Iceland to allow public universities to charge tuition fees for non-EEA students

Public universities in Iceland will soon be allowed to charge tuition fees for students from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), as proposed in a bill discussed in the government this morning. Currently, all university students are required to pay a registration fee of 75,000 Icelandic krónur, regardless of their origin, which does not cover the actual cost of education.

Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, the Minister of Higher Education, Industry, and Innovation, stated that there has been a significant increase in the number of students from non-EEA countries in recent years. Other Nordic countries have already implemented tuition fees for this group of students.

“I do not find it justifiable to use shared funds to subsidize higher education for this group,” remarked Áslaug Arna after the cabinet meeting. She noted that it will be at the discretion of public universities to set their own tuition rates for these students, with plans for the law to take effect for the next school year.

Additionally, there will be the introduction of a merit-based scholarship program for exceptional students from outside the EEA. According to the EEA agreement, discrimination between Icelandic students and those from EEA countries is not permitted.