Icelandic Government Scholarship (Icelandic as a Second Language): Eligibility, Stipend and How to Apply

The Icelandic Government Scholarship is one of the stranger entries on any scholarship list, and that is a compliment. It does not fund a degree of your choice. It funds one thing: study in the BA programme in Icelandic as a Second Language at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. If you have no interest in learning Icelandic, you can stop reading here and save yourself the effort. If you do, this is one of the very few funded ways for an international undergraduate to study in Iceland at all.

The money comes from Iceland's Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, and the programme is run by the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide goes further into who it actually suits and how to put together an application that has a chance.

A language scholarship, not an open undergraduate award

The most common mistake with this scholarship is reading "Bachelor's" and "fully funded" and assuming it works like a general undergraduate award. It does not. The whole programme is built around learning and using Icelandic. Your days will be spent on the language, its literature and the culture around it.

The fields that fit naturally are Icelandic language, Nordic or Scandinavian studies, linguistics and the wider humanities. A student who wants to go into translation, Nordic literature or linguistics research will get real value from it. A student hoping to use it as a back door into engineering, business or medicine in Europe will not, and the selection panel will see that quickly in the motivation letter.

There is another catch that surprises people. You are expected to have completed at least one year of university-level study before applying, generally in the humanities. So this is not something you apply for straight after FSc or A levels. It suits a student who is already at university in Pakistan, perhaps studying English literature, linguistics or another humanities subject, and who wants an intensive year of immersion in a small national language.

What the registration fee and stipend cover

The scholarship pays two things. First, your university registration fee at the University of Iceland is covered. Second, you receive a monthly stipend meant for room and board, paid across the nine-month academic year from September through May.

Iceland has one of the highest costs of living in Europe, and the stipend exists specifically to offset that for language students. Still, do not treat it as the end of your financial planning. The stipend is paid monthly, and the first weeks after arrival are often the most expensive: deposits, winter clothing, local transport, basic household items. The advice from people familiar with the programme is to budget for costs beyond the stipend, particularly for those early weeks before payments begin. Arriving with some savings of your own is sensible.

Beyond the money, you get a place in the BA programme in Icelandic as a Second Language and a spot in a small, close-knit cohort of international students who are all learning the language together. For a Pakistani student who has never lived in a Nordic country, that cohort will matter a lot in the first few months.

Why only around a dozen places makes the Icelandic preparation matter

Iceland awards a limited number of these scholarships each year. Historically it has been around a dozen, drawn from applicants worldwide. Treat that figure as a rough guide, since the number is set each year and is not guaranteed. With so few places, the panel can afford to be choosy, and two things tend to tip the balance.

The first is age. Preference is typically given to younger applicants, and the stated preference is for applicants under 35. That is a preference rather than a hard cutoff in the wording available, so if you are older, confirm with the Institute before you spend weeks preparing.

The second, and the one you can actually control, is existing Icelandic. Most calls prefer or require a basic working knowledge of the language, usually shown by completing Icelandic Online 1 & 2, the introductory online courses. Whether it is strictly required can vary from one call to the next, so check the current call. Either way, an applicant who has already finished those courses looks far more committed than one who promises to start learning on arrival. If you are reading this in spring or summer, start the coursework now rather than in November.

Eligibility, and the question of nationality

The published requirements are short:

• At least one year of completed university-level study, generally in the humanities.
• Basic working knowledge of Icelandic, equivalent to Icelandic Online 1 & 2, which most calls prefer or require.
• Preference for applicants under 35.
• A strong academic record and a demonstrated interest in Icelandic language and culture.
• Willingness to commit to a full nine-month academic year of intensive language study in Iceland.

The scholarship draws applicants from around the world, but the available information does not spell out a list of eligible countries. Pakistani students should check eligibility for their nationality directly with the Árni Magnússon Institute before applying. Since this is a small, specialised programme with limited public documentation, writing to the Institute is normal and expected.

The six documents and what each one needs to do

The application asks for six items:

1. The completed scholarship application form.
2. A transcript of your university studies completed to date.
3. A motivation letter explaining your interest in Icelandic language and culture.
4. Evidence of basic Icelandic proficiency, such as Icelandic Online 1 & 2 completion, where the call requires it.
5. A copy of your passport.
6. A reference letter from a university instructor.

The motivation letter carries most of the weight. Be specific about why Icelandic, and not Nordic studies in general, appeals to you. "I love Scandinavia and the northern lights" is the letter the panel has read hundreds of times. A better letter connects Icelandic to something you have actually done: a linguistics course where you studied Germanic languages, sagas you read in translation, a translation project, or the progress you made in Icelandic Online. Show that you understand the year will be intensive language study and that this is what you want.

The reference letter should come from a university instructor who can speak to your academic ability, ideally in a humanities subject. A generic letter from someone who barely knows you adds little. For general guidance on preparing transcripts and other paperwork, our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful starting point, and if your transcripts need attestation, see the IBCC and MOFA attestation guide.

Applying by post before the 1 December deadline

The deadline is a postmark deadline: your application must be postmarked by 1 December for enrolment the following September. That wording suggests a physical, mailed application, which is unusual these days and easy to underestimate. Confirm the current submission method on the official portal, and if a posted application is needed, send it well before the deadline. Courier delays from Pakistan are common, and you do not want a strong file to fail on a date stamp.

The process runs roughly like this:

1. Complete introductory Icelandic study, such as Icelandic Online 1 & 2, if you do not already have basic proficiency.
2. Prepare your transcripts, motivation letter and reference letter.
3. Submit the application to the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies before the 1 December postmark deadline.
4. The Institute and the Ministry review the applications.
5. Decisions are announced in January.
6. Successful applicants enrol in the BA programme in Icelandic as a Second Language at the University of Iceland the following September.

The application period itself typically runs from September to November. If you get a place in January, you have until September to arrange your visa, accommodation and travel. Our guide on common student visa rejection reasons covers the mistakes worth avoiding at that stage.

Who should apply, and who should skip it

Apply if you are a humanities student with at least a year of university behind you, you have a real reason to want Icelandic specifically, and you are prepared to put in the online coursework before the deadline. Students thinking about careers in translation, linguistics or Nordic studies are the natural fit.

Skip it if you want a full degree in another subject, if you have not started university yet, or if your interest in Iceland is mostly about the scenery. You will be competing against applicants from many countries who have already spent months on the language, and with only around a dozen places, a half-hearted application has very little chance.

One last practical point: if anything in the call is unclear, contact the Institute directly through the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies website. You can also look at the programme itself on the University of Iceland website.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this scholarship for any Bachelor's subject?

No. It is only for the BA programme in Icelandic as a Second Language at the University of Iceland.

Do I need to speak Icelandic before applying?

Most calls expect at least basic proficiency before arrival, commonly shown by completing Icelandic Online 1 & 2. Check the current call to see whether it is preferred or required.

Can I apply straight after intermediate or A levels?

Generally not. Applicants are expected to have completed at least one year of university-level study, usually in the humanities.

Is there an age limit?

Preference is given to applicants under 35. If you are older, ask the Institute whether you can still be considered.

How many scholarships are awarded?

Historically around a dozen places each year, drawn from applicants worldwide. The exact number can change.

When will I hear back?

Decisions are announced in January, and the academic year starts the following September.

Before you apply, read the current call on the official Árni Magnússon Institute website and check the full scholarship page for the latest summary.