Universities in Estonia

Located in northern Europe, separated from Finland by the Gulf of Finland, Estonia is an EU nation with a lot to offer. With pretty beaches, dense woodland, fascinating history and pretty old towns, there is a lot to see and do in the country. Estonia is also becoming an attractive destination for international students, with more and more students choosing to study in the country every year.

The types of University

There are 22 universities and colleges in Estonia, which can be sorted into the following types:

• Public universities – There are 3 public universities in Estonia, including 2 public research universities, Tallinn University and the University of Tartu.
• Private universities & colleges – There are 6 private universities and colleges in Estonia, including Estonian Business School, the Estonian School of Diplomacy and Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences.
• Specialized public universities – There are several specialized educational institutions that receive public funding, including the Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn University of Applied Sciences and the Estonian Maritime Academy.

Language of instruction

The official language of Estonia is Estonian, and universities offer courses taught in both Estonian and in English. For example, Tallinn University offers 14 masters and 6 bachelors programmes taught entirely in English.

Major cities in Estonia for international students

• Tallinn – Located on the northern coast of Estonia, Tallinn is the capital and the largest city of the country. It offers visitors ancient history, architecture and pretty scenes everywhere you look, alongside a vibrant welcoming culture. It is also a city of great opportunities, with many startups choosing to locate here. This makes it a great place to study, with many of the country’s universities located here, including Tallinn University, Tallinn University of Technology and Estonian Academy of Arts.
• Tartu – Towards the center east of the country lies Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia and a popular city for students. Tartu can boast many museums, restaurants and cafes and an enjoyable friendly culture and nightlife. Tartu offers students the choice of several universities, including the University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life Sciences and Pallas University of Applied Sciences.

Table of the top ranked universities in Estonia

We have compiled a list of some of the top universities and higher education providers in Estonia to browse below. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see what courses are available for international students.