Keilir Academy in Iceland offers Preliminary Studies for university education in English this autumn for the first time. This is designed for students living in Iceland whose first language is not Icelandic or international students who wish to access Icelandic universities but lack in requirements. There has been substantial demand for such preliminary studies in recent years, and therefore Keilir has taken this step. The two year programme will be launched on 1 October. The programme is taught online so it will be suitable to take alongside work.
The first students in Keilir Academy started in the autumn of 2007. The academy cooperates with the University of Iceland. Considerable progress in teaching methods has taken place over the last few years in line with changing needs of students, and Keilir has reacted by implementing innovations in teaching methods and a more varied organisation of studies. Students can attend Preliminary studies on site or via distance learning, and choose whether they continue to work or not. The aim of all this is that the student can study in accordance with her/ his needs and preferences.
Keilir has a unique position in offering personalised service and support for students, where the teaching methods are designed for adult learners. In the ten years the preliminary studies have been offered between 150 and 200 students have graduated annually from the on-site and distance learning programme. A total of 1,500 students have thus finished the studies and a majority of these (around 85%) have continued to university, most to the University of Iceland.