HR welcomed 172 exchange students and 27 international degree-seeking students

16.8.2022

This year‘s orientation period stretched over a longer period of time than usual. The International Office offered an online mandatory pre-orientation course through Canvas, videos, presentations and quizzes. Students could complete this at their own pace before arrival in Iceland. Students were also offered pre-arrival live sessions.

The more conventional orientation took place on Thursday, August 11 at Reykjavík University. Around 200 students attended and were very happy to be able to gather on campus.

The 172 exchange students this autumn come from 28 countries sitting on the stairs at Reykjavík UniversityThe 172 exchange students this autumn come from 28 countries.

The students attended a crash course in Icelandic, a session on green and sustainable living while in Iceland and a tour of the building.

The RU mentors did a great job in making sure to make the process as smooth as possible. They welcomed the student groups, led them on tours of the building made sure presentations in each classroom were on time and working perfectly. Mentors are Icelandic students at RU whose role is to ensure the inclusion of new students from different countries and cultures. 

The group in numbers

The 172 exchange students this autumn come from 28 countries.

The largest groups come from Europe:

  • Germany: 32

  • France: 31

  • Spain: 16

  • Sweden: 16

  • Denmark: 15

  • Holland: 15

  • Italy: 17

There is a fairly even division between undergraduate and graduate studies: 87 students enrolled in BSc studies and 115 in MSc studies.

The students attended a crash course in Icelandic, a session on green and sustainable living while in Iceland and a tour of the building.The students attended a crash course in Icelandic, a session on green and sustainable living while in Iceland and a tour of the building.

Most of them are in these three departments:

  • Department of Business: 77

  • Department of Engineering: 50

  • Department of Computer Science: 36

  • Department of Law 19

These departments all have in common that their MSc programmes are offered in English which explains these numbers. All academic departments offer several courses at BA and BSc levels in English each year available for exchange students to apply for.