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Entry Requirements

To be considered for the Medieval Icelandic Studies programme you must fulfil the following requirements:

(1) A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or provide documentation to the effect that they will earn such a degree before enrolment in the Medieval Icelandic Studies programme in autumn 2024. Applicants receiving their Bachelor’s degree in the spring or summer of 2024 should submit transcripts documenting their undergraduate career up to that point as part of their application. Successful applicants will be asked to submit their final transcript (graduation certificate) before enrolment in the autumn of 2024. 

(2) Adequate undergraduate training to pursue graduate studies in Medieval Icelandic Studies

The programme is designed for international students who hold a Bachelor’s degree with a medieval component in at least one of the following areas: literature, history, religion, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, art history or folklore. The medieval component is typically a university course with a medieval element. Prior knowledge of Old Icelandic/Old Norse is not required, but applicants are strongly encouraged to complete levels 1–2 of the free online course Icelandic Online before enrolment. See also below on the Preparatory Reading List.

(3) Satisfactory Grade Average

In their undergraduate career, applicants must have achieved a minimum grade-point average of 7.25 out of 10 on the University of Iceland grading scale which corresponds roughly to a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale in the United States or an average of 67 in the United Kingdom (although this may also depend on the distribution of grades at the university in question).

(4) Adequate command of English

The language of instruction is English. An 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 here. The minimum score 83. The TOEFL test scores should be sent directly from 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 here. The minimum score is 6.5.

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

See further instructions here.

(5) Completion of Preparatory Reading List before enrolment

As the Old Norse-Icelandic literary corpus is vast, it is important that incoming students get a head start by reading selected works in translation and acquainting themselves with some of the current scholarship before enrolment in the programme in late August. The Preparatory Reading List is intended as a tool for incoming students preparing for the Medieval Icelandic Studies programme.  It consists of three main parts: First, there are Required Preparatory Readings which incoming students are expected to have completed before starting the programme. Second, there is a free online course which incoming students are also required to complete before starting the programme. Third, there are Recommended Additional Readings.

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Please note that the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the Medieval Icelandic Studies programme.

Satisfying the admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Only a limited number of students can be admitted to the programme each year, and the number of well-qualified applicants may exceed the number of places available. It may, therefore, be necessary to reject well-qualified applicants.

Please read the application instructions before proceeding to the online application form on the application page.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Late applications are not accepted.

[Updated December 1, 2023 for applications with the deadline of February 1, 2024.]

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