Greatly increased possibilities in exchange studies at University of California

The University of Iceland recently signed a cooperative agreement with the University of California on exchange studies in the UC System; consisting of ten universities, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara (UCSB).

Jón Atli Benediktsson, rector of the University of Iceland, used the opportunity during his visit at UCSB last year, to renew the cooperative agreement between UCSB and the University's School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, that has been in place for many years, and begin discussions for the new contract that has now been signed. The collaboration between the University of Iceland and UC Berkeley has been in place for many years; however, University students have had to pay tuition to both these universities.

The new contract expands the collaboration between the University and the University of California considerably. This means that students at the University of Iceland, in both undergraduate and graduate studies can take exchange programmes at all of the universities in the UC System without paying tuition; only the registration fee in Iceland, as applies for all other partner universities.

Up to twelve students can go on exchange per each academic year (from 2021-2022), however, more students can use this opportunity if they opt for only one semester. The University of Iceland welcomes the same number of students in return.

The University of California was founded in 1869 and there are over 280,0000 students combined in all of the ten universities. The courses on offer at these universities are diverse; include over 800 programmes. The universities have ranked high on evaluation lists of the worlds best universities, and UC Berkeley is ranked in place 13 on Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE).