If you intend to apply for the Icelandic as a second language, BA programme or the Academic Icelandic diploma 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, BA programme and the Academic Icelandic diploma at the University of Iceland are study programmes for students who already have a solid foundation in Icelandic, corresponding to level A2+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The admission test assesses skills that are covered in Icelandic courses 1 through 5 offered in language schools (adult education centres) such as Mímir. To prepare for the test, students can study the books Íslenska fyrir alla and Icelandic Online 1 and Icelandic Online 2 .
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 applicants have passed the admission test by themselves and without reference materials. Applicants will only be admitted to Icelandic as a second language, BA Programme or for the Academic Icelandic diploma if they pass both the admission test and the oral exam.
The admission test for applicants applying before May 20 is an on-site test taking place at 12:00 on June 10 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 test 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).
The admission test is divided into four parts: Reading, listening, vocabulary and grammar.
Sample tests can be found here:
If you find the sample test too difficult, it is best to change your application and instead apply for the Practical Programme in Icelandic as a Second Language.
The admission test will be administered in the online examination system Inspera. You will receive a single-use username and password to access the test; this also applies if you are already a student at the University of Iceland.
No aids or resources are allowed during the admission test.
If you do not pass the admission test, you can:
A testing fee of ISK 15,000 will be charged. Payment will be made through the communication portal after you have been approved for the admission test.
If you graduated from Icelandic as a second language, for Practical Purposes at the University of Iceland from 2022 onward and are applying to the BA programme in Icelandic as a Second Language or the Academic Icelandic diploma, you do not need to take the admission test if your average grade in compulsory courses is 7.25 or higher.
For further details about the admission test, contact icelandic@hi.is.
