24th June 2026
24th June 2026
Nine Students Awarded UK–Iceland Explorer Grants for Studies in the UK
UK–Iceland Explorer scholarships were awarded on 22 June at a formal ceremony held at the British Ambassador’s Residence. This marked the fifth and final award round of the fund, which has provided valuable opportunities for study and collaboration between Iceland and the United Kingdom over the past several years.
The 2026 scholarship recipients are pictured with Dr Bryony Mathew, British Ambassador to Iceland, at the British Ambassador’s Residence.
A total of nine students were awarded scholarships of £10,000 each. The 2026 recipients are:
Jóhannes Reykdal Einarsson,
Guðrún Lilja Pálsdóttir,
Haukur Þór Þorvarðarsson,
Hrafnhildur María Marteinsdóttir,
Inga Huld Ármann,
Rebekka Rán Figueras Eiríksdóttir,
Hlynur Guðmundsson,
Selma Jóhannesdóttir,
Hlöðver Skúli Hákonarson
They will pursue Master's and PhD studies at the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London and Brunel University in a range of fields including biomedical engineering, applied mathematics, artificial intelligence and psychology.
In her address at the ceremony, Dr Bryony Mathew, British Ambassador to Iceland, highlighted the importance of taking advantage of international study opportunities to develop knowledge and skills while building strong connections between the two countries. She also expressed her satisfaction with the growth of the fund over the years and the opportunities it has created for ambitious Icelandic students to study subjects of societal importance at some of the United Kingdom’s leading universities.
The scholarships are funded by the UK Space Agency in partnership with Rannís, the British Embassy in Reykjavík and the Icelandic Government. The partners agree that the fund has successfully achieved its goals of encouraging study in the UK and strengthening academic ties between Iceland and the United Kingdom. This is reflected, among other things, in the high number of applications received during the fund’s final year.
These milestones coincide with the United Kingdom’s return to the Erasmus+ programme, opening up new opportunities for students, academics and university staff in Iceland to participate in study exchanges, teaching mobility and other forms of collaboration with UK higher education institutions. Further information can be found in the Erasmus+ National Agency news article.
Rannís warmly congratulates the scholarship recipients and extends its sincere thanks to the British Embassy, the UK Space Agency and the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education for their excellent cooperation and support throughout the lifetime of the fund.