The matriculation exam programme is preparation for studying at a university level, however it does not ensure admittance to all university programmes either here in Iceland or abroad.
Certain schools have their own policies regarding requirements for admittance and in some instances applicants must take an entrance examination, for instance the faculty of medicine. Students applying to art universities must turn in a portfolio. It is necessary that students who plan on applying to a particular school or programme familiarise themselves with the requirements so that they may best prepare themselves.
The new law on secondary school education states that core credits in the matriculation programme are now 45 credits in Icelandic, English and mathematics. Schools and students decide themselves how to organise the rest of their credits and what programmes will be on offer. Any schools that are offering new programmes must advertise.
Félags- og hugvísindabraut er ný stúdentsbraut í samræmi við ný framhaldsskólalög.