Iceland is a small island nation of approximately 320,000 people located in the north Atlantic Ocean just south of the Arctic Circle. The island is about 50% bigger than Tasmania. Iceland was first settled in the 9th Century and the population is largely descended from Celtic and Viking seafarers. The Icelandic language is derived from the old Norse language and quite different to other Scandinavian languages. Most Icelandic people also speak excellent English. The economy is largely based on fishing, farming and tourism. The capital, Reykjavik, is a little larger than Hobart. The second city of Akureyri (about the size of Burnie) is the administrative centre of northern Iceland. There are many small coastal communities, with the centre of the island being largely an uninhabited area of huge lava and ice fields. Geologically, Iceland is a very young country at the junction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As a result, seismic activity, active volcanoes and geothermal activity is common. It is a stunningly beautiful environment.
The standard of living is high and the health system and the practice of medicine is similar to that in Australia. Like Australia, patients from rural and remote towns often have long and difficult travel for specialist medical care and consultations due to the extremes of climate and geographical isolation. The University of Iceland has a small medical school graduating 48 doctors per year. It is a six-year direct entry course with a curriculum similar to Australian medical schools. Clinical experience is obtained in the tertiary hospital in Reykjavik, regional and district hospitals and primary health centres.
For enquiries on UTAS medical student electives in Iceland, please contact Assoc Prof Peter Arvier at the Rural Clinical School by email (parvier@utas.edu.au).
School of Medicine Internationalisation and Electives (SMILE) Program
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