The University Centre of the Westfjords is a small higher educational organization, which was established in 2005 and began operations in January 2006. The University Centre itself employs an average of six people, plus teachers employed freelance. The University Centre building is home to more than 50 people in research, teaching and services in various organizations and companies.
The University Centre is a distance learning centre that serves about 100 distance learning students; it operates two international master’s programs: Coastal and Marine Management as well as Coastal Communities and Regional Development. Each year roughly 20 students are accepted into each master's program. The University Centre has also developed a small individualised program of study at the master’s level in Marine Innovation, the program is currently being reorganized. A variety of summer courses is also offered at the University Centre.
Through distance learning, Westfjords residents can access education without having to move away from home. The University Centre provides distance learning students with facilities for teleconferencing, group work facilities and reading rooms. There tend to be about 100 distance learning students per year. In recent years the trend has been towards more and smaller groups, though the total number of students has remained stable.