University of Iceland staff in administrative and support services have the right to apply for study leave, according to applicable collective agreements. Staff which have been employed in administrative and support services at UI for at least one year accrue two weeks of leave annually to pursue systematic continuing education relevant to their work. Staff employed in administrative and support services at UI can apply for long-term study leave after working at UI for four years or longer, and in this way use their accumulated entitlement for longer continuous leave. The accumulated entitlement, however, can never exceed 6 months of continuous study leave.
The application deadlines for longer study leaves are twice a year:
- 15 April for the following autumn semester (1 July–31 December)
- 15 September for the following spring semester (1 January–30 June).
Application Process
- It is advisable to begin by checking your accumulated entitlement. This is done by sending an email to mannaudur@hi.is and requesting the information.
- Decide which program or course(s) you intend to pursue during the study leave.
- Discuss the arrangement of the study leave with your immediate supervisor. The supervisor's approval is a prerequisite for submitting a formal application. The immediate supervisor must also provide a written statement to accompany the application.
- The application, along with the supervisor's statement, should be sent to fraedsla@hi.is
- Applicants can expect to receive a response within four weeks after the application deadline has passed.
The application form and more detailed information can be found on the Human Resources site in Ugla.
Evaluation of Applications
When assessing whether to grant a study leave in each case, the primary consideration is how the study will benefit the employee in their current job at the University of Iceland.
Per diem payments
Staff on long-term study leave may apply for training per diem payments to cover expenses other than accommodation, in accordance with the Rules for Travel Expenses Committee for state employees. The maximum payment of training per diems is ISK 400,000 and is granted only for accredited university studies leading to a recognised degree that cannot be pursued in Iceland. Training per diem allowances are granted only for long-term study leaves abroad lasting at least four full weeks or longer. Any other possible expenses associated with study leave abroad, such as travel or accommodation costs, will not be reimbursed.
Final Report
After completing the study leave, the applicant must submit a report to their supervisor detailing the progress of the studies, how the leave was utilised, whether the studies are useful in their job, and whether they plan to continue their studies or work related to them. It is also recommended that employees give a presentation about their studies to colleagues.