Admission requirements for studies at university in Estonia

General requirements

First cycle studies (bachelor's)

If you have successfully completed upper secondary studies in one of the signatory countries of the Lisbon Convention, are in possession of a valid school leaving certificate and qualify for higher education studies in your home country, you may also qualify for higher education studies in Estonia. However, you are requested to prove your level of English. In some cases, you must also satisfy course specific requirements. For example, if you are applying for mathematical studies, you must have studied mathematics.

Second cycle studies (master's)

If you are applying for a master's program at university in Estonia, you are required to be in possession of a relevant bachelor's or equivalent degree diploma.

Third cycle studies (PhD)

In the event you are applying for doctoral studies at university in Estonia, you are required to be in possession of a relevant diploma or master's degree program.

Examinations

In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements, Estonian higher education institutions may also organize specific exams to determine whether the candidate possess the adequate level of knowledge required to successfully complete the study program or course. For example, an institution may organize a test in mathematics for students applying for mathematical courses.

At academies of art and design, candidates are usually requested to show a portfolio with the material created, which will be taken into consideration when evaluating the application for the study place requested.

Language requirements for studies at universities in Estonia

Estonian

The language of instruction at higher education in Estonia is the Estonian. However, most of Estonian universities and colleges offer study programs and courses in English or afford foreign students the opportunity to learn Estonian while studying their degree.

English

If English is not your first language, you are required to prove your level of command of the English language through the results you received from your studies at upper secondary school or through the results you received at the TOEFL or IELTS tests.

The level of command of English varies depending on the study program or course you are enrolling in. Therefore, we recommend you check with your institution if your studies of English from upper secondary school are sufficient to meet the English language requirement or if you need to take the TOEFL or IELTS tests.

Minimum grade point requirement to access undergraduate studies (first cycle) in Estonia

Admission to the majority of first cycle programs in Estonia is subject to the fulfillment of a minimum grade point requirement. This is the grade point you receive after passing your upper secondary school studies in combination with the grades you receive at the university entry examinations in your home country. Therefore, always check with your Estonian university about the minimum grade point you need to obtain.

You can use the European grades comparison chart to learn how you would score in Europe.

Source: Estonian Universities Act