Retraining Teachers at Upper Secondary Level - SEF
Application guidelines
Conference and guest lecture grants
School principals of upper secondary schools may nominate 1–2 teachers to attend a course or conference abroad. The grant amount is ISK 300,000 per participant, and both participants must attend the same course.
Professional associations may nominate 1–2 board members to attend a course or conference abroad. The grant amount is ISK 300,000 per participant, and both participants must attend the same course. Associations may also apply for a grant to invite a guest lecturer to give a presentation for the association, with a maximum grant of ISK 100,000.
If travel is involved, it is expected that the destination will be a professional conference or course. Grants are not awarded for familiarization trips, trade fairs, or school visits.
The travel period / guest lectures must take place between 1 November and 31 October. Grants cannot be applied for retroactively for trips or lectures that have already taken place.
Applications must include a reasoned explanation of how the course, conference, or guest lecture will benefit the school, the teachers, and the school community, and how the results will be disseminated.
Summer course grants
Applicants for grants to organize summer courses must be upper secondary schools or professional associations. Collaboration with educational institutions on specific aspects of the program is allowed, but the professional association must describe such collaboration in the application. The association receiving the grant is responsible for the administration, implementation, and reporting of the project.
Language teacher associations may apply for grants for courses abroad every other year, while other associations may apply every three years. A strong justification must be provided for holding a course abroad.
Cost guidelines for domestic summer courses
The following overview shows the amounts the committee uses as a reference when allocating grants.
These benchmark amounts should be taken into account when awarding grants for summer courses organized by professional associations.
Cost breakdown for courses:
(Based on 20 participants)
Duration | Lecturer fees (8 hrs/day) | Learning materials (example) | Coffee breaks (AM & PM) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 day | ISK 150,000 | ISK 6,000 | ISK 20,000 |
2 days | ISK 300,000 | ISK 12,000 | ISK 40,000 |
3 days | ISK 450,000 | ISK 18,000 | ISK 60,000 |
4 days | ISK 600,000 | ISK 24,000 | ISK 80,000 |
5 days | ISK 750,000 | ISK 30,000 | ISK 100,000 |
Administration costs for the association or school depend on the scope of the work.
If an international lecturer is involved, the committee covers travel and accommodation costs for that lecturer.
If the course is held outside the capital area, applicants may request funding for bus transport. (Accommodation outside the capital area is the responsibility of participants.).
Reimbursement information for participants from outside Reykjavík
Participants attending courses who live more than 50 km from Reykjavík may apply for reimbursement of travel and/or accommodation costs.
To receive reimbursement for expenses incurred, participants must submit receipts or invoices for the costs, along with bank account details where the grant can be deposited. For travel by car, it is sufficient to submit the same information by email to the course organizer.
The grant recipient manages these costs and pays individual teachers, and the expenses are reimbursed by SEF when the course report is submitted.
No reimbursement is provided for travel within Reykjavík (e.g., taxis, rental cars, or other local transport).
No separate reimbursement is provided for meals.
Location | Maximum flight (ISK) | Maximum driving (ISK) | Maximum accommodation per night (ISK) |
|---|---|---|---|
Grundarfjörður | – | 13,500 | 12,700 |
Ísafjörður | 39,000 | 27,000 | 12,700 |
Sauðárkrókur | – | 21,000 | 12,700 |
Akureyri | 37,500 | 24,000 | 12,700 |
Laugar | 37,500 | 25,500 | 12,700 |
Húsavík | 37,500 | 25,500 | 12,700 |
Egilsstaðir | 43,500 | 40,500 | 12,700 |
Neskaupstaður | 49,500 | 46,500 | 12,700 |
Höfn | 40,500 | 28,500 | 12,700 |
Vestmannaeyjar | 31,500 | 18,000 (ferry + driving) | 12,700 |
Laugarvatn | – | 6,000 | 12,700 |
Akranes | – | 6,000 | – |
Keflavík | – | 4,500 | – |
Selfoss | – | 5,300 | – |
Rules for applications for summer courses abroad
If professional associations organize a course abroad, it must either be a course offered by a recognized educational institution abroad or clearly demonstrate, in a well-documented manner, the benefit to the association.
Only course fees, travel for teachers from abroad to Reykjavík, and a fee for the organizing association are eligible for funding. Travel, living expenses, accommodation, taxis, etc., are not funded by SEF. The SEF Board also reserves the right to set a maximum grant amount.
Language teachers may attend courses abroad every other year; other associations every three years.
A strong justification must be provided to demonstrate the benefit of attending the course abroad.
Service provider
The Icelandic Centre for Research