Estonian Universities Update Study Programs and Change Admission Requirements
Estonian universities are revising their study programs and admission criteria for the next academic year, increasing the share of paid education and introducing new programs, especially at the master's level.
The University of Tartu will keep the total number of study places roughly the same for the 2026/2027 academic year, but will redistribute them among programs. Admission conditions have been changed for several programs: psychology no longer requires an academic test, instead relying on state exam results in Estonian or mathematics; dentistry drops the entrance interview; and computer science adds the option to use academic test results for special conditions.
Tallinn University (TLÜ) has increased the number of study places, particularly in the natural sciences teacher program, and will launch two new bachelor's programs. However, the administrative and business management program has become fee-based, with reduced places. TLÜ is closing two English-language master's programs—anthropology and cinematography—due to low demand. New admission alternatives include motivational videos instead of essays, and applicants can take entrance tests on their own devices.
The Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ) and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) will keep their student numbers largely unchanged, focusing instead on modernizing curricula. EMÜ will open several new master's programs, including industrial engineering, geodesy, and wood processing. TalTech is reinstating the bachelor's program in logistics and mobility and introducing master's programs in computer science and AI, strategic design and technology, and AI in business.
The share of paid education is growing across universities. TLÜ has added a fee-based part-time option for its bachelor's psychology program, while the University of Tartu has revamped its two-year master's program in data science and AI, responding to market demand. EMÜ has renamed its food technology master's to food science and technology and updated its integrated bachelor's-master's program in water and environmental engineering.
Overall, the changes aim to align programs with labor market needs and address teacher shortages, particularly in mathematics.
