University of Iceland

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University of Iceland
Háskóli Íslands
Latin: Universitatis Islandiae
Established	1911
Type	Public
Rector	Kristín Ingólfsdóttir
Students	8,000
Location	Reykjavík, Iceland
Campus	Urban, suburban
Mascot	Athena
Website	www.hi.is

The University of Iceland (Icelandic: Háskóli Íslands) is an Icelandic state university, founded in 1911. During its first year of operation 45 students were enrolled. Today, the University of Iceland serves a nation of approximately 300,000 people and provides instruction for some 8,000 students studying in eleven faculties.

1 About
2 Curriculum
3 Administration
4 Faculties
5 University Area
6 Notable faculty members
7 Notable alumni
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] About

University of Iceland -- Main Building

In addition to the major faculties there are numerous research institutes attached to the University. With 423 tenured teachers, 1,800 non-tenured teachers, and about 281 researchers and administrators, the University of Iceland is the largest single work-place in Iceland. For its first 29 years the University was housed in the Icelandic Parliament building, Alþingishúsið, in central Reykjavík. In 1933, the University received a special licence from Alþingi to operate a cash-prize lottery called "Happdrætti Háskólans". The University Lottery, which started in 1934, remains a major source of funding for the construction of new university buildings. In 1940, the University moved into the Main Building on the University Campus on Suðurgata, where most of the principal buildings of the University are located today.

[edit] Curriculum

The Árnagarður building, home to the Árni Magnússon Institute

The University of Iceland offers studies and research in more than 60 degree programmes in the humanities, science and social sciences, and in professional fields such as theology, law, business, medicine, odontology, nursing, pharmacology and engineering. Some of the resources available at the University are uniquely Icelandic; these include the manuscripts preserved in the Árni Magnússon Institute, Icelandic census records dating from 1703, exceptionally complete genealogical data, and climatological, glaciological, seismic and geothermal records. The principal language of instruction is Icelandic. Textbooks are mainly in English and Icelandic. Most departments offer courses in English and allow foreign students to take their examinations in English.

[edit] Administration

Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, Ph.D. is the Rector of the university. She took over from Páll Skúlason and is the first female to win the elections for Rector.