Members of Báran, a trade union who work under the collective bargaining agreements to which the union is a party, have access to a robust workforce development fund. The specific fund an employee contributes to depends on their sector of the labor market. You can apply on the association's website or visit the office for assistance. You can read more about the allocation rules for each fund below.
Grants are disbursed on the 15th of each month or the last business day before, and the application deadline is the 10th of each month. This may be subject to change, which will be announced separately on the Bárún website.
Here you can access a form for a grant for travel and accommodation expenses for studies/courses to attach to your application on my pages. Click here to download the form
We would like to inform our members that as of October 1, 2023, the rules for payments for courses purchased abroad have changed. The application must be accompanied by a bank receipt from an Icelandic bank confirming the payment in Icelandic krónur.
A new rule took effect on May 1, 2025, regarding studies conducted on foreign websites: „Education that takes place on foreign websites, with the exception of university studies at accredited universities, is not subsidized.“
The application must be submitted
- A copy of an invoice in the member's name that includes a description of the training/course, the name, and the ID number of the training provider.
- Bank receipt from an Icelandic bank confirming payment in Icelandic krónur.
- The invoice cannot be older than 12 months.
Please note that any documents sent by mail or to baran@baran.is will not be considered unless an application has been submitted and staff are aware that some documents are to be received by a method other than through the Member Portal.
National Education (general labor market)
Landsmennt is the training fund of the business community and working people in rural areas. The 16 member organizations are trade unions within the Federation of Icelandic Trade Unions.
Municipal education (municipal staff)
Sveitamennt SGS and LN is a vocational training fund for employees of municipalities in rural areas within the member associations of the Icelandic Federation of Trade Unions.
State education (State employees)
The SGS State Employees' Education Fund is a development and continuing education fund for state employees in rural areas within the member unions of the Federation of Icelandic Trade Unions (SGS).
Maritime education (staff in the seafood industry)
Sjómennt is an educational fund for seafarers and operates under an agreement between the Confederation of Icelandic Businesses and the Association of Companies in Fisheries and Seafood Industry, and the Icelandic Seamen's Union.
Corporate Grants
Companies pay a fee to a professional development fund/center and can apply for grants for training courses for their employees or for courses that employees attend. Companies can also have a training manager loaned to the company and receive grants for their own training.
Grants and their amounts depend on the employee's union membership.
Several large employee training funds have combined into a single web portal that accepts applications and supporting documents for one, several, or all of the funds, depending on the employees' union membership.
Here on the web portal you will find more information on how to apply, what types of grants are available, the rules, and a list of educational providers.