Estonia’s universities offer international students more than English-taught degrees and access to one of Europe’s most advanced digital societies. For scholarship recipients, studying in Estonia has also provided a pathway to fully funded education, international professional networks, doctoral research, and work supporting communities around the world.
Below, we explore five of the best universities in Estonia for international students, including their academic strengths, English-taught programs, admissions information, scholarships, and the experiences and outcomes of successful scholarship recipients.
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| University of Tartu | Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, Science and Technology |
| Tallinn University | Film and Media, Digital Technologies, Education, Humanities |
| Tallinn University of Technology | Engineering, Information Technology, Business, Maritime Studies |
| Estonian University of Life Sciences | Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental Sciences, Veterinary Medicine |
| Estonian Academy of Arts | Fine Arts, Design, Architecture, Art History and Conservation |
Top Universities in Estonia for International Students
1. University of Tartu
Located in Estonia’s second-largest city, the University of Tartu is Estonia’s highest-ranked university in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and a major center of teaching and research. The university has four faculties: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, and Science and Technology. Most courses are taught in Estonian, but UT offers a growing selection of English-taught degrees; for 2026 admission, it lists 28 English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs. Medicine is offered in English as a six-year, 360-ECTS integrated bachelor’s and master’s program in Tartu. In 2025, UT was the only Estonian institution positively evaluated in all six national research fields.
The University of Tartu has around 15,000 students, including around 1,600 international students. It is also an active international partner, with dozens of partner universities and strong research cooperation worldwide.
One student’s journey: Mustapha Adekomi Ganiyu completed the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, spending his first year at the University of Tartu before specialising at Uppsala University. He says he researched the programme websites almost daily, then tailored his motivation letter around how his relevant academic and professional experience matched the curriculum and his future goals. His studies were supported by the fully funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship. View More University of Tartu recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at University of Tartu: Abdullah Toqeer: after completing his Erasmus Mundus double master’s at the University of Tartu and UCLouvain with Magna Cum Laude distinction, he began a fully funded PhD at Charles Sturt University in Australia, researching remote sensing, machine learning, and environmental monitoring.
2. Tallinn University
Tallinn University is one of Estonia’s largest public universities and is located in Tallinn, the capital city. Its roots go back to the Tallinn Teachers’ Seminar, established in 1919, while the current public university was founded on March 18, 2005, after several Tallinn universities and institutes were consolidated. Today, the university comprises six schools and one college: the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School; School of Digital Technologies; School of Educational Sciences; School of Humanities; School of Natural Sciences and Health; School of Governance, Law and Society; and Haapsalu College.
Internationalization remains an important part of Tallinn University’s development. The university offers English-taught study options and has been represented in world university rankings since 2019. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Tallinn University is placed in the 901–950 band.
One student’s journey: Ana Huembes completed the two-year International Master in Adult Education for Social Change, with Tallinn University as a degree-awarding partner, supported by the fully funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. She found the programme by filtering the Erasmus Mundus catalogue for education, made a checklist of required documents, researched the consortium’s expectations, and repeatedly redrafted a word-limited personal statement connecting her previous experience, future goals, proposed dissertation topic, and extracurricular work. After graduating, she continued supporting excluded and migrant communities and working with the Erasmus Mundus Association, having founded its first country representation in Nicaragua and later being named EMA Ambassador of the Year 2025. View More Tallinn University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Tallinn University: Francisco (Kiko) Bautista: after completing the joint MEd in Adult Education for Social Change, he began a fully funded PhD in Politics and International Studies at the University of Wollongong.
3. Tallinn University of Technology
Tallinn University of Technology, known as TalTech, is Estonia’s sole technological university and is based in Tallinn. It offers degrees in engineering, natural sciences, IT, business, law, and maritime studies, including 4 English-taught bachelor’s and 14 English-taught master’s programs for international applicants. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, TalTech is ranked 600th worldwide.
TalTech’s green Mustamäe campus brings together dormitories, sports facilities, technology companies, and student life. The campus also includes the Mektory Innovation and Business Center and Tehnopol Tallinn Science Park, where scientists, students, and entrepreneurs meet to develop practical solutions and new ideas.
One student’s journey: Dia, who entered with a Business Administration degree and three years of digital-transformation experience, spent about a year researching the PIONEER master’s, connecting with Erasmus Mundus alumni, preparing for IELTS, and refining her motivation letters. She says that during the interview she spoke to the selection committee as though she had already been admitted, explaining how she would participate in the consortium community; she later completed PIONEER’s designated third semester at Tallinn University of Technology, where her Public Sector Innovation Lab team developed a training solution with Estonia’s Ministry of Finance. Her MSc was fully funded through the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. View More Tallinn University of Technology recipients →
4. Estonian University of Life Sciences
The Estonian University of Life Sciences is a major academic and research institution for environmental, rural, and life-science fields, including agriculture, rural economy, forestry, environmental sciences, veterinary medicine and animal husbandry, and engineering and technology. Its predecessor, the Estonian Agricultural Academy, was established in 1951, and the university took its current name in 2005. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, EMU ranked 43rd globally and 16th in Europe for agriculture and forestry. EMU also offers teaching and research in food science, veterinary medicine, rural life and economy, and environmentally friendly technologies.
Estonian University of Life Sciences is among the top 1% of the most cited research institutions globally in plant and animal sciences and in environmental and ecological research. International students interested in sustainability, food systems, veterinary medicine, and environmental protection can find a focused academic environment at EMU.
5. Estonia Academy of Arts
The Estonian Academy of Arts is a public university in Tallinn and the only public university in Estonia providing higher education in fine arts, design, architecture, media, visual studies, art history, and conservation. This top university in Estonia promotes creativity, research, and innovation in visual culture, as well as technical and practical skills. Programs at the Estonian Academy of Arts are interdisciplinary, allowing artists and designers to experiment boldly and take courses across specializations. Students can expect individualized study and personal mentorship from internationally recognized artists, architects, designers, historians, and scientists.
The Estonian Academy of Arts collaborates with more than 100 top art, design, and architecture universities worldwide and participates in Erasmus+, with more than 150 bilateral student exchange agreements.
One student’s journey: Tooba Tul Muntaha, a product design graduate from Pakistan, entered the joint master’s in Service Design Strategies and Innovation, which includes degree study at the Estonian Academy of Arts, with support from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship. She applied in a pool of more than 700 candidates and says that a clearly aligned motivation, a coherent application narrative, and strong performance on graded assignments helped her reach the interview stage. She chose the program because its combination of service design, systems thinking, and innovation matched both her product-design training and her previous NGO work.View More Estonian Academy of Arts recipients →
FAQs: Studying in Estonia
Is Estonia a Good Place to Study for International Students?
Most Estonian universities admit international students, and many offer internationally recognized degree programs taught in English. Several academic disciplines offer full degree programs in English, particularly at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
As for academic expenses, tuition fees depend on a student’s specialization and institution. Bachelor’s and master’s programs generally range from €1,500 to €15,000 per year, with a few more expensive exceptions such as medicine, law, business administration, and social sciences. Doctoral studies in Estonia are tuition-free.
Can International Students Work in Estonia While Studying?
International students in Estonia are allowed to work while completing their degrees if the job does not interfere with their studies. It is common for both foreign and local students to work and study at the same time. Working hours for international students are not limited, and students with a residence permit for study can work without a separate work permit as long as employment does not interfere with their studies.
Can International Students Stay in Estonia After Graduation?
After graduation, international students can stay in Estonia under different conditions depending on their nationality and residence status. EU/EEA citizens can stay in the country without a visa, but if they remain for more than three months, they may need to register their residence with the relevant local authority.
Non-EU students who have held a residence permit for study may stay in Estonia for up to 270 days after the permit expires. This period allows graduates to look for a job in Estonia and, after finding suitable employment, apply for a temporary residence permit for work.
Numerous universities in Estonia provide excellent education. However, the schools mentioned above are especially visible in Estonia’s higher education landscape and are recognized in Europe and beyond. These universities provide many opportunities to their students. Try your luck and submit your application to one of these universities!
We hope that this article has given you valuable information about Estonian universities. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
