In the heart of Reykjavík stands the Fulbright Commission in Iceland, a central force in scholarly exchange between Iceland and the United States since its founding in 1957. Its presence is rooted in a bi-national agreement signed that year, a postwar initiative aiming to encourage mutual understanding through academic and cultural exchange.
A hub for grants and global education
Each year, the Fulbright Commission awards life-changing grants to both Icelandic and American students and scholars. Icelandic citizens benefit from approximately six to ten student awards annually, with additional support for one or two scholars conducting research in the US. Conversely, five to six grants typically go to students from the US, along with an average of three for American scholars whose research or teaching brings them to Iceland. Over the decades, more than 1,300 people, including roughly 900 Icelanders and 450 Americans, have pursued their academic ambitions through these programmes.
Special opportunities extend beyond the standard Fulbright awards. The Commission is tasked with nominating Icelandic candidates for the Frank Boas Scholarship, an annually contested award among nine European countries that funds legal education at Harvard Law School. Another privately funded offering, the Cobb Family Fellowship, supports one Icelandic graduate in any discipline at the University of Miami each year.
Arctic research and new collaborations
In recent years, Arctic research has become a significant priority for the Commission. An agreement with Iceland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has enabled a pilot project funding an Arctic Scholar Grant, which brings a US academic each academic year for research and teaching on Arctic-related topics. At the same time, a three-year partnership with the US National Science Foundation has further enhanced opportunities, supporting research related to the Arctic in both the social and natural sciences. This partnership marks a first for Fulbright’s collaborations with the NSF, and also links Iceland to the broader Fulbright Arctic Initiative, an interdisciplinary effort involving all Arctic Council countries.
Beyond administering grants, the Commission acts as the sole Education USA advising centre in Iceland, connecting Icelanders to more than 450 similar centres worldwide. It offers impartial guidance for anyone considering US universities.
The Commission’s activities extend into alumni engagement and community events. An alumni association for Icelandic Fulbright participants has hosted gatherings including an annual Thanksgiving dinner since 2008. The organisation also coordinates and supports events, produces reports and newsletters, and celebrates achievements that foster Icelandic–US relations.
The Fulbright Commission’s long-standing impact is further emphasised through the Cobb Partnership Award, created in honour of five decades of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Given every two years, the award recognises Americans who have contributed to deepening the connection between Iceland and the US.
