courses, continuing education programs, and specialized training workshops in the university's focus areas.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hólar University is a specialized public university in rural Iceland offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across three academic departments: Tourism (Ferðamáladeild), Fish Farming and Fish Biology (Fiskeldis- og fiskalíffræðideild), and Horse Science (Hestafræðideild). The institution delivers applied research, continuing education, and professional development programs in close partnership with regional industries in aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, and equestrian sectors.

Product overview

Hólar University (Háskóli Íslands á Hólum) is a specialized university located in rural Iceland offering quality education at undergraduate and graduate levels, with a strong focus on regional industries. The university operates three main academic departments: Ferðamáladeild (Tourism), Fiskeldis- og fiskalíffræðideild (Fish Farming and Fish Biology), and Hestafræðideild (Horse Science). These departments serve as the core educational products, complemented by research infrastructure including the IRIS Research Gateway and academic support tools like Tutor-web. The institution emphasizes practical training in collaboration with industry partners and prepares professionals for international work environments in tourism, aquaculture, and equestrian sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ferðamáladeild (Tourism Department)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SkagfirðingurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership between Háskóli Íslands á Hólum and Skagfirðingur organization for Landsmót hestamanna (National Horse Show). The partnership was formalized with rector Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir and Skagfirðingur chairman Elvar Einarsson. This collaboration connects the university with the prestigious Icelandic horse community and major equestrian events.
• Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHólar University is now part of the Háskóla Íslands (University of Iceland) university system following Alþingi approval of the merger. The establishment agreement was signed by Minister Logi Einarsson and rector Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir. The new university conglomerate formally takes effect July 1, creating a unified institution combining Háskóli Íslands and Háskólinn á Hólum.
• Various Regional Institutions and CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll departments at Hólar conduct field training (vettvangsnám) in collaboration with various institutions and companies throughout Iceland. This includes industry partnerships in fish farming, fisheries, tourism, and horse sectors, providing students with practical experience while connecting with regional employers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wageningen University & Research: World-leading university in agriculture, aquaculture, and food sciences with strong industry partnerships; directly comparable to Hólar's aquaculture/fisheries department in research orientation and industry-embedded training model.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU): Nordic life-sciences and aquaculture-focused university with deep applied research in fisheries biology and sustainable resource use; comparable to Hólar in subject-matter overlap (especially aquaculture), though far larger in scale and scope.
• Dalhousie University: Canadian research university with a recognized focus on marine and aquaculture sciences; comparable in subject matter to Hólar's Fish Farming and Fish Biology Department but operating at much larger scale.
• Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland): Parent institution and the country's primary research university; comparable as a public Icelandic higher-education provider with overlapping admissions, research, and IT infrastructure (Ugla/IRIS), but operates at far broader scale and scope than Hólar's three specialized departments.

Direct peers

• University of the Highlands and Islands: UK's leading rural, distributed higher-education institution delivering applied programs tied to regional industries (tourism, marine science, equine); highly comparable to Hólar in rural mission, niche specialization, and partnership-led delivery.
• Háskólinn á Akureyri (University of Akureyri): Iceland's other regional public university offering applied undergraduate and graduate programs outside Reykjavík; comparable in scale, mission, and reliance on industry partnerships in northern Iceland.
• Landbúnaðarháskóli Íslands (Agricultural University of Iceland at Hvanneyri): Iceland's other specialized rural university with applied focus on agriculture, horticulture, and land-based industries; the closest direct peer to Hólar in mission, scale, and rural-Icelandic positioning.

Regional players

• Háskólinn á Bifröst (Bifröst University): Icelandic private university offering applied business and social science degrees from a rural campus; comparable as a smaller, geographically-isolated Icelandic higher-education provider competing for the same domestic student pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Hiaholum
• Facebookfacebook.com/hiaholum
• Instagraminstagram.com/hiaholum
• TikToktiktok.com/@hiaholum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holar-university

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Hólar University