Higher Education Systems - Iceland

The Icelandic National Qualification Framework for Higher Education provides a structured description of all higher-level qualifications and degrees. All institutions accredited under the Higher Education Act No. 63/2006 must adhere to this framework. The Act defines higher education as all university-level studies, encompassing traditional research universities, specialized institutions, and teaching-focused institutions [IC1].

The framework defines the three cycles of higher education:

1. First cycle including Diploma (Diplómapróf) and Bachelor’s degree (Bakkalárpróf). Diploma degree is awarded to students who have completed between 60 and 120 ECTS credits, while enrolled in a structured study programme. The Diploma in Informatics is a 120-ECTS study programme. Admission requires a secondary-school degree. The typical mode of examination is continuous control. Bachelor’s degree is awarded to students who have completed between 180 and 240 ECTS credits while enrolled in a structured study programme. Admission requires a secondary-school degree. The typical mode of examination in Bachelor’s courses is continuous control. A bachelor’s level degree involves a final project worth 12 ECTS. Internships are not required, but they are counted for credit if performed; they typically last six months, and students receive 24 ECTS for their work during the internships.
2. Second cycle including Master’s level certificate and other postgraduate qualifications (Meistarapróf, kandídatspróf, lokapróf á meistarastigi) of 60-120 ECTS, without a mandatory thesis, and Master’s degree (Meistarapróf) of 90-120 ECTS, with a research/end-of-studies project of at least 30 ECTS. Admission requires a Bachelor’s degree. The typical mode of examination in Master’s courses is continuous control. Master’s theses in Informatics-related study programmes are worth either 30 or 60 ECTS. Internships are not required, but they are counted for credit if performed; they typically last six months, and students receive 24 ECTS for their work during the internships.
3. Third cycle including two levels: Master of philosophy (M.Phil.) and Doctorate (Doktorspróf). The M.Phil. does not exist in Informatics, where only the Doctorate is offered.
   Doctorate is awarded to students who have completed at least 180 ECTS credits while enrolled in a structured third-cycle programme. Admission requires a Master’s degree in a related field. Students with a Master’s degree in other fields must take courses to fulfil breadth requirements in Informatics. Studies toward a doctorate must include a research project which meets international criteria for doctoral theses and has been successfully defended. PhD thesis defences in Informatics-related disciplines typically include an open presentation by the PhD candidate, which is followed by a closed session with the members of the examination committee. For PhD degrees in Informatics-related disciplines, there are no requirements regarding the number and nature of the publications on which doctoral dissertations are based [Luca Aceto, personal communication].