Rankings: The 2 best universities in Iceland for 2025/2026
Photo by Magic K
Iceland offers a truly unique study abroad experience, combining a modern education with some of the most stunning natural landscapes on the planet.
Known for its innovation, sustainability, and high quality of life, Iceland is home to a small but respected higher education system. With a growing number of English-taught programmes, especially at the Master’s level, Iceland is an attractive option for international students looking to study in a peaceful and progressive country.
Below we highlight the best universities in Iceland for international students. Leading the list is the University of Iceland in Reykjavík, the country’s largest and highest-ranked institution. Other key institutions include Reykjavík University, known for its focus on technology, business, and law.
Iceland may be remote, but it offers a close community, innovative learning environments, and strong ties to international research and policy. Living in cities like Reykjavík or Akureyri, students enjoy a safe, English-friendly environment and easy access to Iceland’s famous outdoor experiences - from glaciers and geysers to the Northern Lights.
| University | QS Ranking 2026 | THE Ranking 2026 | ARWU Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iceland | 582 | 501 | 601 |
| Reykjavík University | – | 801 | – |
The QS World University Rankings are among the most important, most-referenced rankings. The QS ranking relies heavily on its academic survey, asking thousands of academics worldwide about the reputation of universities.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Equal weight is put on teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact through citations (meaning how often a university’s research is referenced elsewhere).
The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (often just Shanghai Ranking, or ARWU) focuses on research output and quality, for example measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni winning the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.
Read more about studying in Iceland
