University of Tartu

Established in 1632, the University of Tartu is Estonia's oldest and largest higher education institution. It is among the top 1% of the world's universities, making it one of Northern Europe's leading universities and the best-ranked university in the Baltics. The university is renowned for its strong research focus, with many faculty members engaged in cutting-edge research.

The University of Tartu offers a wide range of international degree programmes and opportunities for research and international exchange. Its diverse student body from around the world creates a multicultural environment, enriching the learning experience.

Key facts

• Four faculties: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine and Science and Technology
• The University of Tartu has a presence in all major cities of Estonia, including its primary location Tartu (known as the Student Capital of Estonia), Tallinn, Narva, Pärnu, and Viljandi. The university's virtual tour provides an inside look into university life.
• 14,300 students, including 13% international students from 100 countries
• 3386 employees (20% international), 55% academic employees, incl. 217 professors
• The University of Tartu has a hospital, sports centre, youth academy, museums, botanical garden, biobank, observatory and library with more than four million documents.

Research

The University of Tartu plays a significant role in driving inclusive and sustainable growth and innovation at local, European, and global levels. It ranks in the top 1% of highly cited universities in various research fields. The university actively participates in European science policy formulation through memberships in prestigious research university networks and EU research and innovation partnerships. The University of Tartu contributes to society by addressing societal challenges and providing crucial information for evidence-based decision-making. It also acts as a development partner and consultant for businesses, fostering a supportive environment for start-ups and collaborating with industries.

Study opportunities

The University of Tartu offers a diverse range of academic programmes. The university's curriculum is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for successful careers and leadership positions.

Students can also join the university for short-term studies. Exchange studies allow students to spend up to two semesters at the University of Tartu; it is possible to join MOOCs from anywhere in the world, and the University of Tartu International Summer University offers high-quality, multidisciplinary study programmes and an exciting cultural programme annually during the first two weeks of August.

Scholarships

Most international master's programmes offer student places with a tuition waiver. A tuition waiver student place means the student does not have to pay the tuition fee if the nominal study load requirement is met. All applicants to international master's programmes are automatically considered for the scholarship.

Doctoral studies are free of charge in Estonia. Doctoral student places are mainly offered as state-funded junior research fellow positions, meaning that doctoral students are both students and employees of the university.

All bachelor's programmes are fee-based.

List of international degree programmes

All programmes are taught in English unless stated otherwise.

Bachelor's programmes

• Business Administration
• Science and Technology
• Medicine (6 years)

Master's programmes

• Actuarial and Financial Engineering
• Applied Measurement Science
• Bioengineering
• Clinical Nutrition
• Computer Science
• Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
• Disinformation and Societal Resilience
• Educational Technology
• Entrepreneurship in Economic Policymaking
• Estonian and Finno-Ugric Languages
• European Languages and Cultures
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree Excellence in Analytical Chemistry
• Folkloristics and Applied Heritage Studies
• Geoinformatics for Urbanised Society
• Information Technology Law
• Innovation and Technology Management
• International Law and Human Rights
• International Relations and Regional Studies
• Materials Science and Technology
• Philosophy
• Politics and Governance in the Digital Age
• Quantitative Economics
• Robotics and Computer Engineering
• Semiotics
• Software Engineering
• Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language (taught mainly in Russian)
• Wellness and Spa Service Design and Management

Doctoral programmes

The University of Tartu offers eight doctoral programmes, which are coordinated by faculty-based centres for doctoral studies. Each programme contains multiple specialities offered by the faculty.