Students on the Presidential List Receive Recognition at Sólin

Presidential Scholarships were awarded yesterday, Wednesday, August 26, at Reykjavík University’s Presidential List ceremony. This time, 40 students received their awards during a formal ceremony held at Sólin.

Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, President of Reykjavík University, gave a speech at the ceremony. The recently held Reykjavík Marathon was on her mind, and she spoke about the importance of continuing forward even after reaching milestones along the way:

“Keep this in mind, dear students, BUT also remember that the metaphor does not end there. In this long-distance race, just as in a marathon, you need to run your own race, according to your abilities and interests, and adjust your pace to whatever works best for you. It is perfectly fine—and just as important and worthwhile—to look around you along the way, take your time, ask critical questions, forget about comparing yourself to the person next to you, take in your surroundings and the changes you notice along the way—all in order to get the most out of the journey.”

Rakel Björgvinsdóttir, a student in the Department of Psychology, delivered a speech on behalf of the students. She spoke about the importance, for those who are accustomed to setting ambitious goals in their studies, of making sure that life does not become one big project in which they are constantly striving to achieve the highest grade:

“Perhaps success is not always about doing more. Perhaps success sometimes means knowing when to stop. Taking a break without feeling that you don’t deserve it. Spending time doing things that nourish you and with the people who matter to you, without thinking about the next assignment. Allowing yourself to fail. We must not forget that life does not begin when our studies are over or when we have achieved our goals. Life is happening now, and we are here to experience it.”

Students who achieve outstanding academic results each semester may qualify for the Presidential List, which includes a waiver of tuition fees for the following semester.To qualify for the Presidential List, students must complete at least 30 credits during the semester.

The Presidential List for the fall semester of 2026 can be found here.