Application Requirements

In the University of Iceland Online Application System, each applicant receives an ID number that can be used to monitor the status of the application (see below). User interfaces in Icelandic or English are available.

On the online application form, you will be required to provide the following details:

(a) Program selection: from a drop-down menu of graduate programs select “Viking and Medieval Norse Studies MA 120 ECTS”.

(b) Personal information including a clear colour scan (PDF file) of the photo page of your passport. Please make sure that you provide a permanent email address.

(c) Previous education: academic degrees awarded with names of institutions, dates, and subject(s).

(d) Supporting documents to be uploaded:

• curriculum vitae (CV) (see below)
• statement of purpose (see below)
• scanned transcripts of academic record (see below)

Please use PDF file format (.pdf), not word processing files (e.g. .doc, .docx, .odt .rtf files or similar). Please include your name in the file name along with a descriptive title, for example:

• Jane_Smith_CV.pdf
• Jane_Smith_statement.pdf
• Jane_Smith_transcripts.pdf

(e) References: Two confidential letters of recommendation should be sent directly by the referee to the University of Iceland (see below). On the online application form, you should provide names and academic titles, telephone numbers, and the institutional and e-mail addresses of your referees. It is important that the letters of reference be confidential and sent directly by the referee to the University of Iceland.

(f) Transcripts of academic records should be submitted both electronically AND in hard copy or a digitally verifiable electronic format. You are required to submit official transcripts bearing the seal of the institution and signature of the registrar or other appropriate officials (see below). A scanned version should be uploaded with the online application form.

In addition to your personal contact information and educational history (some of which will overlap with the information you provide on the online application form), you should:

• list your teaching experience
• conference and other presentations and publications
• employment history 
• honours and awards
• relevant extracurricular activities
• for academic degrees completed, indicate your cumulative grade-point average (GPA)
• if you have not completed your degree, state your current grade-point average

Your curriculum vitae (CV) should be uploaded and submitted as a PDF file, with your online application (see above). Please include your name in the file name along with a descriptive title, for example:

• Jane_Smith_CV.pdf

You are required to submit a statement of your academic interests and future career goals. Your statement should not exceed 2,000 words and must be written in English. It is important to address all the points below in the order given:

(a) Academic background

Describe the academic experience that now motivates you to pursue graduate studies in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies in Iceland and Scandinavia. Explain in the following way how your academic background has prepared you for this graduate program by:

• Listing the academic courses (with course codes and course names as they appear on your transcript) completed or in progress that have prepared you in particular and given you a solid foundation for graduate work in this field
• Briefly describe the contents of each course and referencing the main textbooks used
• Describing projects or papers that you have completed in these courses and that you found particularly useful and rewarding
• Listing languages that you have studied with emphasis on non-modern languages (e.g., Old English, Latin, etc.)
• Discussing relevant works, such as medieval literature or other scholarly works, that you have read outside of class and that will prepare you for the Viking and Medieval Norse Studies course options
• Discussing any other activity or training that will prepare you for the Viking and Medieval Norse Studies program.

(b) Academic interests within the Viking and Medieval Norse Studies Programme

Describe your main academic interests within the Viking and Medieval Norse Studies Programme. Which area(s) would you like to concentrate on in your course work and for your Master’s thesis? Please note that you are expected to state and explain your current interests, but this is not binding in any way.

(c) Viking and Medieval Norse Studies 3rd and 4th semester

The first two semesters of Viking and Medieval Norse Studies take place at the University of Iceland. The third semester takes place at either Aarhus University, Denmark, the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, or the University of Oslo, Norway. The fourth and final semester is reserved for writing a Master’s thesis at either the University of Iceland or the University of Oslo.

Please indicate which study track within the Viking and Medieval and Norse Studies Programme you would like to pursue in the second year: Where would you like to spend the third semester (University of Oslo, Aarhus University, or University of Copenhagen)? If going to Oslo for the third semester, what would be your preference for the fourth semester (University of Iceland or University of Oslo)? Please explain how your choice relates to your academic goals. Please note that you are expected to state and explain your preference, but this is not a binding decision.

(d) Career goals

Briefly describe your future career goals. Why is a Master’s degree in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies important for your future goals?

Your statement of purpose—written in English and not exceeding 2,000 words—should be uploaded and submitted as a PDF file together with your online application (see above). Please include your name in the file name along with a descriptive title, for example:

• Jane_Smith_statement.pdf

You are required to submit official transcripts of academic record (a list of courses, grades, and credit hours and, if applicable, degree conferred) and diploma supplements (from European universities) bearing the seal of the institution and signature of the registrar or other appropriate officials. These transcripts (and diploma supplements) should be in English, Norwegian (bokmål or Nynorsk), Faroese, Danish, Swedish or Finnish. If official records are not available in one of these languages, the originals should be accompanied by a certified English translation. Note that a translation cannot be submitted in lieu of the original records; the original records must be submitted as well.

Transcripts of academic record are to be submitted as follows:

(a) A complete scanned version (clear and readable, colour or black and white) should be uploaded and submitted as a PDF file together with your online application (see above). Make sure to include the transcript legend (often found on the reverse page of the transcript). Please include your name in the file name along with a descriptive title, for example,

• Jane_Smith_transcripts.pdf

(b) The official transcript: submitted either as a digitally verifiable electronic transcript sent directly from the issuing university to admission@hi.is OR an official hard copy mailed directly to:

University of Iceland
Student Registration—International Applications
Haskolatorgi
Saemundargotu 4
IS-102 Reykjavik
I C E L A N D

Application documents should not be sent to any other address at the University of Iceland.

Two confidential letters of recommendation should be submitted as part of the application. These should be from faculty members who have taught you in person and are thus familiar with your academic work and career and qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. Note that non-academic letters (such as from employers) are not accepted. The letters should be written in English on headed stationery and signed by the referee (electronic word processing documents cannot be accepted).

It is important that the letters of recommendation be confidential and sent by the referee directly to the University of Iceland. All letters of recommendation will be treated in confidence by the University of Iceland authorities.

Please observe that the University of Iceland does not have a web portal for receiving letters of recommendation. You will have to contact your referees yourself and ask them to submit the letters.

Letters of recommendation may be submitted either

(a) electronically by e-mail (PDF file as an attachment) to admission@hi.is with “Viking and Medieval Norse Studies” in the subject line. 

(b) or by mail to:

University of Iceland
Student Registration—International Applications
Haskolatorgi
Saemundargotu 4
IS-102 Reykjavik
I C E L A N D

Application documents should not be sent to any other address at the University of Iceland.

You should list your referees on the online application form (see above). The letters of recommendation must be received by the University of Iceland by the application deadline of February 1st, 2025.

The language of instruction is English. Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants whose native language is a language other than English are required to provide proof of English proficiency by submitting scores from one of the following tests:

(a) The English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test; see http://www.ets.org/toefl/. The minimum score of 83. The TOEFL test scores should be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the University of Iceland. The University of Iceland institutional code for all versions of TOEFL is 7949 (it is not necessary to specify a department).

(b) The International English Language Testing System (IELTS); see http://www.ielts.org/. The minimum score is 6.5.

Official scores from the tests must be submitted directly from TOEFL/ETS or IELTS.

See further instructions about Proof of English Proficiency Requirements

Carefully review your application and all supporting materials before submitting it. Make sure nothing is missing. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

(1) Electronic application form

• Is your contact information correct? 
• Have you provided a permanent email address that will not expire in the foreseeable future?
• Have all the required documents been uploaded with the application:
  • clear colour scan of the photo page of your passport
  • curriculum vitae (CV)
  • statement of purpose
  • scanned transcripts of academic record
• Are all supporting files in PDF format?
• Do all file names include your name and content description (Jane_Smith_transcripts.pdf, etc.)?

(2) Curriculum vitae

• Is your CV complete and up to date?
• Does it include your GPA?

(3) Statement of purpose

• Does your statement of purpose address all the points described in the application requirements?
• Why do you feel prepared to undertake graduate work in the field of Viking and Medieval Norse Studies? Is that explained in your statement?
• Which courses, in particular, have prepared you for graduate studies in this field? Is that explained in your statement?
• What are your main academic interests within Viking and Medieval Norse Studies? Is that explained in your statement?
• Where would like to spend the second year of the program? Is that explained in your statement?
• Why is a two-year master’s degree in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies a good career move for you? Have you explained that in your statement?

(4) Transcripts of academic record

• Have you verified that all scans are complete? Are you confident that no pages are missing?
• Is the transcript legend included?
• Are all scans clear and legible?
• Have you made arrangements to have hard copies of the transcripts sent to the University of Iceland by your home institution?

(5) Letters of recommendation

• Are your referees' academics who have taught you or supervised your academic work? Please note that non-academic letters are not accepted.
• Have you made it clear to your two referees that the letters should be confidential? You should not have access to them.
• Have you asked your two referees to send their letters directly to the University of Iceland?
• Have you informed your two referees of the February 1st deadline?

Inquiries should be directed to oldnorse@hi.is

Note that incomplete applications will not be processed.