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Study in Estonia

Higher Education Structure in Estonia

Study In Estonia

The Republic of Estonia is a small country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Its capital and largest city, home to almost half of the country’s 1.3 million people, is Tallinn. It is a member of NATO and the European Union, and enjoys a high Human Development Index. Estonian is the official language of the country, with a quarter of the population having Russian as their mother tongue. Half of the population is fluent in English, with young University students being comfortable with the language.

Estonia is a popular destination for international students because of the high quality of tertiary education and widespread acceptance of its degrees in the European Union and abroad. The living costs are lower than in many other countries in Northern and Western Europe, and there are several scholarships that help students manage the costs associated with tuition fees. The country provides a high standard of living to its residents, and students can easily travel to the other Baltic and Nordic countries from Estonia.

The Perks of Studying in Estonia

Estonia is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

  • The country is ranked #42 in the world in the US News “Best Countries for Education” report.
  • The country is ranked #33 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by the World Population Review.
  • The country is ranked #40 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP).
  • The country is ranked #18 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report.

Higher Education Framework in Estonia

The higher education system in Estonia has two main branches:

Academic: Public research Universities in Estonia award three cycles of degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD. They also offer integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in certain disciplines. They are funded by the Government, and run by an autonomous Board of Governors. They offer scholarships to international and domestic students based on merit.

Professional: The vocational education system in Estonia runs parallel to the University system. Vocational institutions of higher education award Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in different disciplines, and each such institute usually focuses on a narrow set of subjects. After graduation, most students obtain employment easily and do not enroll in further studies. Their curriculum is determined by demand and supply, and varies according to the needs of the labor market. Therefore, at different times, there may be more institutions in industries that are growing rapidly - for example, the current demand for data science and machine learning professionals is high across the European Union.

Certificate Programs

Short-term certificate programs are offered by most Estonian Universities. Their duration varies between three and twelve months, and they usually focus on a single area of study. The course load is much lower than that of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree; they are designed to be completed part-time and, from 2020, many Universities offer certificate courses online. Evaluations are conducted through quizzes and examinations rather than through Thesis defenses.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor's degree programs in Estonia aim to give students a basic understanding of a subject, and give them the required qualifications either to immediately take up employment or join a Master's program. There are two kinds of Bachelor's programs offered by Estonian Institutions of Higher Education: Academic and Professional. Bachelor's degrees offered by Universities are typically 3 years long, and require the completion of 180 ECTS credits. The first five semesters usually involve only coursework, and the final semester focuses on project work leading to a Bachelor's thesis.

Professional undergraduate degrees in Estonia last 3 or 4 years, and provide their students with the practical training required to immediately enter the labor market after graduation. Their strong ties with companies in the same field ensure that students are easily able to find employment during and after their degrees.

Postgraduate Programs

Master's programs in Estonian Universities last for one or two years. Students who have already studied four years in their Bachelor's program and have extensive work experience can enroll in one-year master's programs. Estonia is known for the rigor of its postgraduate programs, with students having to submit regular assignments and achieve a deep understanding of their chosen specialization in order to achieve high grades.

The second year of a Master's degree in Estonia is dominated by the Master's thesis. This is a guided project where the student learns from members of a research group at his or her University. It is different from a Ph.D. thesis in that the requirement for original results is waived, and the work is usually limited to assisting an existing research worker. Several Estonian Universities offer Master’s programs in English, making the country an attractive destination for international students.

Certain disciplines offer integrated Bachelor's and Master's programs. Students are required to complete up to 360 ECTS credits and study for up to six years. This is particularly prevalent in disciplines like medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, architecture, and civil engineering. The first part of this compound degree is spent in basic studies, and the second part includes specialized coursework and a Master's thesis. At the end of this program of study, successful graduates receive an integrated degree that is equivalent to a Master's in the chosen subject.

Doctoral Programs

Estonia is a notable destination for PhD degrees, with students from more than 50 countries enrolled in its Universities' doctoral programs. These research-oriented degrees take three to four years to complete and are available in a wide variety of disciplines. Only Universities within the Estonian higher education system award PhD degrees. Master's degrees are required to apply for these programs, and they involve a long period of original research work under a faculty supervisor, culminating in a PhD defense before a panel of eminent experts.

Popular Disciplines Available in Estonia

The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Estonia are-

Commercial AviationBusiness AdministrationComputer Science & Engineering
International RelationsPhysical Training & NutritionIndustrial Psychology
Organic ChemistryDental MedicinePhilosophy
Cyber SecurityInformation TechnologyGraphic Design
Creative WritingLife SciencesCivil Engineering

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Estonia

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Estonia.

The Name of the City No. of Universities 
Tallinn13
Tartu4

Average Monthly Expenses in Estonia for International Students

Tuition fees at Estonian Universities for international students vary widely. For example, annual tuition fees for most Bachelor’s programs are around 4,000 Euros per year. Master’s programs have a wide range of tuition fees, with Anthropology degrees costing approximately 2,900 Euros per year and integrated degrees in Medical Sciences often exceeding 10,000 Euros per year. Scholarships are offered by the Government and third-party organizations in each country, but spaces are limited and awards are based on academic merit and research potential.

Most Estonian Universities provide on-campus student housing, in the form of dormitories. These are very reasonably priced, with accommodation costs rarely exceeding 200 Euros per month. However, many students opt for private housing; rents in the two largest cities of Estonia range from 300 to 500 Euros per month. Other living costs include food, transportation, recreation, and personal items. These add up to 300 Euros per month, on average. Depending on the individual student’s budget, living costs per year can range from 5,000 to 10,000 Euros. Students should also plan for several one-time costs upon reaching Estonia, including rent deposits and residence permit fees.

Students Visa Requirements

Applicants for an Estonian student visa (Type D) must submit the documents mentioned below. After submitting the form and documents to the Estonian Embassy, and participating in an interview if requested, the applicant can expect to receive a decision within 30 days.

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Estonia.
  • Visa Application Form: Properly completed and signed.
  • Passport: Valid with at least three months beyond your intended stay.
  • Passport-size Photos: Typically two recent, identical photos.
  • Letter of Acceptance: From a recognized Danish educational institution.
  • Proof of Financial Means: Demonstrating the ability to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
  • Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for your stay in Denmark.
  • Proof of Accommodation: Evidence of your housing arrangements in Denmark.
  • Travel Itinerary: Round-trip flight reservation or transportation details.
  • Academic Transcripts: Transcripts and diplomas from your previous educational institutions.
  • Police Clearance Certificate: Proof of a clean criminal record.
  • Visa Fee Payment: Evidence of payment for the visa application fee.
  • Passport Copy: A copy of the biographical page of your passport.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

While applying for a Type D long term Estonian student visa, applicants must pay 100 Euros as application fees. In case the application is rejected, this amount is not refundable.

If an international student is enrolled in a program where the medium of instruction is English, it is not strictly necessary to learn fluent Estonian. However, it is recommended to learn the language for many reasons: elective subjects from other disciplines may be taught only in Estonian, traveling within the country is easier if the student knows the local language, and participating in University activities is much more rewarding after learning Estonian. Each University runs Estonian classes every semester as elective subjects, and the Settle in Estonia program run by the Government allows new arrivals to the country to take up language learning classes.

The level of competition for seats in institutions of higher education in Estonia varies by the type of degree and number of applicants. For example, postgraduate programs in Business Administration and Law have highly competitive admissions, as do integrated UG and PG programs in medicine and architecture. Most Universities maintain statistics of number of applicants and admissions each year on their websites, which can be used to estimate the selectiveness of each program. In addition, institutions that are highly ranked globally (like the University of Tartu) have more competition among international candidates who are keen on joining the Universty.

Estonia is a notable center of higher education in Business and Entrepreneurship. Most Universities in the country only admit students in the fall semester, but a few prestigious institutions like the Estonian Business School offer spring admissions as well. This is especially helpful for international applicants who are already working, as it allows them to join their course as and when they resign from their current employment, and they do not have to waste six months waiting for a single application window every year, as they would in most other countries.

Unlike in many other European countries, both domestic and international students enrolled in Estonian Universities can take up part time work during the semester with no restriction on the total number of hours worked. However, part time jobs should not interfere with studies, as scholarships and continued enrolment are both dependent on keeping academic grades high. Students can stay in Estonia for up to 9 months after the completion of their degree until they find a full time job.