University Education

This programme is designed for students who have completed a BEd in general teacher education or teaching in primary grades. Students learn to tackle a wide range of challenges in the teaching profession, exploring the work of classroom teachers, home-school partnerships, teamwork and development.

MT students take pedagogical courses instead of writing a 30 ECTS thesis.

Is the program for you??

• Do you want to qualify as a teacher?

• Would you rather take more courses than write a final thesis?

• Do you want the opportunity to do a paid student placement?

• Are you interested in compulsory school teaching?

• Are you interested in completing a graduate degree?

What is the study about?

The MT in teaching Young Children is focused on education in the primary grades of Icelandic compulsory schools. The programme is designed with reference to the Icelandic National Curriculum Guide for Compulsory Schools and the teaching profession in Iceland.

Students learn about modern perceptions of children and education, fundamental ideas about childhood education, and how to create a learning environment that prioritises education, participation, empowerment, democratic values and wellbeing.

Emphasis is placed on the development of studies, planning the learning environment, and diverse methods for assessing children’s learning in compulsory school subjects.

Programme structure

The programme is 120 ECTS and is organised as two years of full-time study. It can also be completed by studying part time for three or four years.

The programme is made up of:

• Mandatory courses, 55 ECTS

• Restricted electives, 15 ECTS

• Free electives, 20 ECTS

• Electives in a chosen specialisation, 30 ECTS

An MT program involves students being able to take pedagogical courses instead of writing a 30 ECTS thesis.

Specialisations

Students choose between the following specialisations:

• Literacy and literacy learning

• Learning and teaching in the transition between pre- and primary school

• Teaching children of non-Icelandic origin

Organisation of teaching

Teaching and examinations are in Icelandic.

The programme is generally taught through blended learning, with two face-to-face blocks per semester. Student placements are a key part of the programme and each student is assigned a school to do their professional training.

Many courses offer real-time distance teaching, though requirements may vary and students are encouraged to check carefully how each course is taught.

Main objectives

The programme aims to provide students with knowledge of teaching and learning in preschools and primary grades.

Other

Upon graduation from a teacher's program at an Icelandic university, a teacher must have a competency in Icelandic that corresponds to a minimum of C1 in the European Language Framework.

• Here you can see the Language Framework of the Council of Europe.

All students graduate with a licence to teach at three levels of the education system, from preschools to upper secondary schools.

Completing the programme may allow a student to apply for a Master's programme.

• See the MEd in Teaching Young Children.