Education in Estonia | Ethics in Estonia

Contacts of UT units

Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty link: 
humanities.ut.ee
Faculty contacts link: 
Employee contacts
Faculty phone: 
+372 737 5341
Faculty address: 
Jakobi 2, rooms 116–121, 51005 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    + 372 737 5341
    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 2, rooms 116–121, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of History and Archaeology
    Faculty link: 
    www.flaj.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5651
    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics
    Faculty link: 
    keel.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5221
    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
    Faculty link: 
    www.flfi.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5314
    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 2, rooms 309–352, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of Cultural Research
    Faculty link: 
    www.flku.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    (+372) 737 5223
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 16, 51003 Tartu
  • School of Theology and Religious Studies
    Faculty link: 
    us.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5301
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18–310, 50090 Tartu
  • College of Foreign Languages and Cultures
    Faculty link: 
    maailmakeeled.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty address: 
    J. Liivi 4, 50409, Tartu
  • Viljandi Culture Academy
    Faculty link: 
    kultuur.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 435 5232
    Faculty address: 
    Posti 1, 71004 Viljandi
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty link: 
socialsciences.ut.ee
Faculty contacts link: 
Employee contacts
Faculty phone: 
+372 737 5957
Faculty address: 
Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    + 372 737 5900
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
  • Institute of Education
    Faculty link: 
    www.ht.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6440
    Faculty address: 
    Salme 1a–29, 50103 Tartu
  • Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
    Faculty link: 
    skytte.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5582
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 36–301, 51003 Tartu
  • School of Economics and Business Administration
    Faculty link: 
    majandus.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6310
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu
  • Institute of Psychology
    Faculty link: 
    psychology.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5902
    Faculty address: 
    Näituse 2, 50409 Tartu
  • School of Law
    Faculty link: 
    law.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5390
    Faculty address: 
    Näituse 20–324, 50409 Tartu
  • Institute of Social Studies
    Faculty link: 
    yti.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5188
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
  • Narva College
    Faculty link: 
    www.narva.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 740 1900
    Faculty address: 
    Raekoja plats 2, 20307 Narva
  • Pärnu College
    Faculty link: 
    www.pc.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 445 0520
    Faculty address: 
    Ringi 35, 80012 Pärnu
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty link: 
medicine.ut.ee
Faculty contacts link: 
Employee contacts
Faculty phone: 
+372 737 5326
Faculty address: 
Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5326
    Faculty address: 
    Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
    Faculty link: 
    biomeditsiin.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4210
    Faculty address: 
    Biomeedikum, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Pharmacy
    Faculty link: 
    farmaatsia.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5286
    Faculty address: 
    Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Dentistry
    Faculty link: 
    hambaarstiteadus.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 731 9856
    Faculty address: 
    Puusepa 1a, 50406 Tartu
  • Institute of Clinical Medicine
    Faculty link: 
    clinicalmedicine.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5323
    Faculty address: 
    L. Puusepa 8, 50406 Tartu
  • Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health
    Faculty link: 
    tervis.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4190
    Faculty address: 
    Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy
    Faculty link: 
    www.kk.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5360
    Faculty address: 
    Ujula 4, 51008 Tartu
Faculty of Science and Technology
Faculty link: 
science.ut.ee
Faculty contacts link: 
Employee contacts
Faculty phone: 
+372 737 5820
Faculty address: 
Vanemuise 46–208, 51014 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5820
    Faculty address: 
    Vanemuise 46–208, 51003 Tartu
  • Institute of Computer Science
    Faculty link: 
    cs.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5445
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu
  • Estonian Marine Institute
    Faculty link: 
    mereinstituut.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 671 8902
    Faculty address: 
    Mäealuse 14, 12618 Tallinn
  • Institute of Physics
    Faculty link: 
    www.fi.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty address: 
    W. Ostwaldi 1, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Chemistry
    Faculty link: 
    chem.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5261
    Faculty address: 
    Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Genomics
    Faculty link: 
    genomics.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4000
    Faculty address: 
    Riia 23b, 51010 Tartu
  • Institute of Mathematics and Statistics
    Faculty link: 
    www.math.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5860
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu
  • Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
    Faculty link: 
    tymri.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5027
    Faculty address: 
    Riia 23, 23b–134, 51010 Tartu
  • Tartu Observatory
    Faculty link: 
    www.kosmos.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4510
    Faculty address: 
    Observatooriumi 1, Tõravere, 61602 Tartumaa
  • Institute of Technology
    Faculty link: 
    tuit.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4800
    Faculty address: 
    Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
    Faculty link: 
    www.omi.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5835
    Faculty address: 
    Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu
Institutions
  • Library
    Faculty link: 
    utlib.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5702
    Faculty address: 
    W. Struve 1, 50091 Tartu
  • Youth Academy
    Faculty link: 
    teaduskool.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5581
    Faculty address: 
    Uppsala 10, 51003 Tartu
  • Museum
    Faculty link: 
    muuseum.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5674
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 25, 51003 Tartu
  • University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden
    Faculty link: 
    natmuseum.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    https://www.ut.ee/en/kontakt/loodusmuuseum-botaanikaaed
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6076
    Faculty address: 
    Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu
Support Units
  • Administrative Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5606
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
  • Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4809
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009, Tartu
  • University Office in Tallinn
    Faculty link: 
    University Office in Tallinn
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employeescontacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6600
    Faculty address: 
    Teatri väljak 3, 10143 Tallinn
  • Estates Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5137
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
  • Finance Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5125
    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 4, 51005 Tartu
  • Grant Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6215
    Faculty address: 
    Raekoja plats 9, 51004 Tartu
  • Information Technology Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6000, IT-help: +372 737 5500
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
  • Human Resources Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5145
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18, rooms 302 and 304, 50090 Tartu
  • Internal Audit Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18-244, 51005 Tartu
  • International Cooperation and Protocol Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6123
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18, rooms 104, 301, 305, 50090 Tartu
  • Marketing and Communication Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5687
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18, rooms 102, 104, 209, 210, 50090 Tartu
  • Office of Academic Affairs
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5620
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
  • Procurement Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6632
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
  • Rector's Office
  • Rector's Strategy Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5600
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
  • Student Council
    Faculty link: 
    tyye.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18b, 51005 Tartu
  • University of Tartu Press
    Faculty link: 
    www.tyk.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    Employee contacts
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5945
    Faculty address: 
    W. Struve 1, 50091 Tartu
Other Units
  • University of Tartu Academic Sports Club
    Faculty link: 
    sport.ut.ee
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5371
    Faculty address: 
    Ujula 4, 51008 Tartu
  • Tartu Student Village
    Faculty link: 
    campus.ee
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 740 9959
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 25, 51013 Tartu
  • Tartu Students’ Club
    Faculty link: 
    www.tym.ee
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 730 2400
    Faculty address: 
    Kalevi 24, 51010 Tartu
  • Tartu University Hospital
    Faculty link: 
    www.kliinikum.ee/eng
    Faculty address: 
    L. Puusepa 1a, 50406 Tartu
  • University of Tartu Foundation
    Faculty link: 
    sihtasutus.ut.ee/en
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5852
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
  • View all other units
    Faculty link: 
    www.ut.ee/en/other-units

Education in Estonia

Education system in Estonia is regulated by a number of documents, including the Republic of Estonia Education Act and the National Curricula for the preschool, basic and upper secondary education institutions. The national curricula describe the aims, values and principles of each stage of education and serve as the compulsory basis for the curriculum of a particular education institution.

Formal education system consists of the levels of preschool, basic, secondary and higher education. A part of the education system is the system of vocational education.

Preschool education is meant for children from 18 months to 7 years of age. Preschool education is not compulsory: it can be received both in preschool education institutions and at home and parents can decide at what age the child will start preschool or whether the child will attend it at all.  The aim of this level of education is to prepare the child for school and daily life.

Basic education begins when the child is 7 years old and constitutes the compulsory part of each child’s education (the law also permits acquiring it at home but homeschooling is not widespread). The length of studies is 9 years (grades 1–9); usually, students are 15 or 16 years old when they graduate. This level of studies ends with a set of exams: three graduation exams (Estonian, mathematics and an exam of one’s choice) and the presentation of a creative assignment.  In order to graduate, one has to acquire the curriculum at the satisfactory, or a higher, level and pass the exams.

General secondary education is provided at upper secondary schools. The length of studies is 3 years (grades 10–12); usually, students begin them at 15 or 16 and graduate at 18 or 19. This level consists of courses in compulsory subjects and subjects of one’s choice (one course is 35 hours of a particular subject) and ends with a set of exams: state exams in Estonian, mathematics and a foreign language, a school exam in the subject of one’s choice and the presentation of a research project. In order to graduate, one has to complete at least 96 courses at the satisfactory, or a higher, level and pass the exams.

Vocational education in Estonia is offered on several levels: for some programmes, no completed basic education is required; others have basic education or secondary education as a prerequisite. There is also the option of secondary vocational education that combines the acquisition of a vocation with the acquisition of secondary education.

Higher education in Estonia follows the three-level model of Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programmes.  Vocational higher education exists in the form of professional higher education programmes that together with the Bachelor’s programmes belong to the first level of higher education. Some specialities where a free-standing Bachelor’s programme would be insufficient (for example, medicine,  veterinary and civil engineering) have integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.

The Education Act guarantees, among others, two rights:  to be able to study in public education institutions in Estonian at all levels of education and to be able to acquire secondary education in public institutions free of tuition charges. Beginning in 2012/2013 one also has the possibility to acquire higher education free of tuition charges as long as one is studying full-time and in Estonian.

Public ownership (state or municipal) of education institutions predominates in Estonia: in 2013, out of 540 general education schools only 47 were private (in case of vocational education, 8 out of 47 institutions were private; in case of higher education, 9 out of 25). The situation with the language of instruction is more complex: although in 2013 only 13 out of 540 general education schools used another language of instruction exclusively, another 80 used the combination of Estonian/other language. The most common alternative language of instruction is Russian, reflecting the presence of a considerable Russian minority in Estonia. For students graduating from a basic or a secondary school with an alternative language of instruction the compulsory final exam in Estonian takes the form of the Estonian as the second language exam. In case of vocational education, Estonian is the most common language of instruction, although there are some programmes in Russian. Estonian is also the main language of instruction in higher education, although the number of courses and degree programmes in English has been growing, reflecting the process of internationalisation of higher education in Estonia.

The national educational strategy Estonian Lifelong Learning Strategy 2020 sets out the most important directions for the development of education in Estonia. It extends the understanding of learning and education beyond the formal education system, making the latter a part of wider lifelong process.