If you intend to apply for theIcelandic as a second language, for Practical Purposes programme at the University of Iceland, you must pass an admission test in Icelandic. Below you can find information about the minimum requirements, the test schedule and other details related to the admission test.
Icelandic as a second language, for practical purposes is a study program for students with basic proficiency in Icelandic, corresponding to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The admission test assesses skills comparable to those practiced in the study materials Íslenska fyrir alla 1-2 and Icelandic Online Survival.
No exemptions are granted from the admission test.
The admission test for applicants applying before February 1 takes place online. The test is available for 24 hours. It opens at 12:00 (GMT) on March 10 and closes at 12:00 (GMT) on March 11. Applicants may take the test at any time within this period. They have 90 minutes to complete the test.
Applicants who pass the test will be registered for an online oral Icelandic exam a few days later. This is done to confirm that the applicant has passed the admission test on their own and without the use of reference materials. Applicants will only be admitted to Icelandic as a second language, for practical purposes, if they pass both the admission test and the oral exam.
Note: At the University Council meeting on 4 December 2025, it was approved that, in the academic year 2026–2027, a maximum of 50 non-EEA students will be admitted to Icelandic as a second language for Practical Purposes. If more than 50 students achieve the minimum grade on the oral Icelandic exam, the applicants with the 50 highest grades on the oral exam will be admitted to the programme. Applicants from Switzerland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands are exempt from these restrictions, as are those who hold a permanent residence permit for Iceland or a residence permit that can serve as the basis for a permanent residence permit.
Please note! Applicants residing in Iceland
The admission test for applicants residing in Iceland will take place first at 12:00 on 10th March, and then at 12:00 on 8th June. Each applicant takes the test only once. Applicants who are unable to take the test at the University of Iceland must take it at a designated testing centre in Iceland. A list of designated test centres can be found here (in Icelandic only). Applicants must contact a designated test centre themselves, register to take the test there, and report which test centre they have been registered with to icelandic@hi.is.
The admission test for applicants applying before May 20 is an on-site test taking place at 12:00 on June 8 at the University of Iceland. All applicants who meet the admission requirements for the programme will be automatically registered for the test and will receive further information about it at the beginning of June.
Applicants who are unable to take the test at the University of Iceland must take it at a designated testing centre in Iceland. A list of designated test centres in Iceland can be found here. Applicants must contact a designated test centre themselves, register to take the test there, and report which test centre they have been registered with to icelandic@hi.is.
Note: The applicant must attend the test with a valid identification (passport or driver’s license).
Written test:
The written admission test is in four parts: reading, listening, vocabulary, and grammar. It is taken in the electronic exam system Inspera. Applicants receive a one-time username and password to access the exam.
Oral test:
The oral test is only for those who have completed and passed the written test online on March 10.
A testing fee of ISK 15,000 will be charged. Payment will be made through the communication portal after applicants have been approved for the admission test.
For further details about the admission test, contact icelandic@hi.is.
