At a meeting yesterday, the University Council of the University of Iceland approved changes to the university’s fees, including higher registration fees for the academic year 2026-2027, from 75,000 ISK to 100,000 ISK. The increase takes effect immediately.
Shortly before the New Year, Althingi passed an amendment to Article 24 of Act No. 85/2008 on public universities that allowed universities to increase their registration fees from 75,000 ISK to 100,000 ISK. Registration fees are considered service fees, not tuition fees, and are intended to cover the costs of services the university provides to students beyond teaching.
The University’s Council’s finance committee reviewed Althingi’ amendments and the possibility of a higher registration fee at a recent meeting. The committee notes that, according to calculations in UI’s financial records, the registration fee would have had to amount to 180,049 ISK per student in 2024 to cover all services provided to students. Even if only price-level changes between April 2024, when the registration fee was last increased, and April 2025 were taken into account, the new registration fee should, in fact, amount to ISK 115,000.
Therefore, the Financial Committee’s conclusion was to suggest to the University Council to use the permission provided by Althingi to strengthen the university’s conditions of operation. As mentioned above, the proposal to change the university’s fees was approved at today's University Council meeting. Student representatives voted against the proposal and stated, among other things, in their statements for the record that it is unacceptable for students, rather than the government, to be responsible for financing the University of Iceland.
“It is, of course, unfair that students must bear the burden of this increase, and it is our job to work with them to advocate for better government funding of university education,” says Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, rector of the University of Iceland.
The University of Iceland's registration fee schedule after changes to registration fees is as follows:
- Registration fee: 100,000 ISK
- Registration fee for the spring semester only: 75,000 ISK
- Registration fee – guest students with contract: 15,000 ISK
- Registration fee – guests students without contract: 30,000 ISK
- Leave from studies for one academic year: 15,000 ISK
- Return from leave from studies: 85,000 ISK
A 15% surcharge is applied to the registration fee if it is paid outside the announced payment period.
Individuals with disabilities receive a 25% discount on the registration fee.
