Erasmus+

Erasmus+ provides students of European universities with the unique opportunity to gain international experience in their studies and improve their position in the labour market. In addition, the new programme promotes equal opportunities to study abroad by providing supplementary grants for students with special needs.

Students can apply for two types of grants:

• Erasmus+ exchange study grants allow students to take courses at one of UI's partner universities, which are evaluated for credits upon return to Iceland. 
• Erasmus+ traineeship grants allow students to work on specific projects, related to their studies, at a company or institution. 

Students participating in Erasmus+ exchange studies or traineeships may apply for an Erasmus+ disability or illness grant to meet additional costs.

All employees, both academic staff and other employees at UI, have the opportunity to take part in Erasmus+ either by teaching or training abroad in a partner institution or enterprise for two to sixty days. An Erasmus+ grant is awarded to successful applicants that is intended as a contribution to travel and living costs while teaching or training abroad. Training may include participating in courses, job shadowing or organized visits to a partner university.  

Faculties may also apply for funding for inviting staff from enterprise to come to UI and teach.

Erasmus+ grants within Europe

Erasmus+ grants outside Europe

Erasmus+ Policy Statement 2014-2020

The University of Iceland is a national science- and education institution but at the same time a part of the international science- and education community. The University of Iceland emphasises international relations in all its work. The University of Iceland is an active participant in international cooperation programmes such as The European Erasmus and Nordic Nordplus and strives to create opportunities for its students to take a part of their education and researches at international universities and research institutions. The main aim is to increase quality and variety of the studies and to prepare students as well as possible for life and work after graduation. It is also emphasised to welcome international students that study at The University. The University will strive to provide good opportunities for its staff to participate in international relation and to foster cooperation with colleagues in other countries, as it will proof to be for the benefit of the University.

The University of Iceland has been an active participant in the Erasmus programme since 1992 or for more than 20 years now. We have about 570 Erasmus agreements with universities in all EU member states.  The method of choosing a partner university is based upon mutual interest of faculty students, and staff in both institutions for the cooperation. The availability of courses taught in English is often the key for successful exchanges for the students. Language barriers are often a hindrance for cooperation in student exchanges. Quality of work and mutual trust is important in choosing a partner university.

The vast majority of agreements with Universities in other countries are with European Universities. Close cooperation is with many universities in the Nordic countries that are based upon close cultural ties that are rooted far back. Cooperation with new partners in Europe has been encouraged and introduced to students and staff but the vast majority of the Erasmus cooperation with European partners is with the Nordic countries and countries in western part of Europe. New agreements in the eastern part of Europe have been made in recent years and many new initiatives have been established with institutions in this part of Europe. The aim is to have good balance in cooperation with all countries in Europe. Apart from Europe the University has numerous partners in North America and growing number of partners in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and we have some partners in Latin America.

The most important objective is to give as many students as possible the opportunity to take a part of their studies as exchange students abroad.  Student exchanges are open to students at all levels. A special focus is in some faculties to encourage master level students to take a part of their studies abroad. This strengthens the master level programmes and gives students opportunities to take a variety of courses abroad that are perhaps not offered at UI. In some academic fields shorter stays are offered in IPs, are more suitable and fit better to their programme at home, than stays for 3 months or longer. Shorter stays are also more suitable for older students for family reasons. It is therefore important to have all these options. Work placement abroad is an option for students. There is not a long tradition for Icelandic students to have work placement abroad, but is a more welcomed opportunity when it´s difficult to get a paid job at home. The most important objective for work placement abroad is that it fits into the program curricula of the student. Placement abroad is offered to all students. Working in a laboratory abroad can be a valuable option for science students.

The objective of staff mobility is that the visit is beneficial in staff development terms and also for the University. Main emphasis is on teacher exchanges but exchanges of other staff are also encouraged.

The University of Iceland is active in the development of double/multiple and joint degrees. Mainly at the graduate level; masters and PhD. The University of Iceland participates in two Erasmus Mundus joint master programmes with European universities and has also been active in creating joint masters programmes with Nordic Universities, so called Nordic masters. UI is now participating in at least 3 Nordic master programmes.

At the PhD level, double degrees/joint degrees are important and the university has made many such agreements with universities in other countries. These agreements are based on individual students, but often lead to further cooperation on a broader scale.

The University of Iceland is an international research university that has strong obligations to Icelandic society, culture and language. In 2006 the UI set the long term goal of becoming one of the top 100 universities in the world. There are a number of Nordic universities similar to UI in size and structure among the leading universities in the world. The performance of UI in recent years shows that it is a realistic aim for our long term goal.

The main goal of the policy was to achieve excellence in the fields of research, teaching, administration and support services. Quality assurance, accreditation and control is in focus in all areas. The policy entailed over 100 specific and measurable goals based on the overhead policy. Cooperation with leading universities in Europe and elsewhere in the world is at the centre of the policy. Amongst the goals set for 2011-2016 are:

• Double the number of articles in leading international peer reviewed journals
• Increasing collaboration with the leading foreign universities and university faculties in the world.
• Quintupling the annual number of doctoral degrees awarded

These goals are all based upon increased international cooperation at all levels of education. They require closer and deeper cooperation with universities abroad. In recent years the number of joint PhDs has risen immensely. These doctoral studies are mainly based upon agreements concerning one individual but can lead to closer cooperation in other fields. The UI is participating in several joint European masters programs and there is interest in increasing and deepening the cooperation with selected partners. The aim is to make use of all opportunities that the new program brings and that is in line with UI strategy.

The expected impact of UIs participation in the programme is that it will be an important means in reaching its goals in achieving excellence in the fields of research, teaching and services. These goals are all in line with the priorities of the Modernisation Agenda. Emphasis will be on increasing the number of graduates that will meet the needs of individuals and the labour market. The number of students at masters and PhD level has risen substantially in recent years and the focus is on strengthening these programmes even further. This is reflected in the number of new study programmes offered, in reshaping of services and administration and in increased government support in difficult times.

In times of economic difficulties in Icelandic society, people that have lost their jobs have been encouraged to further their competences and education by going back to school or universities. People that had not finished their education and have lost their jobs are now coming back to finish their degree or to take a second degree. The UI welcomes these students. Special arrangements have been made to meet the needs of a broader section of society and to ease them access to studies after sometimes many years on the labour market.

Participation in the programme is important in providing opportunities for students to gain skills in working and/or studying in an international environment and in that way prepare them for participation in a global working environment. Participation in the programme will be an important means in strengthening the “knowledge triangle” by creating links between education, research and business and to promote excellence and innovation. The programme is important for staff development reasons, to give staff at all levels opportunities to meet colleagues abroad to learn from others and to share knowledge and experience for the benefit of all concerned. Stronger ties will result in more joint intensive programmes, joint curriculum development and joint degree programmes. These are initiatives that will be focused on in coming years. New ways of teaching by using virtual classrooms and shared teaching staff and closed cooperation in joint programmes and joint curriculum development Training of researchers to prepare for the industries and innovation is important. The rapid growth of the number of graduate students both at masters and PhD level underline the importance of close cooperation with partners abroad in order to enhance development and innovation at all levels in teaching and research. International students and staff are an important part of university human resources, society and culture and are vital for the University´s development and success.

Erasmus+ Charter for Higher Education 2014-2020

Erasmus+ Programme Guide