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:

1. the theory-based bachelor’s study curricula where professional skills are developed on the basis of theoretical principles;
   

2. the practice-based professional higher education curricula where theoretical knowledge is developed primarily on the basis of practical needs. Practical work constitutes at least 30% of the curriculum.
   

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)).