The main education center in the Faroe Islands is the University of the Faroe Islands which was founded in 1965 in the capital of the islands, Tórshavn, by members of the Faroese Scientific Society in order to promote scientific research and debate on the Faroe Islands and to preserve the Faroese language and folklore. The University grew over the years forming three higher education faculties: the Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature, the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Faculty of History and Social Sciences.
The University of the Faroe Islands offers bachelor’s, masters and ph.D’s (doctoral studies)in its three faculties. It is the only university in the world to teach in Faroese and to have specialization in the Faroese Language and Literature.Today the University of the Faroe Islands and has included in its range of studies a Department of Education and a Department of Nursing.
The University of the Faroe Islands is a small institution, with only about 150 students and less than 50 employed staff, with a budget of approximately 2.5 millions of Euros (3.2 millions of dollars). The University of the Faroe Islands has a close collaboration in research projects with the University of Copenhagen and the University of Iceland.
Foreign students at the University of the Faroe Islands:
All citizens of the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland) are free to live and study in the Faroe Islands. All other nationalities are also welcome, but must apply for a residence permit to live and study in the islands.
Perhaps the easiest way to study at the University of the Faroe Islands as a foreigner, is applying for admission as a visiting student or exchange student. Normally, the institution receives visiting students for a semester or two, being the maximum visiting time at the university two years. The extension of the study permit at the university will always be linked to the validity of the residence permit on the islands. Visiting students have the right to participate both in courses and in exams.
As to the language requirements, visiting students must have knowledge of the Faroese language because the teaching is in Faroese. It is also recommended to have a good knowledge of English or of any Scandinavian language to understand the study literature. The University of the Faroe Islands offers a summer course in Faroese language every three years in the month of August, as well as informs on some private conversational courses of Faroese in Torshavn throughout the year.
To become an official “full career” student at the University of the Faroe Islands, the visiting student should know Faroese and apply for this position on equal terms with all the local people of the islands and on the same date of application, which is usually July the 1st.
UNIVERSITY OF THE FAROE ISLANDS Information Sheet
ADDRESS:J. C. Svabos gøtu 14
100 Tórshavn MAILING ADDRESS: Setursskrivstovan
Postrúm 272, 110 Tórshavn PHONE:
+298 352 500 FAX:
+298 352 501 TYPES OF CAREER BY FACULTY OR DEPARTMENT:
- Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of History and Social Sciences
- Department of Education
- Department of Nursing
