Are public schools free for expat children in Iceland?

Yes. All resident children aged 6–16 are entitled to free public education in Iceland regardless of nationality. The teaching language is Icelandic, and newcomers with limited Icelandic are typically placed in reception language support classes to help them integrate into the mainstream classroom.

How much do international schools cost in Iceland?

Annual tuition at the main international schools (ISI, RIS, Landakotsskóli, BISI) typically ranges from ISK 1,500,000 to ISK 2,500,000 per year (~$10,900–$18,100 at 2026 rates), depending on the school and year group. Additional fees for registration, materials, and activities may apply.

Is the University of Iceland free for international students?

The University of Iceland charges only minimal administrative registration fees — it is effectively free for all students, including international students. However, most undergraduate programmes are taught in Icelandic. English-language programmes are mainly at master's level.

How do I get my child into a leikskóli (preschool) in Reykjavík?

Register on the Reykjavík municipality's centralised preschool waiting list at leikskolar.is as soon as you have a Reykjavík address. Demand significantly exceeds supply and waiting times can be 6–18 months for subsidised municipal places. Consider private preschool options as a bridge while waiting.

Expat Topics

D7, digital nomad, golden visa & more

💰

Cost of Living

Monthly budgets from €1,200 to €4,000+

🏥

Healthcare

Public, private & expat health insurance

🏠

Housing

Rent prices, best areas & lease tips

💼

Work & Business

Permits, remote work & freelancing rules

✈️

Moving Guide

Step-by-step relocation checklist

📚

Education

International schools & universities

🌆

Daily Life

Transport, food & expat communities

🌅

Lifestyle

Climate, culture & quality of living

📈

Investing

Property, stocks, tax & wealth building

View all resources →

Rankings Compare Blog

📚

🇮🇸 Iceland

Education

Free

Public School Fees

All resident children; no tuition fees for public grunnskóli

4 in Reykjavík area

International Schools

ISI, RIS, Landakotsskóli, BISI; IB/Cambridge/American curricula

Icelandic (public)

Language of Instruction

English used in international school streams

Minimal–low

University Fees

University of Iceland charges minimal registration fees; mostly free

Taught from age 6

English in Schools

Compulsory; contributes to near-universal adult English proficiency

Above OECD average

PISA Ranking

Strong performance in reading, maths, and science

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏙️Reykjavík 🏔️Akureyri

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing

Overview

Iceland's public education system is free, high-quality, and universally accessible to all resident children from age 6. The system follows a European structure: pre-primary (leikskóli), compulsory (grunnskóli, ages 6–16), upper secondary (framhaldsskóli), and tertiary. Iceland has four main international schools in the Reykjavík area offering IB, British, Cambridge, and American curricula for expat families. The University of Iceland and Reykjavík University are the main higher education institutions; the University of Iceland charges minimal fees and offers several English-language programmes.

Key Takeaways

Free for all resident children — no tuition fees, no application process based on nationality
International School of Iceland (ISI, Garðabær): IB Middle Years Programme; American/AERO curriculum K–Grade 10; English and bilingual streams
University of Iceland (Reykjavík): founded 1911; ~14,000 students; minimal registration fees; research-intensive
Municipal leikskólar are subsidised — fees are income-tested and significantly lower than private alternatives

Public Schools — Grunnskóli (Compulsory Education)

Iceland's compulsory education system is free for all children aged 6–16 resident in Iceland, regardless of nationality or immigration status. Public schools (grunnskóli) are administered by municipalities and teach in Icelandic, though English is a compulsory subject from an early age.

Free for all resident children — no tuition fees, no application process based on nationality
Teaching language: Icelandic; English and Danish taught as compulsory second languages
New arrivals with limited Icelandic are typically placed in reception classes (móttökukennsla) for language support
Class sizes are small — typically 15–25 pupils per class
School day: 08:00–14:00 approximately; after-school care (frístundaheimili) available and widely used
Strong emphasis on outdoor education and physical activity year-round
Reykjavík municipality operates around 36 grunnskólar — school assignment based on registered address

International Schools in the Reykjavík Area

Four English-language international schools operate in the Greater Reykjavík area, offering alternatives to the Icelandic public system for expat children. Places are limited — apply early.

International School of Iceland (ISI, Garðabær): IB Middle Years Programme; American/AERO curriculum K–Grade 10; English and bilingual streams
Reykjavík International School (RIS): Cambridge International Curriculum; ages 5–16; small classes; multicultural environment
Landakotsskóli International Department (central Reykjavík): Cambridge curriculum; K–Grade 10; established 2015 for expat academic/business community
British International School in Iceland (BISI, Kópavogur): Early Years Foundation Stage and National Curriculum for England; strong extracurricular programme
Hamrahlíð College (MH): IB Diploma Programme for students ages 16–19; post-secondary level
Annual tuition fees: typically ISK 1,500,000–2,500,000/year (~$10,900–$18,100) depending on school and year group
Apply well in advance — popular schools, especially ISI and RIS, have waiting lists

Higher Education

Iceland has seven universities and higher education institutions, with the University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) as the flagship. Most degrees are taught in Icelandic, but an increasing number of programmes at master's level are offered in English.

University of Iceland (Reykjavík): founded 1911; ~14,000 students; minimal registration fees; research-intensive
Reykjavík University: private; strong engineering, computer science, law, and business faculties
University of Akureyri: public; 3,500 students; strong in health sciences, business, and law
Iceland University of the Arts: specialist arts institution in Reykjavík
Tuition: public universities charge only minimal administrative registration fees; private universities charge tuition (~ISK 200,000–500,000/year)
International students: approximately 5% of total student population; several English-language master's programmes available
Student residence permit: available for non-EEA nationals enrolled at accredited institutions

Childcare — Leikskóli (Preschool)

Iceland's publicly subsidised preschool system (leikskóli) caters to children aged 18 months to 6 years. Demand significantly exceeds supply in Reykjavík — register immediately upon arriving or even before, as waiting lists are long.

Municipal leikskólar are subsidised — fees are income-tested and significantly lower than private alternatives
Private leikskólar charge full market rates; typically ISK 60,000–90,000/month
Register on the Reykjavík municipality waiting list (leikskólar.is) immediately upon establishing a Reykjavík address
Waiting times can be 6–18 months for municipal leikskóli places in popular areas
After-school care (frístundaheimili) for grunnskóli-age children is widely available and subsidised

FAQs