mission statement
The role of the Iceland University of the Arts (IUA) is to encourage progressive thinking in the arts and to stimulate innovation and development in different fields.
international role
The IUA has established bilateral agreements with many European institutions through the Erasmus program, as well as collaborating closely with other Nordic Institutions of higher education in art and design.
national role
The IUA offers education in the arts at the university level and conveys both knowledge and professionalism in the arts to Icelandic society.
main focus
Art and Design
faculties and departments
Department of Design and Architecture
Department of Fine Art
Department of Arts Education
Department of Music
Department of Performing Arts
bachelor level programs
Department of Design and Architecture
BA Visual Communication, 3 years
BA Product Design, 3 years
BA Fashion Design, 3 years
BA Architecture, 3 years
Department of Fine Art
BA Fine Art, 3 years
Department of Music
B.Mus Instrumental/Vocal Performance, 3 years
BA Church Music, 3 years
BA Creative Music Communication, 3 years
BA Vocal and Instrumental Pedagogy, 3 years
BA Composition, 3 years
Department of Performing Arts
BA Acting, 3 years
BA Contemporary Dance, 3 years
BA Theatre and Performance Making, 3 years
Department of Design and Architecture
MA Design, 2 years
Department of Fine Art
MA Fine Art, 2 years
MA Curatorial Practice, 2 years
Department of Arts Education
MA/M.Art.Ed. Arts Education, 2 years
Department of Music
MA Composition, 2 years
M.Mus New Audiences and Innovative Practice (NAIP), 2 years
research activity and main areas
The main research fields at the Department of Design and Architecture are sustainability and design, design and social intervention, interdisciplinary studies, cultural theory, urban studies, visual culture and identity.
Department for Design and Architecture
BA Architecture
BA Fashion Design
BA Visual Communication
BA Product Design
MA Design
Department of Fine Art
BA Fine Art
MA Fine Art
Department of Music
B.Mus Instrumental/Vocal Performance
BA Composition
BA Creative Music Communication
M.Mus New Audiences and Innovative Practice (NAIP)
MA Composition
Department of Performing Arts
BA Contemporary Dance
BA Theatre and Performance Making
application deadlines
Autumn semester April 15
Spring semester October 15
teaching languages
Icelandic and English
semester dates
August 20 – December 20
January 5 – May 15
cost of living per month (studying and living)