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Study in Estonia: A Guide for International Students

Estonia is one of three Baltic States, a group of countries where Northern Europe meets East. It borders Russia, Latvia and the Baltic Sea. Estonia, meaning Land in the East, has its own unique customs, cultures and even a thoroughly unique language, all with Tallinn as its technological powerhouse of a capital.

Jan 24, 2013
  • Study Abroad in Europe
  • Study Abroad in Estonia

Estonia is one of three Baltic States, a group of countries where Northern Europe meets East. It borders Russia, Latvia and the Baltic Sea. Estonia, meaning Land in the East, has its own unique customs, cultures and even a thoroughly unique language, all with Tallinn as its technological powerhouse of a capital. But this is only the surface of Estonia.

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For a small country, Estonia is a world-leader in technology. It’s the birthplace of Skype and TransferWise. It’s also home to the Bank of Estonia, the first bank in the world to offer e-residency for financial services and businesses. When it comes to technology, Estonia is top-tier. 

Estonia - Quick Facts & Figures

CapitalTallinn
LanguageEstonian
Population1.3 million
Area Size45,339 km²
International students5,000+
Academic YearSeptember - June
CurrencyEuro (€)
Calling Code+372
Time zoneGMT+2

In addition to its technological success, Estonia also boasts the Estonian language. A Uralic language, Estonian has similarities with Finnish and Hungarian, but is pretty much unique. With its rich vowel sounds and long consonants, Estonian is often regarded as a language that’s equal to French in its beauty. 

Estonian is tricky to learn, but, thankfully, English is widely spoken across the country by people from all walks of life, but particularly younger people. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy another great part of Estonia without having to learn the language: the great outdoors. 

old city tallinn

Estonia is home to spellbinding national parks, the most famous being Soomaa in the west of the country. Out on the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, pine forests, freshwater lakes and ancient marshland give way to stone beaches and the crystal waters of the Baltic. 

With all that in mind, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about studying in Estonia.

Education in Estonia

Want to learn about how the higher education system works in Estonia? Estonia is a good destination for a variety of students, given its good programs, reasonable fees and its natural beauty. Take a minute to find out more about the structure of the education system in Estonia!

Student Visas

Do you need a visa to enter Estonia to study? Learn more about the student visa process, and what you need to enter the country, depending on your citizenship. 

Housing & Living Costs

No matter where you study abroad, it’s important to create a budget in advance so that you’re prepared. Therefore, we’ve detailed average living and housing costs so that you can get a better idea of what you would be paying as a student in Estonia.

Tuition Fees & Scholarships

Tuition fees for degree programs in Estonia can vary. Both international and domestic students are expected to pay tuition fees in Estonia, but these fees are normally quite low. We've put together information on how this works, and on scholarships, in this section.

Language & Culture

Estonia is a country rich in political significance and culture. Find out more about what the country offers in terms of its language, culture, and more! We also talk about safety in Estonia in this section.

Application Process

Learn more about how to apply to Estonian schools and the documentation you need to do it in this section.

Programs

Ready to look at education in Estonia? Use our search engine to find and compare top programs in Estonia today!