Scholarships and Student Jobs in Iceland: What Is Available

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Funding for international students in Iceland is thin. Public universities charge only a registration fee, the University of Iceland and the arts university say they offer no scholarships, and part-time work is allowed only within limits. For the residence permit you must show your own funds.

Scholarships

University of Iceland (HÍ): says it does not offer any funding or scholarships to prospective students.
Iceland University of the Arts (LHÍ): says it provides no scholarships for tuition fees or living expenses.
Reykjavik University (RU): lists merit-based awards. The New Student Scholarship covers first-semester tuition for incoming undergraduates with exceptional results in secondary school, and recipients are selected by an internal committee, with no application needed. The Natural Science Award goes to the best natural science results on the matriculation exam in each secondary school. Athletic scholarships cover tuition for up to six semesters for up to three elite athletes in Sport Science. Students who complete at least 30 ECTS in a semester with outstanding results can enter the Presidential List, which waives tuition for the next semester.

Read RU's conditions carefully before counting on any of these. Exchange students follow a separate route with their own deadlines: at HÍ, 1 April (non-EU/EEA) or 1 May (EU/EEA) for the autumn semester. See scholarships and financial aid in Europe and how much it costs to study in Iceland.

Working during your studies

EEA and EFTA students need no work permit, according to the University of Iceland.
Students with a residence permit may work up to 60% of full-time employment without a work permit, across all employers combined. They may work more during scheduled breaks between terms, in a formal training or internship, or after completing an Icelandic university degree while seeking a job in their field. The Directorate of Immigration says that since 8 July 2026 you must report your employment when you renew your permit, and it can revoke the right to work if you exceed the limit.

HÍ's own page still mentions a work permit for up to 22.5 hours a week for non-EEA students. That figure predates the 2026 changes, so follow the Directorate's 60% rule and check with it before you start.

Tax and ID number

All income earned in Iceland is taxable, under a pay-as-you-earn system in which the employer deducts tax. To apply for the personal tax credit you need an Icelandic national ID number (kennitala), and non-EEA citizens must also provide a copy of their work permit. Students who received income in Iceland must file a tax return with the Directorate of Internal Revenue (RSK) every year, no later than one week before leaving the country, though exemptions may apply.

Money for your permit and finding a job

For a student permit, the Directorate of Immigration requires you to demonstrate your own independent financial means, currently ISK 259,951 a month for one person, for the whole period of the permit. At renewal, an original confirmation of a study grant or study loan is among the documents the Directorate lists as proof. The only exception to the own-means rule is a legally resident spouse who has enough money to support both of you. Plan your budget around savings or funds you can document, not around a job you have not yet found.

HÍ points students to the job database of Icelandic Student Services. See Icelandic language requirements for Iceland and working while studying in Europe.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.