Costs and Funding in Estonia - Study in Estonia

Costs and Funding for Studying in Estonia

Estonia is one of Europe's best-value destinations for international students. Tuition is affordable, living costs are reasonable, and scholarships can eliminate tuition entirely. This guide breaks down the full cost picture and shows you how to fund your studies.

Tuition Fees

EU/EEA students

Note: Estonian-taught state-funded places are competitive. You need B2 Estonian and strong academic credentials to qualify.

Non-EU/EEA students

Specific popular programs for reference:

• TalTech Cyber Security MSc — EUR 6,000/year
• University of Tartu Software Engineering MSc — EUR 5,500/year
• University of Tartu Semiotics MSc — EUR 3,800/year
• Tallinn University Human-Computer Interaction MSc — EUR 4,000/year

Monthly Living Costs

Tallinn (capital, highest costs)

Tartu (university city, lower costs)

Total Cost of a Degree

Realistic total costs, tuition plus living for 12 months:

Compare to UK Master's (GBP 40,000-80,000 total) or US Master's (USD 50,000-100,000 total) — Estonia is 2-5x cheaper.

Scholarships

Dora Plus (the headline scholarship)

Dora Plus is funded by the Estonian government through the Archimedes Foundation and supports international Master's and PhD students.

What it covers:

• Full tuition waiver
• Monthly living stipend: EUR 438 for Master's, EUR 660 for PhD
• Travel allowance to and from Estonia (one-time)

Who's eligible: Non-EU students admitted to English-taught Master's or PhD programs at Estonian public universities. Highly competitive — typically the top 5-10% of admitted students.

How to apply: Through your university's admissions system. You're typically considered automatically when you apply by the early deadline (usually mid-March). Some universities require a separate Dora Plus statement.

University Merit Scholarships

Each major university offers its own tuition waivers for top applicants:

• University of Tartu — Tuition waivers of 50-100% for top Master's applicants; separate waivers for specific programs
• TalTech — Tuition waivers of 25-100% based on application ranking; "TalTech Development Fund" scholarships for additional support
• Tallinn University — Partial and full tuition waivers based on academic merit
• EBS — Merit scholarships covering 20-50% of tuition

Strategy: Apply to multiple universities. A strong applicant can land EUR 5,000+ in scholarships across competing offers.

Country-Specific and Bilateral Scholarships

Estonia has bilateral agreements with various countries. Check:

• Estonian Government Scholarship — for specific countries including Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and others
• Mobilitas Pluss — for PhD researchers in specific fields
• Your home country scholarship programs (DAAD, Fulbright, Chevening, etc. — some support Estonia)

Erasmus+ and Exchange

If you're a current EU student, Erasmus+ funds a semester or year abroad in Estonia with a monthly grant of EUR 300-500 (varies by home country). Your home university handles the application.

Proof of Funds for the Residence Permit

Non-EU students applying for an Estonian residence permit must prove financial resources.

Minimum proof required:

• EUR 350 per month for the duration of your residence permit
• One-year permit = EUR 4,200 in available funds
• Two-year permit = EUR 8,400

Accepted proof:

• Bank statement in your name showing the required amount
• Bank statement of a parent/guardian plus notarized sponsorship letter
• Official scholarship confirmation letter
• Combination of the above

This is separate from tuition. You need to cover tuition AND living expenses in your total available funds.

Health Insurance

EU/EEA students

Use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for basic healthcare. Free.

Consider additional private insurance for dental, optical, and private clinics.

Non-EU students

1. Before arrival — get private travel/health insurance (EUR 100-250/year) for the residence permit application
2. After enrolment — if you're a full-time student in a state-funded program, you're automatically covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund at no extra cost
3. Full-paying students — continue with private insurance (EUR 200-400/year) or buy into the state insurance fund (EUR 16/month)

Working While Studying

Non-EU students with a residence permit can work without additional authorization, as long as the work doesn't interfere with studies. EU/EEA students can work freely.

Typical student part-time earnings:

• Retail, café, bar work — EUR 5-8/hour, or EUR 800-1,200/month part-time
• IT/developer work — EUR 12-20/hour, or EUR 1,500-2,500/month part-time
• Tutoring, translation — EUR 10-25/hour
• Research assistantships — EUR 400-800/month (limited availability)

See our work and career guide for the full picture.

Budget Planning Checklist

Before arriving in Estonia, confirm:

• Tuition payment schedule and first instalment amount
• Scholarship applications submitted (Dora Plus, university waivers)
• Minimum proof of funds secured (EUR 4,200+ for one year, non-EU)
• Housing reserved (student dorm confirmation or first-month apartment deposit)
• Health insurance in place (EU: EHIC; non-EU: private insurance for arrival)
• Flight and initial settlement budget (EUR 500-1,000 for first-week costs)

Next Steps

1. Visa and arrival — use your proof of funds to apply for the residence permit
2. Living in Estonia — housing, transport, and daily life
3. Work and career — part-time work and post-study employment
4. Admissions and application — if you haven't applied yet