Iceland - types of higher education institutions

At present there are seven higher education institutions in Iceland. Four are operated by the state, while private parties with state support operate three. Institutions of higher education vary in the extent to which they engage in research and the number of programmes of study offered.

The higher education institutions can also be categorised into four groups according to their specialisation: there are two agricultural institutions, one academy of the arts and four institutions offering wide ranges of studies. Other differences include the number of enrolled students, the mix of programmes offered, and the level of education and research activity.