The University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) is the country’s oldest and largest public research university, located in Reykjavík. Founded in 1911, it has grown from a small civil servants’ school into a modern institution with around 14,000 students across 25 faculties. The university offers programs in social sciences, humanities, law, medicine, natural sciences, engineering, and education. Its main campus is centered around Suðurgata Street, with additional facilities in nearby areas and the countryside.

Established by Alþingi on 17 June 1911, the university combined three former institutions that taught theology, medicine, and law. Initially, it had four faculties and enrolled 45 students. The university played a crucial role in Iceland’s nation-building efforts, fulfilling a long-standing demand for a national institution of higher education. Until 1940, it operated from Alþingishúsið (Parliament House) before moving to its current main building, designed by architect Guðjón Samúelsson.

The university introduced major structural changes in 2008, forming five schools and merging with the Iceland University of Education. Increased competition from local colleges has led to stronger marketing efforts. In 2021, a burst water pipe flooded parts of the campus, causing significant damage to several buildings.