Language skills
Programme length
2 years.
Study mode
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Application status
International students:
Students with Icelandic or Nordic citizenship:
- Is Icelandic your second language?
- Do you want to be able to speak and write good Icelandic?
- Do you want to do another university degree in Icelandic?
- Do you want to be able to use your previous education on the Icelandic labour market?
This is a 60 ECTS diploma in Icelandic designed specially for people who want to be able to access higher education in Icelandic or improve their chances of finding work that suits their educational background.
Applicants will have to pass an entrance exam and demonstrate that they have reached at least level A2 in Icelandic, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Programme structure
The programme is 60 ECTS and is organised as two years of part-time study.
Students who want to do another degree in Icelandic are advised to take more than 60 ECTS in Icelandic. They can select extra courses in consultation with the programme coordinator.
To continue into the second year of the programme, students must have completed all four courses taught in the first year, totalling 40 ECTS.
Specialisations
Students choose between the following specialisations:
- Academic Icelandic - educational studies: designed for people who want to specialise in the educational sciences or who already work in education.
- Academic Icelandic - access to higher education: designed for people who want to take a university programme in Icelandic or strengthen their position in Icelandic society.
Organisation of teaching
The programme is taught in Icelandic
The programme can be completed through face-to-face learning or distance learning with real-time participation in online classes.
Main objectives
After completing the programme, students will:
- have attained level B1-B2 in Icelandic in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
- have learned the basic methods and practices used in higher education.
- be able to take part in academic discussions, reason their case and argue a position on a topic orally or in writing.
Foreign equivalent to the Icelandic matriculation examination. Further information can be found in article 17, regulation on admission requirements for undergraduate study no. 331/2022. Admission requirements and supporting documents by country can be found here.
All applicants must also pass a special admission test in Icelandic. In order to pass the test, examinees must have reached level A2 of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students who have finished the Practical Diploma in Icelandic as a Second Language with first grade are exempt from the Admission Test.
In order to enter the second year, all students must have completed all four courses taught in the first year, a total of 40 ECTS: Speaking and listening I, Reading and Language Useage I, Speaking and Listening II, Reading and Language Useage II. In addition, students choose one specialisation in which they complete 20 credits in the second year of the program. Specialisation Academic Icelandic – General University Studies: Academic Icelandic I and Academic Icelandic II. Specialisation Academic Icelandic – Educational Studies: Icelandic for Studies and Icelandic for Educational Studies.
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
- First year
- Fall
- Speaking and listening I
- Reading and Language Usage I
- Spring 1
- Speaking and listening II
- Reading and Language Usage II
First year | Fall
Speaking and listening I (ÍSE054G)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The emphasis is on listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking exercises. The Icelandic sound system is introduced and practiced as well as pronunciation stress and intonation. Comprehension of spoken language is trained with listening and conversation exercises. Students will practice speaking about their daily life and give short presentations on familiar topics. The course is taught alongside Reading and language usage I and material and vocabulary from that course will also be used. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Prerequisites
First year | Fall
Reading and Language Usage I (ÍSE056G)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
In this course, the main focus is on reading and writing skills. Students build their vocabulary and practice their reading comprehension by reading a selection of newspaper articles, literary texts and academic papers. A set of language usage and grammar elements will be covered. Syntax, style, register and text structure will be considered. The aforementioned elements will be practiced in writing assignments during class and as homework.
Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Prerequisites
First year | Spring 1
Speaking and listening II (ÍSE055G)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
This course is a direct continuation of Speaking and listening I. The emphasis is on listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking exercises. Phonetics, pronunciation, stress and intonation will be exercised further. Students receive training in speech comprehension and the recognition of certain phonetic elements. Furthermore, students will practice discussing familiar topics and expressing their opinions thereof, for instance by delivering talks on specific subjects. The course is taught alongside Reading and language usage II and material and vocabulary from that course will also be used. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
First year | Spring 1
Reading and Language Usage II (ÍSE053G)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
This course is a direct continuation of Reading and language usage I. The main focus will be on continuing to build vocabulary by reading and writing. Participants will read a selection of newspaper articles, literary texts and academic papers connected to their studies. Those texts will also be used to practice language usage, vocabulary and grammar. Syntax, style, register and text structure will be considered. The composition of formal texts will be trained. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
- Second year
- Fall
- Academic Icelandic
- Spring 1
- Icelandic for Educational Studies
Second year | Fall
Academic Icelandic (ÍET305G)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The content covered in these texts is equivalent to B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and it provides the base for university study. Emphasis is placed on active language use so that students improve their understanding of the Icelandic language and enhance their language production competence. Students will have opportunities to increase their competence in participating in a professional discourse, provide arguments, and position themselves in topics that relate to their daily lives, study, and work.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
The course is taught if the specified conditions are met
Attendance required in class
Second year | Spring 1
Icelandic for Educational Studies (ÍET406G)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The content of the course corresponds to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which provides a foundation for studies in educational sciences at the university level. Emphasis is placed on active language use, so that students improve both their understanding of the Icelandic language and their communication skills. Therefore, the course places equal emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing, along with grammar and sentence structure. Students are given the opportunity to enhance their ability to participate in professional discussions on schools and educational sciences.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Prerequisites
Attendance required in class
First year
- Fall
- ÍSE054GSpeaking and listening IMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The emphasis is on listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking exercises. The Icelandic sound system is introduced and practiced as well as pronunciation stress and intonation. Comprehension of spoken language is trained with listening and conversation exercises. Students will practice speaking about their daily life and give short presentations on familiar topics. The course is taught alongside Reading and language usage I and material and vocabulary from that course will also be used. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesÍSE056GReading and Language Usage IMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionIn this course, the main focus is on reading and writing skills. Students build their vocabulary and practice their reading comprehension by reading a selection of newspaper articles, literary texts and academic papers. A set of language usage and grammar elements will be covered. Syntax, style, register and text structure will be considered. The aforementioned elements will be practiced in writing assignments during class and as homework.
Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites- Spring 2
ÍSE055GSpeaking and listening IIMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course is a direct continuation of Speaking and listening I. The emphasis is on listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking exercises. Phonetics, pronunciation, stress and intonation will be exercised further. Students receive training in speech comprehension and the recognition of certain phonetic elements. Furthermore, students will practice discussing familiar topics and expressing their opinions thereof, for instance by delivering talks on specific subjects. The course is taught alongside Reading and language usage II and material and vocabulary from that course will also be used. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesÍSE053GReading and Language Usage IIMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course is a direct continuation of Reading and language usage I. The main focus will be on continuing to build vocabulary by reading and writing. Participants will read a selection of newspaper articles, literary texts and academic papers connected to their studies. Those texts will also be used to practice language usage, vocabulary and grammar. Syntax, style, register and text structure will be considered. The composition of formal texts will be trained. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites- Fall
- ÍET305GAcademic IcelandicMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The content covered in these texts is equivalent to B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and it provides the base for university study. Emphasis is placed on active language use so that students improve their understanding of the Icelandic language and enhance their language production competence. Students will have opportunities to increase their competence in participating in a professional discourse, provide arguments, and position themselves in topics that relate to their daily lives, study, and work.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningThe course is taught if the specified conditions are metPrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
ÍET406GIcelandic for Educational StudiesMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe content of the course corresponds to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which provides a foundation for studies in educational sciences at the university level. Emphasis is placed on active language use, so that students improve both their understanding of the Icelandic language and their communication skills. Therefore, the course places equal emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing, along with grammar and sentence structure. Students are given the opportunity to enhance their ability to participate in professional discussions on schools and educational sciences.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class
Second year- Fall
- ÍSE054GSpeaking and listening IMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The emphasis is on listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking exercises. The Icelandic sound system is introduced and practiced as well as pronunciation stress and intonation. Comprehension of spoken language is trained with listening and conversation exercises. Students will practice speaking about their daily life and give short presentations on familiar topics. The course is taught alongside Reading and language usage I and material and vocabulary from that course will also be used. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesÍSE056GReading and Language Usage IMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionIn this course, the main focus is on reading and writing skills. Students build their vocabulary and practice their reading comprehension by reading a selection of newspaper articles, literary texts and academic papers. A set of language usage and grammar elements will be covered. Syntax, style, register and text structure will be considered. The aforementioned elements will be practiced in writing assignments during class and as homework.
Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites- Spring 2
ÍSE055GSpeaking and listening IIMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course is a direct continuation of Speaking and listening I. The emphasis is on listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking exercises. Phonetics, pronunciation, stress and intonation will be exercised further. Students receive training in speech comprehension and the recognition of certain phonetic elements. Furthermore, students will practice discussing familiar topics and expressing their opinions thereof, for instance by delivering talks on specific subjects. The course is taught alongside Reading and language usage II and material and vocabulary from that course will also be used. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesÍSE053GReading and Language Usage IIMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course is a direct continuation of Reading and language usage I. The main focus will be on continuing to build vocabulary by reading and writing. Participants will read a selection of newspaper articles, literary texts and academic papers connected to their studies. Those texts will also be used to practice language usage, vocabulary and grammar. Syntax, style, register and text structure will be considered. The composition of formal texts will be trained. Active participation and preparation on the part of the student is required.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites- Fall
- ÍET305GAcademic IcelandicMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The content covered in these texts is equivalent to B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and it provides the base for university study. Emphasis is placed on active language use so that students improve their understanding of the Icelandic language and enhance their language production competence. Students will have opportunities to increase their competence in participating in a professional discourse, provide arguments, and position themselves in topics that relate to their daily lives, study, and work.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningThe course is taught if the specified conditions are metPrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
ÍET406GIcelandic for Educational StudiesMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe content of the course corresponds to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which provides a foundation for studies in educational sciences at the university level. Emphasis is placed on active language use, so that students improve both their understanding of the Icelandic language and their communication skills. Therefore, the course places equal emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing, along with grammar and sentence structure. Students are given the opportunity to enhance their ability to participate in professional discussions on schools and educational sciences.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class
