3. Organisation of higher education and research A total of 89% of international students are satisfied with their overall living and studying standard in Estonia (International Student Barometer 2018).
The Estonian higher education system has three levels and follows the European Higher Education Area’s Bachelor’s-Master’s-PhD model. There are two types of higher education institutions: universities and institutions of professional higher education. Universities provide Bachelor´s, Master´s and PhD, and professional higher education programmes. Institutions of professional higher education offer professional higher education and some offer Master level studies as well. Estonian universities offer a wide selection of courses ranging from veterinary science to semiotics, and from animation to international relations. A total of 21 educational institutions offer higher education in Estonia (as of 2019), of those:
• 6 universities under public law
• 1 privately owned university • 8 state professional higher education institutions
• 5 private professional higher education institutions
Universities under public law are the largest ones, and three quarters of all students study there. Higher education is valued in Estonia: 44% of 30–34 year old people have a higher education. In the European Union, this percentage is only higher in Ireland, Lithuania and Luxembourg. One third of young people in Estonia study social sciences, law and business; one-fifth study natural and hard sciences, and 15% focus on the fields of technology, production and construction.
3.1 Various levels of higher education First level of higher education
Those wishing to study courses taught in English can submit documents via the electronic admissions portal DreamApply: www.estonia.dreamapply.com
Secondary education is required to access higher education in Estonia. In addition, universities may impose additional entry requirements such as entrance examinations, results of state examinations, academic tests or interviews. Those wishing to study courses taught in English can submit documents via the electronic admissions portal DreamApply, www.estonia.dreamapply.com. Estonian students use the electronic Admission Information System SAIS, www.sais.ee. You may also submit your documents in person. The first level of higher education comprises professional higher education study and Bachelor’s study. The first level of study usually lasts 3–4 years. Professional higher education study provides the skills required to work at a specific vocation or continue on the Master’s study level. Bachelor’s study is more academic and provides
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the basic theoretical knowledge and main skills required to either continue the studies or start work. The first level of higher education ends with an exam or a final research paper. A Bachelor’s degree is often insufficient to work at one’s chosen profession, and a Master’s degree or professional experience may be required. For example, you can only study to be a doctor, a veterinarian, a pharmacist, a dentist, an architect, a civil engineer or a class teacher through an integrated programme which combines the Bachelor’s and Master’s study and lasts 5–6 years and generally ends with an exam, sometimes also with a final thesis or project. The second level of higher education is Master’s study, which allows students to acquire more profound knowledge and skills in their subject, and provides them with the knowledge and independent work skills to continue at the doctoral level. A
