Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies - International Summer School in Modern Icelandic Language & Culture

Although the summer school is primarily intended for university students of language and literature, anyone interested in the language and culture of Iceland is welcome to apply. Applicants must have completed at least one year of university level studies. Additionally, applicants may not be residents of Iceland.

Approximately 40 participants are accepted to the on-campus program and approximately 10 to the online program. Language classes are taught in two groups, organized around the participants’ previous knowledge of Icelandic, which will be determined through an online placement test given before the start of the summer school (see Prerequisites below).

Course Description

Participants will receive 80 hours of instruction in language and cultural studies organized into four classes per day. This breaks down as 70 hours of instruction in grammar, language exercises and reading, and 10 hours of lectures about modern Icelandic society and culture.

As part of the on-campus program, two excursions are planned to sites of historical and geographical significance. In addition, participants will have the opportunity for guided tours at the National Museum, the Culture House, and the Alþingi parliament. (Note that these plans are subject to change due to COVID-19 restrictions). 

The online program, however, does not include the excursions and museum visits.

Classes are scheduled five days a week, Monday through Friday, in the morning and early afternoon. Attendance is mandatory. Note that due to unforseen circumstances the organiser may change and adjust the schedule at short notice during the program.

Teaching for the online program is organized according to the different time zones of participants, but most likely they will be scheduled in the afternoon hours in Iceland, which will enable participants from other time zones to take part during the morning (Americas) or afternoon/evening/night (Europe and Asia).

The language of instruction is primarily Icelandic, but English will serve as a secondary teaching language.

Participants in the on-campus program have access to the university's computer labs during the day. The university's wireless network will also be available for them. 

Participants in the online program will need to ensure that their own technology is in working order, including a PC and a reliable Internet connection as well as peripherals like headphones, microphone and webcam.

A certificate will be granted upon successful completion of the on-campus summer school (the program's credit may count up to 10 ECTS at the BA level). However, for the online summer school a certificate will be granted upon successful completion of the program and the credits may count up to 5 ECTS at the BA level. In order to successfully complete the program participants must score a minimum grade of 5 (on the scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is the lowest grade and 10 is the highest) on the oral and written exam.