Course starts: September 2027 Location: London, Bloomsbury

Icelandic BA

Become fluent in Icelandic through this course and gain specialist skills ideal for working in Nordic countries and companies. Through the Icelandic BA, you will learn Icelandic from beginner level, study a mainland Scandinavian language, and spend a valuable year in Reykjavik honing your knowledge and skills. Graduates from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society may go on to careers in translating, publishing and teaching.

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Key information

Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 academic years full time
Fees (2026/27)
UK: £9,790 per year
International: £32,000 per year
Application deadlines
13 January 2027. Applications close at 6pm UK time.
Applications may stay open after this UCAS Equal Consideration deadline, please check UCAS for details.
Course starts
September 2027
View 2026 entry
UCAS code
R690
Location
London, Bloomsbury
Department
School of European Languages, Culture and Society
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Entry requirements

Grades
ABB
Subjects
Foreign language preferred.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4

Contextual offer

Grades
BBC
Subjects
Foreign language preferred.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4

At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education.

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. Access UCL is our contextual offer scheme for applicants from groups that are underrepresented at UCL. We assess your eligibility for Access UCL based on the information contained within your UCAS application. We review and update our Access UCL eligibility criteria and datasets every year, so please check the requirements for the year you plan to apply.

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who do not have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

About this course

Over recent decades our world has become more interdependent and with these deeper connections comes an enhanced need for enlightened citizenship. Our degree in Icelandic offers expert teaching and learning in both language acquisition and intercultural contexts that will equip students to thrive in today’s global society. 

Over the four years of the course, you will deepen your knowledge of Icelandic and another mainland Scandinavian language, whilst also developing valuable skills in cultural literacy and critical thinking.

In Years 1, 2 and your final year, you will take language modules in Icelandic, Old Norse and either Norwegian, Danish or Swedish, as well as cultural modules covering a range of topics that draw on literature, film, history, and linguistics, from an interdisciplinary perspective.

You will spend the third year of your studies abroad in Iceland. You may spend the terms studying at a partner university or on an approved work placement. You will achieve the same linguistic competence regardless of whether you start the language from beginner level or have previous knowledge of it.

We are keen to ensure that students feel part of a community at UCL and therefore offer course-specific core modules in Year 1 that students take together with their respective cohort. These offer a broad sense of their chosen discipline and an opportunity to share learning experiences. They also support students to make informed choices for their future years of study to carve out a degree pathway that suits them. Please visit our Undergraduate Modules page for more details.

Our admissions process aims to assess your linguistic abilities and attainments, as well as cultural awareness and intellectual potential. We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for language learning, for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing and finessing their language proficiency to an advanced level.

Course structure

You will spend the first two years at UCL gaining expertise in the productive and receptive skills of Icelandic and another Scandinavian language, as well as gaining a more developed understanding of the literature, cinema, politics, history and society of the countries where Scandinavian languages are spoken.

In Year 1, you embark on an intensive study of modern Icelandic at beginner’s level. You will also choose a mainland Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian or Swedish) as well as study Old Norse. The majority of first-year modules are compulsory and help establish a broad foundation in Scandinavian literary studies, linguistics and culture. Whereas in later years you have more flexibility to pursue optional modules of your interest.

In Year 2, you continue with compulsory language studies in Icelandic, Old Norse and a mainland Scandinavian language (usually 3 modules, 75 credits in total). You select approximately 2-3 optional modules (45 credits in total), covering a range of interdisciplinary topics. You may also select Finnish language modules offered by SSEES, subject to availability.

You will spend the third year of your studies at the University of Iceland, taking a course in Icelandic for foreign students. If you have been given approval to transfer to Icelandic with Danish, Norwegian or Swedish at the end of Year 1, you will also take a course in your mainland Scandinavian language whilst studying in Reykjavik.

The final year is spent at UCL, where you take compulsory advanced language and content modules in modern Icelandic, Old Norse and Icelandic literature (usually 3 modules, 60 credits in total). You select approximately 2-4 optional modules, depending on your choices, covering a range of topics and languages (60 credits in total). If you have transferred to Icelandic with Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, you will take advanced modules in your mainland Scandinavian language.

Modules

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules

Your language classes focus on developing the active skills of speaking, listening, writing and reading through a variety of methods and media. Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, classes, seminars, and presentations, as well as undertaking web-based study and group work.

Small-group tutorials, group work and student-led activities are an important element of many modules. Ongoing feedback is given to help you improve your written work.

The language elements may vary depending on the degree and your starting proficiency. On average, they will comprise of four taught hours a week for basic language in Year 1, four hours a week for intermediate language in Year 2, and two hours a week for advanced language in the final year. A significant portion of your work will take place in guided independent study.

Modules are assessed by a mixture of written examinations, essays and other forms of coursework. Language modules will also include an oral examination. Some group work may be assessed. In your final year, you may have the option to undertake a research essay on a topic chosen by you with guidance from your tutor.

Typical contact hours vary between 8–12 hours per week, depending on the year of study and module choice, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and e-learning activities. Students will also display a level of independent study (25–30 hours per week) by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions in class. There is minimal teaching in Term 3, which focuses on examinations and assessment. Contact hours may vary during the Year Abroad in the third year of your studies, depending on the partner university or work placement.

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Study mode UK fee (2026/27) Overseas fee (2026/27)
Full time £9,790 £32,000

UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases. Fees for 2027/28 entry will be published in August 2026.

International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

There are no course-specific costs for this course apart from those associated with study abroad. Studying abroad may cost between £200 – £1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.

For in-person teaching, UCL's main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2026. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Why study this course at UCL?

As a global top ten university for the arts and humanities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 by subject), UCL Scandinavian Studies has specialists across the areas of language, politics, history, medieval studies, literature and film for the region.

You will have access to one of the largest and oldest Scandinavian libraries in the country, as well as state-of-the-art facilities within the UCL Language Space.

A broad range of optional modules are available, including Viking Studies, Old Norse, modern Scandinavian languages, literary studies, film studies, history, and cultural studies, together with the opportunity to acquire proficiency in a second Scandinavian language.

You will spend a year abroad at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. During this time, you will finesse your language skills and gain valuable experience which will enhance future learning as well as career prospects.

Discover Uni

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

What this course will give you

There are many career opportunities for UCL’s modern languages graduates. The acquisition of transferable skills is embedded within our teaching. Our graduates have advanced skills in languages, independent-critical thinking and creativity, as well as socio-cultural literacy, all of which help them to find employment in organisations within the UK and abroad. Our graduates can be found in careers that cross international boundaries and require strong communication skills.

Popular career paths for modern language graduates include accountancy and financial services (5.2%), teaching and education (11.2%), publishing, journalism or translation (8%), hospitality, leisure and tourism (7%), PR, advertising, marketing (4.5%), performance and creative arts (4.2%) and media (7%).

Employers of our graduates include KPMG, PwC, JP Morgan, Bloomberg, Accenture, BBC, The Fairtrade Foundation, Unitary AI, Lonely Planet, L’Oreal, Goldman Sachs, Teach First, and UK Government.

Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including translating, interpreting and teaching, while others continue with postgraduate or other study (17.1%) or academic research and HE (4.9%).*

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017–2023 cohorts.

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Register your interest

Register your interest in undergraduate study and become part of the UCL community.

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How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Our admissions process aims to assess your linguistic abilities and attainments as well as your cultural awareness, motivation for study and intellectual potential. We may interview candidates by telephone in order to establish a level of language ability.

If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation make you well suited to our degree and you receive an offer, you will be invited to a Post-Offer Open Day. There, you will gain insight into the sort of teaching we offer and life in the department.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

Apply for this course

You are applying for the Icelandic BA course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.

Course starts: September 2027

UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.

Got questions? Get in touch

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School of European Languages, Culture and Society

School of European Languages, Culture and Society

Click to email. selcs.cmii.enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

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