The University of Iceland welcomes our new students with a special orientation week from 5 to 9 September, featuring a programme of fun events and opportunities to learn about life at UI and available services.
An information desk for new students will be open during orientation week between 10 am and 2 pm in the University Centre. The desk will be manned by representatives from the Student Council, ready to answer questions about programmes, the University, accommodation, social events, services and anything else.
New students will have the chance to learn about services offered at the University. All the main service institutes will have a booth where people can stop to chat with staff and find out what they do and what kinds of services are available to students. The booths will be in place on Monday 5 September 11.30 am to 1 pm in the University Centre.
New students will be able to meet staff from: the Student Counselling and Career Centre, the International Division, Student Registration, the Language Centre, the National and University Library and Smáuglan – the University of Iceland app.
Also present will be representatives from: the Student Council, sustainability and environmental strategy, the University Choir and Icelandic Student Services, who run the Student Bookstore, preschools, Student Housing, the Student Cellar and other services. It will also be possible to chat to the equality officers and related parties.
The University walk and green orientation day
New students and other students are invited to join a walking tour of the University of Iceland. The tour will go all over the campus and into all the most important UI buildings. The student guides will also share all kinds of stories and interesting facts about the campus and buildings. There will be two walking tours for new students, starting from the University Centre at 12 pm Monday 5 September and 12 pm Tuesday 6 September.
Tuesday 6 September will be the green orientation day. New students will have the opportunity to learn more about the University's green credentials and how to live a sustainable lifestyle at UI. We will be hoisting the Green Flag at a formal ceremony and planting trees on campus as a step towards an even more sustainable University. The University of Iceland received Green Flag certification in 2020, as part of the Icelandic Environment Association's eco-schools programme which aims to improve environmental and sustainability education and support sustainability strategies in schools.
The e-scooter rental company Hopp will be offering a special deal for University of Iceland students on green orientation day; it will be free to park Hopp scooters in a specific zone near the University Centre. Icelandic Student Services will be taking part in various different ways. The Háma canteen, for example, will be offering exclusively vegan food for both the hot meal and soup options, and reusable coffee flasks will be on special offer.
Concerts at the University Centre
The University Choir will be performing in the University Centre on Tuesday 6 September at 12.10 pm and students will be able to find out more about the choir. Auditions for the University Choir will take place on 6 and 7 September at 5 pm in the chapel on the second floor of the Main Building.
The electropop duo Hin will be performing in the University Centre on Wednesday 7 September 12.10 pm to 12.40 pm. Hin is a new band, a collaboration between Hilmar Árni Halldórsson and Hanna Sólbjört Ólafsdóttir, both students at the University of Iceland.
The annual Student Council new student football tournament will be held on the green in front of the Main Building on Thursday 8 September, starting around midday. All students can compete in a team of 7 with their student organisation. Each team must include one new student and should be mixed gender. Matches will consist of two halves, each lasting 7 minutes. The champions of the tournament will receive a perpetual trophy, as well as other prizes. There will also be a prize for the team in the best costumes. Students can sign up for the tournament on 5 September. The Student Council's social and cultural committee will organise events on Facebook and notify student organisations. Students are encouraged to stay up to date with events.
The International Division will be offering a short introduction to exchange studies, traineeships and summer courses abroad on Wednesday 7 September at 12 to 12.30 pm in room 101 in Oddi. Everyone is free to attend and there is no need to register.
We encourage all new students to watch this video, which covers all the most important things you should know before starting at the University of Iceland.
It is also a good idea to join this Facebook page for new students at the University, open to everyone starting at UI from all programmes and schools. New students can use the page to ask each other for information and chat with their peers.
You can also watch a video tour of the campus and learn how to find all the different buildings.
We encourage you to follow UI's Instagram account, which we use to share information about various services, support and social events available to students.