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University of Akureyri

Logo: Atli Hilmarsson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

University in Akureyri, Iceland

The University of Akureyri (Icelandic: Háskólinn á Akureyri regionally also ) was founded in 1987 in the town of Akureyri in the northeastern part of Iceland. It is today a school of Humanities and Social science, and a school of Health, Business and Natural science. Over 2800 students attended the university in the autumn semester of 2024, around half of them through flexible learning, making the university the largest provider of distance education in the country.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1987Founded1

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Háskólinn á Akureyri 0032
Photo: Steinninn, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

The University of Akureyri (Icelandic: Háskólinn á Akureyri [ˈhauːˌskouːlɪn au ˈaːkʏrˌeiːrɪ], regionally also [ˈaːkʰʏr-]) was founded in 1987 in the town of Akureyri in the northeastern part of Iceland. It is today a school of Humanities and Social science, and a school of Health, Business and Natural science. Over 2800 students attended the university in the autumn semester of 2024, around half of them through flexible learning, making the university the largest provider of distance education in the country. The University of Akureyri coordinates with other Icelandic Universities to operate the University Centre of the Westfjords located in Ísafjörður, which operates two master's degrees, one in Coastal and Marine Management and the other in Marine Innovation. Additionally, The University of Akureyri coordinates with other Nordic Universities for the West Nordic Studies and Polar Law Masters programs.2

The story

The university was established in 1987 when the health sciences and industrial management studies began. The first rector was Haraldur Bessason. Staff were four people in total and the number of students 31. Two classrooms in the local sports center were used as classrooms. In 1988, the library was officially added to the school. Two months after the library was added, the Student Center opened. The first class to graduate was in 1989, and consisted of 10 industrial management students. On January 4, 1990, the Faculty of Fisheries was established. The first master's degree students graduated February 26, 2000. These students pursued a master's degree in nursing.

A new chancellor took over from Þorsteinn Gunnarsson on July 1, 2009 after 15 years in office, Stefán B. Sigurðsson. In autumn 2017, HA received authorization to offer doctoral studies. The first doctoral students enrolled at the school at the end of 2018, and the first doctoral defense at the school took place in autumn 2022. Graduation was held virtually in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Wikipedia’s article on University of Akureyri, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

Most research is done by academic members of the staff in the university's Research and Development Center. In addition, there are other research institutes:

Research and Development Centre of UNAK

Research Centre on Children's Literature

Research Centre for Health Science at UNAK

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The Icelandic Tourism Research Centre

Centre of School Development at UNAK

Research Centre Against Violence

Fisheries Science Centre

Arctic issues

UNAK's policy emphasizes on being progressive in teaching and research that meets international standards. Emphasis is placed on teaching and research related to Icelandic society and economy, as well as fields related to Arctic issues.

UNAK is an international university where standards of research and teaching are international. UNAK emphasizes greatly on the importance to cooperate with universities in the North and is one of the founding members of the University of the Arctic, collaborative network of universities in the North. The University of the Arctic links together universities and organizes student exchange program (North2North), thematic networks, joint degree etc. UNAK's policy with the emphasis on Arctic issues has created uniqueness for the university which is now both domestically and abroad recognized for teaching and research in disciplines related to the North.

The University of Akureyri is also a founding partner of the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network.

The main purpose of The Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network is to increase the visibility and understanding of the Arctic and activities working towards the northern Iceland. The CEO of the network, Embla Eir Oddsdóttir, has for many years worked on projects and studies relating to the Arctic.

Conferences

The University of Akureyri Research and Development Centre (RHA) offers services for organizing conferences, meetings or conventions in partnership with professionals. RHA has good experience in organizing such events both domestically and abroad.

From Wikipedia’s article on University of Akureyri, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1987Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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