Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
The Department of Folklorists at the University of Iceland is a relatively small department and the only folkloristics program in Iceland.
The selected candidate will teach two courses in the Department of Folkloristics:
Preferences will be given to candidates who willing to advise students who are carrying out research related to the scholar's fields of interest and expertise. It would also be useful for the department to hear from the scholar about the teaching of Folkloristics in the U.S., developments in the study of folklore in the U.S. and about publishing in the field.
Folkloristics in the U.S. is international and comparative in outlook in a way that is far rarer in other countries, where it is often a nationally based discipline focusing primarily on local cultures and traditions. While local cultures are certainly studied by scholars in the U.S., there is also a strong cosmopolitan, anti-parochial streak in the discipline as developed by American folklorists, and a long history of studying folklore and people on the border and across borders, including the expressive culture associated with migrants and migrancy. The students and department would benefit from learning to look at culture/folklore in this broad, comparative perspective.
The Department of Folklorists, University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. It is the top Icelandic university according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. Founded in 1911, it provides instruction for about 14,000 students in twenty-five faculties. Teaching and research is conducted in social sciences, humanities, law, medicine, natural sciences, engineering and teacher education. It has a campus in central Reykjavík, with additional facilities located in nearby areas as well as in the countryside. The Department of Folklore is in the School of Social Sciences and is located on the main campus, a ten-minute walk from the heart of the city center.
Grant activity can take place either in Fall semester 2026 or Spring semester 2027. Grant dates can be either mid August to December 2026 or beginning of January to May 2027.
Only applicants in the field of folkloristics will be considered for the award.
Specializations: Folklore
Previous Fulbright scholars at the Department of Folkloristics have all played important roles in the academic community in the field during their stays at the University of Iceland and through continuing cooperation after their departure.
The department will provide the scholar with an office and access to the university library and the Árnamagnean Institute (which has the best folkloristic library in the country as well as housing the folkloristic sound archive).
Generally, the department organizes welcome receptions for visiting scholars, a welcome and a farewell dinner, and invites them to give lectures to the Icelandic Association of Folklorists. They have also been introduced to other colleagues in the field outside the department (and in the Social Sciences and Humanities in general), given tours of the relevant research institutes, day trips to such places as the Golden Circle; the roundup of horses in Skagafjörður (Laufskálarétt); the University Research Center in Folkloristics in Hólmavík; and various museums around the country. Outside of such organized events, visiting scholars have frequently joined faculty members informally for lunch, dinner, drinks, trips to the local pool, and department parties (and even musical soirées).
The host will assist the scholar in looking for housing to rent within walking distance of the university and the city center.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Applicants should be folklorists with a PhD and several years of teaching experience at the university/college level (not early career) and a substantial scholarly publication record in the field.
$4,000 per month or $4,500 per month for grantees with a dependent or dependents, payable monthly. A dependent must stay in Iceland for at least 80% of the grant period to be eligible for a dependent supplement.
The grant is denominated in U.S. dollars but paid in Icelandic krona (ISK), according to the current exchange rate.
The grant is intended to cover living costs in Iceland.
No separate housing allowance provided (grantees pay for housing out of the stipend). Grantees are responsible for arranging their own housing, but the host institution is expected to assist the grantee in finding housing and settling in. Host institutions may in some instances be able to provide on-campus housing.
Travel allowance is a lump sum $1,500, payable with the first grant payment.
Baggage allowance is $400, payable at the end of the grant period.
No receipt is needed for travel and baggage allowance.
All allowances are denominated in U.S. dollars but paid in ISK, according to the current exchange rate.
A $500 travel allowance per dependent.
Children can attend primary and lower-secondary public schools at little or no cost, which is a great way to integrate into Icelandic society. The Commission can assist grantees in finding an appropriate local public school.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Iceland is considered a high-cost country. Housing is comparable to many U.S. cities, with housing most expensive in the capital area and less expensive outside the capital area. Food is relatively expensive compared to the U.S., but of high quality. Utilities are much less expensive than in the U.S. Many grantees live centrally and can walk to most destinations, but public transport in the form of buses is widely available.
The scholar will be invited to monthly grantee enrichment events provided by the Fulbright Commission during the academic year. Also, the scholar will be taken out to lunch at the beginning and end of the grant period for briefing and debriefing.
Special funding for disabled grantees
Funding is available for U.S. Fulbright scholars to Iceland with a disability, be it a structural or functional impairment or activity/participation limitation, that entails additional costs that are not covered specifically through the Fulbright Program. Some funding may be available for a wide range of disabilities, including, for example, hearing, vision or movement impairment. The funding could, for example, be used to assist with specialized housing needs, in-country transport or specialized assistance. The extra funding amount will depend on need and will be decided by the Commission after consultation with the scholar. Funding is provided through the Bruce A. Fowler Mobility Fund.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Iceland is a small Nordic country, an island republic in the North Atlantic, between the U.S. and the European mainland. Iceland is technologically advanced, English is widely spoken and Americans find Icelandic society and culture relatively easy to navigate.
There has been tremendous growth in academia in Iceland in recent years. On the one hand, the Fulbright Program aims, through teaching grants, to enhance and develop key disciplines at the university level and encourage newer and smaller departments. Being a small country, it is very important to the Icelandic higher education system to have access to Fulbright Scholars who have an important role to play in terms of broadening curricula and offering courses that would otherwise not be available, as well as bringing new perspectives and collaboration in research. Fulbright Scholars make a real difference and have a large role in shaping courses and curricula. The Fulbright Commission has increasingly focused also on bringing research scholars to Iceland. Opportunities for research are many and varied and can easily be conducted in English. U.S. scholars, both in natural and social sciences, have in the past years been very satisfied with the research infrastructure in Iceland. Research collaboration is also highly valued by Icelandic academics, who are eager for opportunities to host and collaborate with U.S. colleagues. Through the Commission's partnership with the National Science Foundation, the goal is to strengthen research in Iceland that has relevance for the Arctic and promote cooperation amongst scientists in a wide variety of Arctic relevant fields. Please note that many research topics can have relevance to the Arctic, even though they may not be strictly categorized as Arctic research, for example topics dealing with, health, conservation, security broadly defined (for example, food or energy security), marine or coastal studies, anthropology and archaeology, just to name a few.
Fulbright Scholars are generally pleased with their stay in Iceland and find it very useful for their careers back home. For those grants where Fulbright Scholars are expected to teach and advise, the program is designed to ensure an opportunity for scholars to do their own research as well, if they so desire. Iceland provides very interesting research opportunities in many fields. As a small, highly technologically advanced country, Iceland is ideal for many types of research. English is widely spoken and much used in academia. Scholars can generally expect good access to people, institutions and information for research purposes.
Those who receive research grants will have opportunities to engage in some teaching and lecturing, if they so desire. Many find that this enhances their experience and is useful also for their research. Even if not teaching, scholars are required to present some talks while in Iceland.
Teaching awards are for three to five months in the fall or spring semester. The fall semester starts at mid-to-end of August and ends around mid-December. The spring semester is from early January through mid-May. Research awards are more flexible in terms of time frame and length, but must be completed within the allotted time frame.
Iceland has spectacular nature and offers scholars an opportunity for unique outdoor experiences, in addition to a vibrant cultural scene and an exciting local cuisine. There is a good public school system, and scholars with children have had positive experiences.
Since the Fulbright Program in Iceland is relatively small, the Commission is able to maintain close ties with scholars during their stay and provide a sense of community among Fulbright scholars and fellows. There are monthly grantee activities sponsored by the Commission, in addition to access to Fulbright alumni events and other social activities.
Please see below two grantee video profile of U.S. scholars who talk about her experiences doing research and teaching in Iceland:
Visit the Fulbright Iceland website for information about current and previous grantees.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Further information and a letter of invitation can be sought from:
Professor Valdimar Tr. Hafstein
Department of Folkloristics
School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland
Gimli v/Saemundargotu
102 Reykjavík, Iceland
E-mail address: vth@hi.is
Telephone number(s): +354 525-4198 / 692-3375
For additional information, please contact at the Fulbright Commission in Reykjavik, Iceland: fulbright@fulbright.is.