Top Universities courses Finances Major Cities Admission Visa Accommodation FAQs Top Universities courses Finances Major Cities Admission Visa Accommodation FAQs Estonia Why Estonia Estonia is one of the most dynamic new EU member states, and a unique location between the East and the West. Due to its favourable location on the shore of the Baltic Sea, Estonia has often been regarded as a bridge between different countries and cultures. The country’s complex history and successful transition from a communist past to democracy offers a unique perspective on the problems shaping the future of the region and the continent. Europe hottest start-up capitals:Tallinn (Wired magazine).As a result,Estonia has more successful start-up companies per head than in any other country in Europe, e.g. TransferWise, CrabCAD, Fortumo etc.We are talking about companies where even Sir Richard Branson invests. Home of Skype – the Skype software was developed by four Estonian engineers.Skype has an office in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and the company also provides scholarships for bright IT students who have chosen to study in Estonia. Ranked 1st worldwide in air quality (World Health Organization 2013).Estonia ranks 2nd in Internet freedom in the world (1st place Iceland, 3rd place Germany).Ranked 2nd in the world for Internet access in schools (1st Iceland,3rd Finland, The Global Information Technology Report 2013).Estonia is also the only Eurozone nation to run a budget surplus. Voted as best-performing economy in Europe.(www.europeanvoice.com)Has Europe’s largest 4G coverage (95% of the country). Only Singapore and South Korea have managed to do the same.One of the safest countries in the world. Over 100 unique and high quality degree programmes,Internationally accepted diplomas,Various state scholarships,English language widely spoken,High level research projects,Active and fun student life,Working possibilities,The personal touch: small group sizes in classrooms,Great value for money. Country Facts Estonia is the smallest of the three Baltic Countries. Situated on the north eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, Estonia borders with Latvia in the south and with the Russian Federation in the east and has strong cultural and linguistic ties with Finland. The capital of the country is Tallinn and is only about 85 km south of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Sweden is Estonia’s nearest western neighbour across the Baltic Sea. The country has a population of about 1.4 million people. Higher Education System The history of formal education in Estonia dates back to the 13–14th centuries when the first monastic and cathedral schools were founded. The first primer in the Estonian language was published in 1575. The oldest university is the University of Tartu which was established by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf in 1632. In 1919, university courses were first taught in the Estonian language. Today’s education in Estonia is divided into general, vocational and hobby education. The education system is based on four levels which include the pre-school, basic, secondary and higher education.[1] A wide network of schools and supporting educational institutions has been established. The Estonian educational system consists of state, municipal, public and private educational institutions. There are currently 589 schools in Estonia.[2] Academic higher education in Estonia is divided into three levels: bachelor’s studies, master’s studies, and doctoral studies. In some specialties (basic medical studies, veterinary, pharmacy, dentistry, architect-engineer and a classroom teacher program) the Bachelors and Master’s levels are integrated into one unit.[3] Estonian public universities have significantly more autonomy than applied higher education institutions. In addition to organizing the academic life of the university, universities can create new curricula, establish admission terms and conditions, approve the budget, approve the development plan, elect the rector and make restricted decisions in matters concerning assets.[4] Estonia has a moderate number of public and private universities. The largest public universities are Tartu University, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn University, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and the largest private university is the International University of Audentes. The Estonian Academy of Sciences is Estonia’s national academy of science. The IT industry of Estonia in late 1950s as the first computer centers were established in Tartu and Tallinn. Estonian specialists contributed in the development of software engineering standards for different ministries of the Soviet Union during the 1980s. Test Requirements General requirements Over the past weeks, we have received quite many emails from students inquiring about the minimum English language requirement to study in Europe. If English is the language of instruction of the study program or course you will be studying in Europe, you will be required to prove you have a sufficient level of knowledge of English in order for your application to be accepted. However, what is the minimum English language requirement to study in Europe? Although the expected level of command of English may vary depending on the school and, above all, the study program or course, the usual average English language requirement you will be required to have to study in Europe is 550 points (paper-based TOEFL test), or 213 points (computer-based TOEFL test), or 79-80 points (Internet-based TOEFL test), or 5.5 – 6.5 score in the IELTS test. If you have not taken either the TOEFL or IELTS tests and you would like to prove your level of knowledge of English with other exams, you will need to prove you have a level of command of English corresponding to the B1/B2 level (intermediate) according to the European language passport. Please, be advised that the more competitive a course or study program is, the higher the level of knowledge of English will be. What should you do if you don’t meet the minimum English language requirement? You should always contact the course or program coordinator before you decide not to apply for it. In some cases, schools may be flexible with the language requirement and you may be allowed to improve your language skills while studying Examinations In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements, Estonian higher education institutions may also organize specific exams to determine whether the candidate possess the adequate level of