Social Psychology
Iceland
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 visiting scholar will teach an undergraduate elective course (6 ECTS) titled Social Psychology of Polarization and Discrimination to approximately 40 Psychology students at Reykjavík University's Department of Psychology. The course will introduce students to core theories and empirical research on identity-based conflict, prejudice, social categorization, intergroup bias, group polarization, and mechanisms of discrimination. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary political, social, and digital contexts, as well as psychological interventions that reduce conflict. The course will have a maximum of 40 students, with most of the department's current courses taught as a mixture of lectures, discussion groups and in-class assignments. The scholar can decide whether the students will purchase a textbook or access reading materials in other ways, such as by reading academic articles. Reykjavik University uses the Canvas Learning Management System.
The scholar will also be asked to run a more applied one day workshop for Master's students. The scholar can choose the format of this workshop and what materials will be used. This will involve two groups of approximately 20 students each.
Additionally, the scholar will be asked to give a lecture to the public on their research, with a specific focus on how it relates to current affairs, which will be hosted at and promoted by Reykjavik University.
Reykjavík University
Department of Psychology
Menntavegur 1, 102 Reykjavík
Reykjavík University is a non-profit institution committed to creating an international workplace. The university has around 3,700 students and 330 faculty and staff members, along with numerous adjunct faculty across its two schools: Technology and Social Sciences. Reykjavík University is organized into seven departments: Business Administration, Law, Psychology, Sport Science, Computer Science, Engineering, and Applied Engineering. As a family-friendly workplace, RU emphasizes well-being, equality, career development, and flexible working hours, making it an attractive and supportive environment for both academic and professional staff. Reykjavík University is centrally located in downtown Reykjavík, with access to public transport.
Grant activity should take place in Spring semester 2028, from beginning of January to end of April or mid-May 2028.
For the undergraduate class, instruction will begin on January 17 2028, with the course syllabus posted a week earlier. The course will then run for 12 weeks of instruction, followed by a 2 week exam period. Accounting for Easter break, all undergraduate assessment should be completed by the middle of May 2028. The workshop for the Master's students will be organized some time during the Spring semester, with final dates agreed upon in consultation with the scholar. The lecture to the public will also take place during the Spring semester, at the convenience of the grantee.
Social Psychology
Preference will be given to scholars to have conducted research on discrimination, prejudice and polarization.
The scholar will have access to the Psychology department at RU, which will involve having their own desk, and access to the faculty members there, for potential collaborations. Staff at RU will also be actively involved in helping the grantee find housing and other needs that may come up.
Reykjavik University is active in research and has a very strong record of publishing in peer reviewed journals and obtaining grant funding. The scholar will have an opportunity to collaborate with the academics of the department and have access to available research facilities.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Letter of invitation can be sought from:
Rannveig Sigurvinsdóttir, Director of undergraduate studies
Reykjavík University, Department of Psychology
Telephone: (+354) 599 6200
E-mail: rannveigs@ru.is
Open to academics at all stages of their careers.
Preference will be given to scholars to have conducted research on discrimination, prejudice and polarization.
$4,500 per month or $5,000 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 are responsible for arranging their own housing, but the host institution is expected to assist the grantee in finding housing and settling in.
Travel allowance is $1,500 for the grantee, 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.
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. 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 some areas in 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, 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
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.
Applicants are welcome to contact the Department of Psychology at Reykjavik University with any questions: salfraedi@ru.is
Contact at the Fulbright Commission in Reykjavik, Iceland: fulbright@fulbright.is.