All persons with secondary education have the right to apply for curricula of higher education offered in universities, professional higher education institutions and institutions of vocational education. Higher education curricula leading to a professional degree, the bachelor’s degree, the master’s degree, the PhD as well as long-cycle study programmes are all available in Estonia.
Students can choose between two types of curricula at the first level of higher education:
The standard period of study in professional higher education is 3 to 4.5 years and the study load specified in the curriculum ranges from 120 to 160 credit points (180 to 240 credit points in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)).
The standard period of study in a bachelor’s programme lasts 3 to 4 years, and the study load specified in the curriculum ranges from 120 to 160 credit points (180 to 240 credit points in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)).
The standard period of study in a master’s programme or the second level of higher education is 1 to 2 years, and the study load ranges from 40 to 80 credit points (60 to 120 ECTS credit points). The total standard period of bachelor’s and master’s study is at least 5 years and the study load specified in the curriculum is 200 credit points (300 ECTS credit points).
The standard period of study in medicine and veterinary medicine (long-cycle study) is 6 years and the study load specified in the curriculum is 240 credit points (360 ECTS credit points). The total standard period of study in dentistry, pharmacist training, architectural training, civil engineering and class teacher training is 5 years and the study load specified in the curriculum is 200 credit points (300 ECTS credit points).
The standard period of study at the highest academic level, the doctoral or Ph.D. programme is 3 to 4 years and the study load specified in the curriculum ranges from 120 to 160 credit points (180 to 240 ECTS credit points).