Organisation of higher education and

Introduction

These training materials contain introductory information required by a foreign national before, throughout and after completing his or her studies in Estonia. These materials can be viewed as a “first aid package” that will help you organise your documents, better orientate yourself when communicating with Estonian public authorities, professors and fellow students, and, in general, to settle down comfortably in Estonia.

These materials have been drawn up in accordance with the welcoming programme regulations by the order of the Ministry of the Interior and will support the conducting of the studying module of the welcoming programme. The welcoming programme shall consist of a basic module, language training, and thematic modules, which focus on work and entrepreneurship, studying, research, family life, international protection, and children and young people. You will find further information about the other modules of the welcoming programme at www.settleinestonia.ee. We have drawn up the training materials while keeping the interests and needs of foreign students who are beginning their studies in Estonia, in mind. The following ten short chapters will cover topics from legal issues related to residence permits all the way to the academic culture of Estonian universities, and the labour market services.

These materials can be used as training course notes, for independent study, or as informational reminders after the training course. We have also put together knowledge tests based on the materials, which you can use to check your knowledge at the end of the training course.

After each topic, you will also find references to important additional materials or institutions. Those references will point you towards websites where you can find useful information in Estonian, English, and/or Russian. If the referenced website does not have information in English, the available languages will be marked in parentheses e.g. ‘Young people’s career planning portal, www.rajaleidja.ee (in Estonian and Russian)’..

Welcome to Estonia!

1. Right of residence and residence permits, and other legal information necessary for an foreigners........................................... 7 1.1 Registering your residence.........................................7 1.2 Extending the temporary residence permit.......9 1.3 Right to stay in estonia upon the expiry of the temporary residence permit............................ 10 1.4 Health insurance......................................................... 10

2. Estonian education system ....................... 12 2.1 Preschool, basic, and upper secondary education................................................................................13 2.2 Learning a foreign language and foreign language tuition...................................................................13 2.3 Vocational education.................................................14

3. Organisation of higher education and research 16 3.1 Various levels of higher education .......................16 3.2 Higher education important definitions and information............................................................................17 3.3 More about higher education................................18 3.4 Research.........................................................................19

4. Academic culture...........................................22

5. Student support services...........................24

6. Libraries ............................................................. 26 6.1 Higher education libraries.......................................26 6.2 Other libraries..............................................................26

7. Student organisations and networks ... 28 7.1 Students’ unions at universities.............................28 7.2 International student organisations’ local offices in estonia.................................................................28 7.3 Other organisations...................................................29

8. Internship opportunities during and after studies ..........................................................30

9. Working during and after studies..........32 9.1 Working during studies............................................32 9.2 Working after studies...............................................33 9.3 Looking for a job ........................................................33 9.4 Unemployment protection....................................33