Types of Institutions

Upper secondary education starts at 16 years of age and can last from three to five years, depending on the programme. Of around 50 schools offering upper secondary education in Iceland in 2020, approximately 30 offer a comprehensive education leading to matriculation, which normally lasts three years. Vocational education and training (VET) lasts between one and five years, depending on the programme.

The main types of schools offering upper secondary education (general and vocational streams) are:

• Class based schools for general education (Icelandic: Menntaskóli), which offer three-year general academic branches of study concluding with a matriculation examination. Pupils who complete the course satisfactorily are entitled to enter higher education institutions (universities).
• Credit-based schools for mixed general and vocational education (Icelandic: Framhaldsskóli).  Some schools also offer additional level for specialized post-secondary non-tertiary VET and journeyman qualifications. There are currently over 80 VET programmes available to students. VET students do not have an automatic access to higher education, but they can complete an extra matriculation exam, alongside their vocational studies. 

The upper secondary education is funded and managed by the central government. While most upper secondary institutions are public, some are government-dependent private institutes. Schools create their own course descriptions and make proposals for programmes that have to be approved by the central government. The Ministry of Education and Children may grant general upper secondary schools with special educational tasks based on the school curriculum. These specialized general upper secondary schools emphasize their instruction in accordance with their special educational task, but they always offer the opportunity to complete also a basic study programme. Specialized upper secondary schools primarily offer education in the following fields: music, arts, technical studies and sports. Several general upper secondary schools offer non-traditional instruction or International Baccalaureate (IB).

For adult learners, several upper secondary schools have the permission of arrange upper secondary education during after-school hours, leading to a matriculation examination.

Geographical Accessibility

Upper secondary schools in Iceland are generally very accessible but there are demographic challenges, especially for students living in the smallest municipalities. Schools vary considerably in size; the largest has around 2,000 pupils and the smallest fewer than 100. It is not uncommon for students who live out in rural areas to attend schools in the capital area. Many of the upper secondary schools located outside the capital area have boarding facilities and offer school transport. In some cases, general upper secondary studies can be accomplished via distance learning. In all such cases, the distance programme complies with the National Core Curriculum (Icelandic: Aðalnámsskrá framhaldsskóla).

Admission Requirements and Choice of School

All students who have reached the age of 16 have a statutory right to enroll in upper secondary education, regardless of their outcomes in compulsory schooling. The right to be offered a place in an upper secondary institution lasts until the student reaches the age of 18.  There are no restrictions on the choice of general upper secondary schools, but it is the educational institutions that select new students and each school may make specific demands for enrolment in individual branches of study regarding preparation and study results.

International Baccalaureate (IB) is included in the joint application system. The Directorate of Education is responsible for the admission process. All relevant information about the application process may be found on: https://mms.is/innritun-i-framhaldsskola

Age Levels and Grouping of Students

Students in general upper secondary education are usually between 16 and 19/20 years of age. Only a few upper secondary schools are organized with a division into grades - in most schools the teaching is not tied to year-classes but to credit-classes. The scope of the matriculation syllabus is three years, but the studies may be accomplished in two, three or four years. There are no national regulations concerning the student/teacher ratio.

Organization of the School Year

There are specific provisions regarding the number of working days for students (180 working days) during the nine month school year in the legal framework on upper-secondary education. Teaching must be organized within the period from the 22nd of August to 31st of May, excluding short holidays such as for Christmas and Easter. The exact dates of schoolwork and holidays are established by the education provider. Similarly, education providers are free to decide the number of weekly hours but education must be organized so that the students can complete the studies included in the upper secondary school syllabus within three years.

Organization of the School Day and Week

School is typically attended five days a week, leaving both Saturdays and Sundays free. A standard lesson lasts around 40 minutes, although the length of lessons and overall timetables can vary between institutions and depending on students' individual course selections. In general upper secondary schools, classes are usually scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. However, education providers have the autonomy to determine the start and end times of lessons, as well as the timing of lunch breaks, since there are no central regulations governing these details. There is no specific regulation regarding out-of-hours provision.