Founded in 1998, Reykjavik University (RU) has quickly become a leading force in research and teaching. RU’s core activities are teaching and research in solid connection with the industry and society, focusing on interdisciplinarity, international quality standards, innovation, and professional service. This is shaped by respect for society and the environment. 
 
At RU, seven departments are split between two academic schools, the School of Technology and the School of Social Sciences. The School of Technology offers study programs in computer science and engineering in three different departments, the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Engineering, and the Department of Applied Engineering. Courses are at BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. levels. The School of Social Sciences offers study programs in law, business, economics, psychology, and sport science in four departments, the Department of Business Administration, the Department of Law, the Department of Sport Science, and the Department of Psychology. Courses are at BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. levels.

The student body consists of more than 3,600 full-time students. About 200 students (at any given time) are exchange students, and about 170 are international students taking a degree at RU. There are currently about 100 Ph.D. students at RU, with the majority being international students. 
 
Research, development, and innovation play a crucial role at RU, and there are 24 research groups, centres, and institutes based at the university. RU's commitment to international academic participation plays an important part in the university's research and teaching success. Gaining constant international recognition in research on predictors of mental health and behaviour of youth (Youth in Iceland, LIFECOURSE), language technology, sleep, and artificial intelligence, to name a few. HR hosts the Language and Voice Lab (LVL), Iceland's only AI laboratory, the Centre for Analysis and Design of Intelligent Agents (CADIA), the Centre for Research on Engineering Software Systems (CRESS), and the Sleep Institute, funded by EU's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for health, demographic change, and wellbeing. The Department of Engineering hosts the innovative Iceland School of Energy, through which (international) students become experts in renewable energy.

In Fall 2023 RU launched an emphasis line in Artificial Intelligence under the existing MSc in Computer Science. In Fall 2025, Reykjavik University is launching a new MSc in Artificial Intelligence.