Estonia

⇑Universities

Estonia is small, but it has a good choice of universities. The Study in Estonia portal (run by the Education and Youth Board, Harno) lists 18 of them:

• 6 public research universities – including the University of Tartu (Tartu Ülikool), Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and Tallinn University,
• 1 private research university,
• 7 state universities of applied sciences (rakenduskõrgkool) – more practical degrees, e.g. in healthcare or aviation,
• 4 private universities of applied sciences.

Most of them offer programmes in English – more than 150 bachelor's and master's programmes in total. Only a few, such as the military and security academies and the theological seminaries, teach in Estonian only.

Universities in Estonia – profiles

⇑Study system

Estonia follows the three-cycle Bologna system:

• Bachelor (bakalaureus) – 180–240 ECTS, i.e. 3–4 years,
• Master (magister) – 60–120 ECTS, i.e. 1–2 years,
• Doctorate (PhD) – 180–240 ECTS, i.e. 3–4 years.

All doctoral programmes in Estonia are free of charge. The academic year starts at the end of August or the beginning of September – at the University of Tartu, bachelor's classes start on 31 August.

Estonia – bachelor's programmes
Estonia – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Estonia – master's programmes
Estonia – doctoral programmes

⇑Admission

Most Estonian universities accept applications through the joint platform DreamApply. With one application you can apply for several programmes at several universities. After you submit the form, some universities also ask for a printed copy of the application with certified copies of your documents – it must arrive before the deadline.

The application fee is usually between €0 and €120 and is not refunded, even if you are not admitted.

Each university sets its own deadlines. For example, at the University of Tartu applications for English-taught programmes open on 2 January and close on 15 March (master's), 15 April (bachelor's and medicine) and 15 May (doctoral). Late applications are not considered. Applicants with Estonian qualifications apply through the national SAIS system – at Tartu from 1 February. If you come from outside the EU, apply as early as you can: you will need your admission letter to apply for a visa, and that takes time (see: Residence and formalities).

You usually attach your secondary school leaving certificate (for a master's – your bachelor's diploma), a transcript of records, a copy of your ID document and a language certificate. The programme description tells you exactly what the university requires for documents from your country.

⇑Entrance exams

For many programmes your documents are enough, but universities can add an entrance test, an interview or a portfolio – it depends on the programme, so read its description carefully. If you are thinking about a doctorate, you must find a supervisor before you apply.

⇑Language

For programmes taught in Estonian you need Estonian at the level your university sets. It is worth considering, because full-time programmes taught in Estonian are free at public universities (see: Tuition fees).

Most international students, however, choose one of more than 150 programmes taught in English. Estonian universities accept the popular certificates, including IELTS and TOEFL. Watch out for the details: the University of Tartu, for example, does not accept TOEFL ITP. You will find the minimum score in the programme description. You can browse all programmes in the Study in Estonia search engine.

⇑Residence and formalities

EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa or residence permit – you enter with your ID card or passport. Once in Estonia, you have two obligations:

• registering your address within 3 months of arrival – at the local government office for your address; this gives you a temporary right of residence,
• Estonian ID card (ID-kaart) – you apply for it within a month of getting the right of residence. The Police and Border Guard Board (Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet, PPA) has the details.

Students from outside the EU/EEA first apply for a long-stay D visa at an Estonian embassy or consulate; according to Study in Estonia, processing takes 10–30 calendar days. If your studies last longer than a year, you then apply for a temporary residence permit for study at the PPA after you arrive – it can be issued for up to 5 years. You will need, among other things, proof of admission, health insurance and proof of sufficient legal income – in 2026 €880 a month (four times the Estonian subsistence level). The state fee in 2026 is €120 for the D visa and €225 for the residence permit. Within a month of getting the permit, you must register your address in the population register.

Health insurance: international students are not covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa) unless they work in Estonia. If you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC does not cover private treatment or, for example, transport back to your home country, so a private policy is a good idea. For non-EU students, health insurance is a condition of the visa and the residence permit.

⇑Tuition fees

Full-time programmes taught in Estonian are free at public universities – the University of Tartu confirms this, for example. All doctoral programmes are free as well.

English-taught programmes usually charge fees. According to Study in Estonia, bachelor's and master's tuition ranges from €1,500 to €15,000 a year, with the highest fees in medicine, law, management and social sciences. Universities may charge EU and non-EU students differently, and some programmes are free. Examples:

• University of Tartu – the English-taught bachelor's in Business Administration costs €4,200 a year. For 2026/27 the university is admitting students to 25 international master's programmes, 16 of which are free for EU citizens. From 2026/27 Tartu no longer offers tuition waivers to newly admitted students from outside the EU/EEA,
• TalTech – EU citizens in full-time English-taught programmes pay no tuition at the schools of engineering, IT and science or at the Estonian Maritime Academy. Fees apply at the School of Business and Governance – in 2026/27, for example, €2,500 per semester for some programmes.

Non-EU students at TalTech pay €1,900 to €4,200 per semester in 2026/27, depending on the programme. Fees change every year – check the current amount on the programme page.

⇑Accommodation and living costs

According to Study in Estonia, a student usually spends €300–500 a month – but this is based on a 2019 survey, so budget with a margin. Roughly:

• student residence – €150–350 a month,
• private flat – €350–750,
• food – around €300; a lunch deal in a café – €5–8,
• transport – free in Tallinn; in Tartu a monthly pass with a student card costs €7.67; a bus from Tallinn to Tartu costs €8.10–12.

Student residences are run by the universities themselves, e.g. TalTech and the University of Tartu – you apply for a place through their portals. They are usually two double rooms with a kitchenette and bathroom for up to 4 people; you bring your own bedding and dishes. For flats, try kv.ee and city24.ee. If you rent privately, expect a deposit of up to three months' rent.

⇑Scholarships

The easiest support to get for studying in Estonia is a tuition waiver: universities offer some places on English-taught programmes free of charge, and the University of Tartu also offers tuition reductions of 25, 50 or 100% on selected programmes.

• state scholarships from the Education and Youth Board (Harno) – €350 a month in 2026/27, but only for programmes related to Estonian language and culture and for citizens of the countries listed in the annex to the rules,
• university scholarships – offered by, among others, the University of Tartu, TalTech, Tallinn University and Estonian Business School,
• Erasmus+ – a semester or year in Estonia as part of an exchange with your home university; exchange students do not pay tuition,
• Erasmus Mundus – joint master's programmes run by several universities, including the University of Tartu.

You will find the current list on Study in Estonia – scholarships.

⇑Working while studying

EU/EEA citizens can work in Estonia without any permit, also while studying.

Students from outside the EU/EEA in full-time studies do not need a separate work permit either – as long as the job does not interfere with their studies, they earn around 30 ECTS per semester and finish on time. After graduation they have another 9 months to find a job.

You will find jobs in English on Work in Estonia and on the job portals CV Keskus and CV.ee. Your university's careers office is also worth a visit.

Estonia – why work there?
How to find a job abroad?

⇑Useful links

• Study in Europe – Estonia – the official country profile on the European Commission's portal,
• Study in Estonia – Harno's portal for international students: institutions, admission, fees, living costs,
• Study in Estonia – programmes – search engine for programmes taught in English,
• DreamApply – the joint application system of most Estonian universities,
• Study in Estonia – scholarships – state and university scholarships,
• Study in Estonia – visa and residence – address registration and right of residence for EU citizens, visas and residence permits for others,
• Police and Border Guard Board – residence permit for study – requirements and fees for students from outside the EU,
• ENIC-NARIC – recognition of qualifications in Europe,
• Eurodesk – free information on studying, traineeships and volunteering in Europe.