Application & Admissions Process 

Application Instructions

Below are special instructions for certain elements of the application:

CV (required) 

Please upload a current CV that outlines your educational, creative, and personal achievements. 

Statement of objectives (required) 

In 300 words or less, tell us about yourself. Why are you applying to this programme and why do you want to become a filmmaker? Make your best argument for why we should admit you into the programme now. (Be creative!) 

Certificate / transcript (required) 

Please upload a certified copy of your diploma and/or transcript here. 

Other documents (optional) 

Here you may upload any additional documents that you think are relevant and/or helpful to your application. 

Portfolio (required) 

This is the creative part of the application, to give us an idea of your aptitude or talent in this field.  

In the space provided, attach one PDF document that includes the following two elements: 

1. Writing sample: Tell us a story, in no more than three pages, in any written format of your choosing (screenplay, treatment, short story, etc.). The story should include at least one character, one location, and last no more than one day. 

2. Visual sample: Tell us a story using only 10 photos or images (your own or someone else’s). In no more than half a page, describe your work and the intention behind it. Keep in mind, however, that the images should do the storytelling and be able to stand alone; in other words, we should not need the accompanying text to understand the story.  

Links (optional) 

In the spaces provided, you may attach links to previous film, video, or other creative work you have done, if you think it enhances your application. 

Course selection 

In this programme, students begin in a common course of study that teaches fundamentals across a variety of filmmaking disciplines. Later in the curriculum they gravitate toward specialization in one of these disciplines. 

The courses you see here represent all required courses in the first-year curriculum. You may click on each course to find out more information about it. 

Admissions process 

An admissions committee, made up of professional filmmakers and/or Film Department faculty, reviews all applications from applicants who meet all qualifications and requirements for the programme. 

A select group of applicants is then invited to be interviewed by the committee. The purpose of the interview is to explore the interests and attitudes of applicants toward their prospective studies, and their ideas about filmmaking and their own work. Applicants being interviewed should be prepared to discuss information provided in their applications, especially their creative portfolios. For applicants living abroad or unable to attend an in-person interview, an online interview can be arranged. 

The incoming cohort is then selected from those applicants who were interviewed. Applicants offered a place in the programme must confirm by paying a confirmation fee. This fee is non-refundable but is applied toward tuition payments for the first semester. All decisions made by the admissions committee are final and the committee has no obligation to provide further justification for them. 

Admissions requirements 

It is assumed that applicants have completed an upper-secondary education or comparable studies. Studies in filmmaking or related fields at the upper-secondary level are a plus but not required. The university may grant admission in special circumstances to applicants who can demonstrate knowledge and experience considered to be satisfactory preparation for a bachelor’s degree, but it is usually assumed that applicants have completed no fewer than 105 credits from the old upper-secondary system or no fewer than 150 credits from the new system. 

The language of most instruction in the programme is Icelandic, but some is in English depending on the instructor. Therefore, students should expect to be able to speak, read, and write in both languages.