University of Iceland, university in Reykjavík, Iceland. The university, called Háskóli Íslands in Icelandic, was founded in the year 1000 when the Althing—the parliament of Iceland—opened schools to train Christian ministers and church workers. In 1847 these schools were united as a theological seminary (Prestaskóli Íslands). In 1876 a medical school (Laeknaskóli Íslands) was established. The law school of Iceland (Lagaskóli Íslands) was established in 1908. These three schools were merged into the University of Iceland on June 17, 1911, on the centennial of the birth of Jón Sigursson, who liberated Iceland from Danish dominion in 1874. Until 1940 classes were held in the parliament buildings, but in that year a modern building was erected with funds generated through a national lottery.

The University of Iceland is a coeducational, public institution. No tuition is charged. It offers studies in theology, medicine, law, economics, philosophy, engineering, and science. The teaching staff numbers about 350 and student enrollment is about 3000. The library houses more than 160,000 volumes.