About the university system
Iceland’s first university system was formally established under the name of the University of Iceland on 1 July 2026, with the aim of strengthening higher education in Iceland. The University of Iceland and Hólar University united to form a system, bringing together a breadth of vibrant scholarship and expertise from across Iceland and creating new opportunities in teaching, research and innovation that will benefit students, staff and the wider community.
Under the new structure, the University of Iceland will become a system university, while the University of Iceland at Hólar will operate as an affiliated institution. The system is founded on the vision of a diverse and robust higher education sector, strengthened through cooperation. Each member will retain a distinct identity and academic autonomy, while contributing to a wider knowledge community. The breadth of scholarship at the University of Iceland and the specialist expertise at the University of Iceland at Hólar will unite to form a stronger whole which will serve the entire country.
The system will operate under shared leadership with a single rector and one University Council. There will also be a special cooperation council for affiliated institutions, providing a forum for consultation and collaboration on issues affecting development, strategic planning and their own interests. This structure creates strong and clear ties between members, while preserving their autonomy, distinct status and academic role.
The rector of the University of Iceland at Hólar is Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, who is also the rector of the University of Iceland. The dean of the University of Iceland at Hólar is Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir.
The UI Institute of Research Centres will operate under the auspices of the University of Iceland at Hólar. This is intended to further strengthen research within the system across Iceland and create a strong platform for knowledge creation, research and collaboration with communities, industry and institutions across Iceland.
New opportunities will benefit Icelandic society
The system will promote interdisciplinary cooperation, shared use of infrastructure and a dynamic research environment. It will facilitate the development of new study programmes, more diverse course offerings and additional opportunities for students to benefit from teaching, research and expertise across the entire system. It also creates a stronger foundation for international collaboration, increased competitiveness and involvement with research and innovation at the international level.
Significant emphasis is placed on strengthening ties between member universities and wider society. The system promotes innovation, economic growth and sustainable development by linking research and scholarship to the needs of communities. It creates opportunities for collaboration with businesses, institutions and local government, thereby reinforcing the universities’ role as drivers of progress and value creation.
The system also reflects UI’s role as a national university. Operations that span different regions, a range of academic disciplines and specialised expertise create a strong platform for education, research and innovation that serves the entire nation. The system strengthens Iceland’s position as a knowledge-based society and the ability of Icelandic universities to address future challenges through strong cooperation, outstanding research and international ties.
With a shared vision, determination and clear focus on the unique strengths of individual universities, the University of Iceland University System will provide a strong platform for education, research and knowledge creation for the benefit of society. The system will strengthen Iceland’s position as a knowledge-based society and create increased opportunities for progress and collaboration across Iceland.
Learn more about the University of Iceland University System
Amendments to the Act on Public Higher Education Institutions no. 85/2008, which entered into force on 1 July 2026, established a legal framework for university systems in Iceland for the first time. In accordance with the Act’s new Article 4, two or more independent and accredited universities may unite as a system under shared leadership.
The system university is responsible for central governance, administration and support services, while affiliated institutions maintain their distinct identities and a degree of autonomy in their operations. There shall also be a cooperation council, which plays a key role in strategic planning and the development of teaching, learning and research.
Special provisions in the Act stipulate that the University of Iceland will be a system university and the University of Iceland at Hólar will be an affiliated institution. The University of Iceland at Hólar will continue to operate under its new name and retain a distinct status and identity within the consortium.