Why international students choose Estonia
Estonia combines low published fees with some of the most open work rules in Europe. Study in Estonia, the official portal of the Education and Youth Board (Harno), says full-time international students need no separate work permit and that their working hours are not limited, as long as work does not interfere with their studies (Study in Estonia). All doctoral study is tuition-free (Study in Estonia).
What it costs
Study in Estonia says tuition generally ranges from €1,500 to €15,000 a year for bachelor’s and master’s programmes, with medicine, law, business administration and social sciences at the higher end. Some universities offer a few programmes with no fee at all, and doctoral study is free (Study in Estonia). Fees change periodically, so check your programme’s page.
For living costs, the portal says students’ monthly average can be around €300 to €500. It gives dormitory rent of €150 to €350 a month and private flats at €350 to €750, with food at around €300 a month. Tallinn’s public transport is free for residents, including international students who live there (Study in Estonia). The portal gives no date for these figures.
The student visa and proof of funds
Non-EU students apply for a long-stay D visa and, if their studies last longer than a year, a temporary residence permit for study (Study in Estonia). The Police and Border Guard Board’s student guide, dated January 2026, says you need sufficient legal income of €880 a month per applicant, and that your income must stay at that level in 2026. You also need health insurance covering the whole permit period. The guide lists a state fee of €225 for the residence permit and €120 for the D visa (Police and Border Guard Board).
Working while you study
Full-time students can work without an additional work permit, and Study in Estonia says hours are not limited. The condition is that you pass a full course load and finish within the nominal study period (Study in Estonia).
After you graduate
Study in Estonia says non-EU graduates can stay for an extra nine months to look for a job. Once you find suitable work, you then apply for a residence permit for employment (Study in Estonia).
Scholarships for Estonia
The main official scheme is the Scholarship for degree and exchange study in Estonia, offered by the Ministry of Education and Research and Harno. For 2026/27 it pays €350 a month at bachelor’s and master’s level and €660 a month for doctoral students. Master’s and PhD study in any field qualifies, while bachelor’s study must relate to Estonian language and culture. Applicants must be citizens of a listed country and hold an admission letter from an Estonian university; citizens of Russia and Belarus are not accepted for 2026/27. Harno lists an application window of 1 to 31 October 2026 and says 15 scholarships will be awarded in this round, adding that only about 10% of applicants usually succeed (Harno).
Harno also runs Compatriots Scholarships for young expatriate Estonians studying full time in Estonian, and individual universities offer their own awards (Study in Estonia).
