Narva College Receives Over a Thousand Applications for 300 Study Places

Narva College of the University of Tartu has seen high interest from applicants this year, receiving a total of 1,118 applications for roughly 300 study places planned for autumn. Academic Director Piret Kärtner shared the admission results.

The most popular program was "Preschool Teacher in a Multilingual Educational Environment," with 6.21 applicants per spot. High competition was also recorded for "Entrepreneurship and Digital Solutions" (4.75 per spot), "Youth Work" (4.7), and "Language Teacher in a Multilingual School" (3.36).

The majority of applicants come from Ida-Viru County (45%), followed by Harju County (30%), with representatives from all Estonian counties. There are also 21 foreign applicants, including nine from Ukraine, five from Kazakhstan, and others from Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Foreign students without Estonian language skills must first complete a one-year language preparation course and pass a B2 exam.

The student profile is changing, with more people seeking additional education or a career change. Notable examples include doctors, veterinarians, police officers, and border guards applying for the Language Teacher program. In the Entrepreneurship program, 35% of candidates are under 22.

Many applicants are attracted by word-of-mouth from current students and alumni. Interest in IT fields, especially robotics and data analysis, is rising. Some students receive job offers during their studies, which may delay graduation. The college expects about 900 students this autumn, and this year 196 graduated. Next year, the first graduates from the robotics program will join the alumni.

First admission lists were published on July 17, and remaining spots will be allocated until August 19.