How long: 3–4 years and 180–240 ECTS, most often 4 years and 240 ECTS. Universities cooperate in inter-university doctoral schools.
Your status: most doctoral students are guaranteed a junior researcher post, i.e. an employment contract with the university, or work under a contract outside it.
How to get in: a master's degree or equivalent, usually with a research plan and an interview. A thesis in a foreign language needs a summary in Estonian.
Where to look: doctoral positions and calls are published on the websites of universities and their doctoral schools and on EURAXESS. Programmes in Estonia in our database: Estonia – 81 doctoral programmes (as of September 2026) »
Sources: Eurydice – national description of third-cycle (PhD) programmes (updated 13 December 2024). As of October 2026.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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