18 Social Science Degree Programs in Estonia

The master's programme provides knowledge and skills in a modern or classical language and culture.

This program's general objective is to prepare middle managers with comprehensive and specific knowledge and practical skills, who, as specialists, are able to take responsibility and make strategic decisions to formulate and implement environmental management and environmental policy at the international level, considering the climate change and the European Green Deal.

The Social Psychology of Transformation (SPOT) Joint Erasmus Mundus Master Programme invites you on an exciting two-year journey through Europe. We are excited to offer you a unique opportunity to study at several leading European universities (ultimately earning a joint European degree) and to benefit from the expertise of all seven partner universities through a co-teaching approach integrated across the entire curriculum.

The Liberal Arts in Social Sciences programme looks into various social sciences and teaches the student how to find common ground in fields ranging from psychology and education to law, economics, international relations and politics, and sociology. The programme includes courses on methods and writing, as well as interdisciplinary and practical components. For example, there is an internship requirement which will equip you with the needed skills to compete in the labour market.

Estonian Studies enables you to get a broad-based and interdisciplinary postgraduate degree and offers the possibility to see both the uniqueness and specifics of Estonia, the place of Estonia in a global context. Estonian Studies provides knowledge of Estonian language, culture, society, politics and history, as well as opportunities to learn the Estonian language and enhance skills of translating literature. The programme is aimed at everybody who is interested in various aspects of Estonia.

The International Relations programme gives the students the opportunity to explore international relations and security through perspectives that connect global structures with everyday realities, from climate crisis and inequality to conflict and peace. The programme unites traditions of Anglo-American and continental European IR scholars with education in reflecting the changing international system and the security threats that are emerging. All that within the small nation of Estonia – a digitally advanced, “Global East” frontline NATO state – where questions of security, identity, digital governance, and geopolitical pressure shape daily life.

Tallinn University’s study programme Human Rights in the Digital Society is a Master of Arts in Law programme designed for working professionals in human rights, policy, advocacy, and technology. The students gain the legal competence and knowledge to navigate human rights challenges in digital contexts - from data protection to AI ethics. The studies take place in Estonia, one of the world’s most advanced digital societies, where e-residency, digital identity, and online public services are part of everyday life. Students will explore how these systems challenge traditional ideas of privacy, accountability, and the role of the state.

This one-year master's programme in Disinformation and Societal Resilience is for professionals who need to understand information manipulations in the global context, work on strategic communication to build social resilience and deal with risk management in organisations and communities. The programme combines systematic theoretical knowledge with a practical approach that connects students to their realities and focuses on the disinformation problems in their countries. Unique experiences from scholars and practitioners brought into the programme help build the international network of professionals to combat disinformation effectively.

The programme integrates empirical and theoretical understanding of democracy and governance, the two essential parameters of political development in the contemporary world. Is democracy conquering the world as the single most accepted model for political and social development? Is democracy being overwhelmed by globalization, popular discontent with politics and renewed authoritarian tendencies? How can democratic political leaders govern and retain legitimacy in the world today? These are the most important challenges to tackle as a professional in this field. The MA programme in Democracy and Governance offers you the knowledge and skills to be a part of this search for solutions.

Liberal Arts in Humanities is a 3-year study programme that provides wide knowledge in the humanities and develops intellectual abilities and critical thinking. The student is not limited to only one field, but has a choice of various humanities disciplines, such as anthropology, Asian studies, English studies, Eastern-European studies, literary and cultural studies, environmental humanities and cultural analysis. They are free to combine these disciplines into a tailor-made interdisciplinary curriculum according to their personal goals and interests.

The MA in International Relations and Regional Studies master's programme combines a comprehensive study of international relations as an academic discipline and political practice with an in-depth understanding of particular geographic regions, including the European Union, Russia and Eurasia, and the Baltic Sea region.

The 2-year master's programme in Estonian and Finno-Ugric Languages (EFUL) is unique in combining in-depth language learning with comprehensive, English-based studies in linguistics. We offer specialisations in either Estonian or Finno-Ugric Languages. Whichever you choose, you will have access to shared modules on theoretical and methodological aspects of synchronic and diachronic linguistics, with an emphasis on active language learning, combining theory and practice. The programme also emphasises the development of digital skills. It offers modules on computational linguistics and programming in collaboration with the University of Tartu's Centre for Digital Humanities and Information Society.

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programme (EMJM) in Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies focuses on sustainability, artificial intelligence and data-driven decisions, and participatory design methods engaging citizens. After completing the Master’s Programme, students understand and can use a participatory design approach for studying and designing AI and data-driven sustainable solutions for societies.

Politics and Governance gives you a broad foundation in how political systems, public institutions, and international actors shape today’s world. You will study how decisions are made, how policies are implemented, and how global and local challenges affect society. The program equips students with a broad knowledge basis to prepare them for a future not just in the government or party politics, but also as knowledgeable and able actors in international organizations, the third sector, or even the private sector.

International Law and Human Rights is a 2-year master's program at the School of Law of The University of Tartu, providing comprehensive knowledge of the principles, regulations, subjects, and practice in the field of international law and human rights. Students can obtain comprehensive knowledge in the field of international law and human rights. All students are given strong ground knowledge in international law and human rights, and then they can expand their knowledge in specific areas, depending on their needs and interests, by taking various elective courses.