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Students who have completed the professional higher education or bachelor's programmes can continue their studies in a master’s programme.
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).
Estonia’s higher education system has two branches comprising different types of institutions.
Universities are institutions focused on research, development, education, and culture. The activities of universities are aimed at the implementation of basic and applied research on par with international standards. One of the preconditions of this process is the provision of second and third level theory-based higher education focused on research.
Institutions of professional higher education and, as an exception, some vocational educational institutions prepare motivated specialists with good professional skills at the first level of higher education, taking into consideration the needs of the labour market.
The prerequisites include the flexibility of curricula and their focus on practice as well as close cooperation with companies, professional associations and other social partners in the relevant field. The Government of the Republic may permit the opening of a master’s study curriculum in an institution of professional higher education. As of March 2008, there are six institutions of professional education in Estonia that have the right to conduct master’s studies.
