Grant Opportunities for Icelanders
Fulbright Iceland
Opportunities for Icelandic Students:
The following Fulbright awards are available:
- Fulbright student award to commence graduate studies in the U.S. (master´s or PhD).
- Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher (VSR) award for PhD students at Icelandic universities for a 4–12-month PhD research visit to the U.S.
Additionally, Fulbright Iceland has grant agreements with a few U.S. universities, including the Cobb Family Fellowship for graduate studies in any field at University of Miami and includes both a stipend and reduces tuition for students. Read more about our partnerships with U.S. universities here.
Since 1995, fifteen Icelandic students have received the Cobb Family Fellowship, founded by former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland, Charles E. Cobb, for graduate studies in any field at the University of Miami. Each fall, the Fulbright Commission nominates one student to receive the fellowship to pursue a master’s or doctoral program at the university. Among Cobb Family Fellowship recipients are Bjarni Már Magnússon, dean of the law department at Bifröst University, and Einar Ólafsson, architect and owner of Arkiteo. The University of Miami offers over 200 graduate programs and is recognized as one of the top research universities in the U.S., including 11th in oceanography and 23rd in atmospheric sciences globally by Academic Ranking of World Universities. The College of Arts and Sciences department of psychology is among the nation’s top 20 and the University´s research in the humanities, arts and social sciences ranks in the top 10 percent among all research institutions. A full list of available programs can be found on the university’s official website.
Please note that since 2024 Fulbright Iceland has administered the American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship for Icelandic applicants undertaking study or research programs in the U.S. at the graduate and post-graduate level. Students who have already started their studies are eligible to apply, in addition to those planning to commence graduate study. The application deadline is October 14, 2025. Read more about the ASF Fellowship and application here.
Students interested in applying should contact [email protected] if they have further questions. PhD students interested in a VSR grant should contact [email protected] if questions arise. Click here for further information about the grants and how to apply.
Right: Fulbright Fellow Berglind Bjarnadóttir at a Dartmouth ice hockey match
Left: Fulbright Scholar Haukur Þorgeirsson with his host at UC Berkeley
Icelandic Scholar Grants and Opportunities for Icelandic Institutions
Icelandic scholars are invited to apply for a Fulbright research grant to spend 3-12 months at a U.S. university or institution. For further information on the award and application process, visit our website.
Request for scholar: University departments in Iceland are welcome to apply for a Fulbright Scholar from the U.S. to teach at the host university for one semester. This is a great opportunity for Icelandic universities to bring in new expertise and knowledge, broaden course selection and build new collaborations. Fulbright is now calling for Request for Scholar applications for the 2027-2028 academic year. Further information can be found on our Request for Scholar webpage.
The Fulbright Specialist Program brings U.S. scholars to Iceland for visits of 2-6 weeks. Specialist activities can include, for example, delivering a seminar or workshop, consulting on faculty development, lecturing at the graduate or undergraduate level, developing academic curricula or conducting evaluations for a program or institution. Applications for Specialist projects starting in January 2026 or later will be reviewed after October 1st. Icelandic institutions interested in hosting a Fulbright specialist are encouraged to apply in the fall. Further information and the application can be found here.
Through the Inter-Country Travel Grant Program, Icelandic institutions can request a short visit from a U.S. Fulbright Scholar located in another European country. There are many top scholars in a wide variety of fields who will be available in the 2025-2026 academic year. We encourage Icelandic institutions to look at the list of available scholars later this summer, when it becomes available. See our website for further information. Applications for the ICTG Program are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, but it is better to apply early to secure your top pick, as slots are limited.
For further information on all scholar programs please contact [email protected].