Surge in applications to private universities in Iceland following removal of tuition fees

Applications to private universities in Iceland have surged this academic year, driven by the removal of tuition fees. Notably, the University of Bifröst and the Iceland University of the Arts saw a doubling in applications, with significant increases also reported at the University of Akureyri and the University of Iceland.

The changes come following an agreement reached earlier this year, whereby private institutions received full funding from the government in exchange for waiving tuition fees. As a result, students no longer face costs of several hundred thousand Icelandic krona to enroll.

The University of the Arts received over 1,000 applications, a dramatic increase from previous years, although capacity constraints allowed for only a 16.5 percent rise in student numbers to 702. At the University of Bifröst, applications soared from 772 last year to approximately 1,600 this year. The rector expressed immense satisfaction with the response but acknowledged that growing pains would need to be managed, including the addition of six new teaching positions to handle the sudden increase.

Despite the spike in applications for private institutions, public universities like the University of Iceland experienced a modest rise in applications, totaling about 9,200. This figure indicates an increase compared to last year’s number, though discrepancies were noted in the assessment of valid applications due to improvements in the filtering process.

While some institutions are considering mergers—such as discussions between the University of Akureyri and the University of Bifröst—it’s uncertain how these talks will influence future application trends. Nevertheless, the overall landscape of university education in Iceland is clearly evolving, with increased accessibility expected to foster greater competition and choice for students.