University of Tartu
Tartu Ülikool
Estonia's national university, founded by the Swedish king in 1632, with small English-taught bachelor's cohorts.
- Students
- 15,200
- Tuition
- €4,200
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1632
- QS World Ranking
- #367
- 2027 edition
About UT
The University of Tartu traces its history to 1632, when King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden signed the foundation decree of Academia Dorpatensis; the first students matriculated that April. After closures during wars, it reopened in 1802 as the Imperial University of Dorpat, where scientists such as Karl Ernst von Baer and Wilhelm Ostwald studied, and today it is Estonia's national university. About 15,200 students and 3,700 staff work across four faculties (Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, and Science and Technology) and colleges in Narva, Pärnu and Viljandi.
Most teaching is in Estonian. In English, Tartu offers just two bachelor's programmes with small intakes, Business Administration (25 places) and Science and Technology (50 places), plus the six-year integrated Medicine programme (24 places) and about 25 English-taught master's programmes. Unlike Estonian-taught study, all English-taught bachelor's programmes charge tuition to every student, including EU citizens.
Admission is selective and programme-specific: applicants are scored on combinations of school grades, a motivation letter, online entry tests and interviews. Tartu suits students who want a historic, compact university town, a strong science and computing tradition, and relatively low fees.
Why students choose UT
Tuition for English bachelor's programmes is modest: EUR 4,200 a year for Business Administration and EUR 6,000 for Science and Technology.
Science and Technology students can join the ESTCube student satellite project or the Tartu iGEM synthetic biology team, which won the grand prize in 2023.
Business Administration is one of the two most highly rated programmes at the university for student satisfaction.
Medicine is taught in English with clinical work at Tartu University Hospital, Estonia's largest medical care provider.
Admissions
Autumn 2027 entry
Selectivity
Tartu does not publish an overall admit rate. The three English-taught first-cycle options (two bachelor's programmes and integrated Medicine) have small, fixed numbers of places (e.g. 25 in Business Administration, 50 in Science and Technology, 24 in Medicine) and rank applicants by a weighted score.
Typical entry requirements
| Business Administration (BA) | Upper secondary education and English proficiency; scored 60% on a motivation letter (up to 4,600 characters) and 40% on an online Mathematics entry test |
|---|---|
| Science and Technology (BSc) | Upper secondary education with Mathematics and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics; scored equally (20% each) on Mathematics result, science result, motivation letter, entry test and interview |
| Medicine (MD, 6 years) | Upper secondary education; 20% motivation letter, 60% online Physics and Chemistry exam, 20% interview (at least 51/100 on the first two to be invited) |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 75 IELTS Academic 6.0 with no part below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 75 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.0 on the new scale (Speaking 4, other sections 3.5). Cambridge and PTE Academic are also accepted; tests must be no more than two years old. TOEFL code 0133. |
Deadlines
- Bachelor's programmes and Medicine (DreamApply) Non-binding15 April (2026 date; 2027 dates not yet published)
For 2026 entry the application period was 2 January to 15 April 2026, with results on 1 June 2026 and studies starting 31 August 2026. The programme pages list the same 2 January / 15 April / 1 June pattern and say 2027 deadlines and requirements will be added by the end of December 2026.
The University of Tartu has published only its 2026 admissions calendar so far. The 2026 pattern (applications 2 January to 15 April; results 1 June) is shown as a guide for 2027 entry.
How to apply
Apply online through DreamApply, uploading secondary school documents (per the country-specific requirements), proof of English and a motivation letter, and pay a EUR 100 application fee (waived if you completed your previous studies in Estonia). Then take the programme's online entry test and, where required, an interview. Non-EU/EEA admits must pre-pay half of the first semester's fee before the official admission letter is issued.
What admissions looks for
- A clear, specific motivation letter: it counts for 60% of the score in Business Administration and must cover your goals, why Tartu, and how you will finance your studies.
- Strong mathematics, tested directly through online entry tests.
- For Science and Technology, good school results in Mathematics and a science subject, plus a strong interview.
- For Medicine, a high score on the Physics and Chemistry exam and a convincing reason to study medicine in Estonia.
Tips for applying to UT
- 1 Treat the motivation letter as the core of your application, and answer every point in the programme's brief, including how you will pay for your studies.
- 2 Practise school mathematics before the online entry test; it is a large share of the score for Business Administration.
- 3 If you are graduating in 2027, check whether your country lets you apply with current grades by the 15 April deadline.
- 4 Non-EU applicants should budget for pre-paying half of the first semester's tuition in May or June: the admission letter needed for a visa is only issued after payment.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
All English-taught bachelor's programmes are fee-based, and tuition-waiver places for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens exist only on selected master's programmes. Scholarship options include Estonia's national scholarship programme for international students, the Estophilus scholarship and schemes for expatriate Estonians; enrolled students can apply for further university scholarships from the second semester.
- EUR 100 (waived for previous study in Estonia)
- Application fee
- Half of first-semester tuition, invoiced in May or June
- Non-EU pre-payment
- Selected master's programmes only
- Tuition-waiver places
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters, with autumn studies starting at the end of August
Science and Technology (BSc, English)
Choose between genetics and biotechnology, bioengineering and robotics, or chemistry and materials science in year two; 50 places at EUR 6,000 a year.
Business Administration (BA, English)
25 places at EUR 4,200 a year, and one of the university's two highest-rated specialisations for student satisfaction.
Medicine (MD, English, 6 years)
24 places, with clinical training at Tartu University Hospital and Estonian language study to work with local patients.
Computer Science (MSc, English)
Free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens from 2026/27 and EUR 7,200 a year for others; the university places it in the global top 400 for computer science.
International Relations and Regional Studies (MA, English)
Taught in the Faculty of Social Sciences, home of the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, and tuition-free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens from 2026/27.
Research
- Students build and operate the ESTCube student satellite through the Faculty of Science and Technology.
- The Tartu TUIT iGEM team won the grand prize in the 2023 iGEM synthetic biology competition.
- Wilhelm Ostwald, a founder of physical chemistry and later Nobel laureate, studied and earned his doctorate at the University of Dorpat.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science and Technology
Student life
Tartu is a university town built around its historic main building, and the university's historic buildings are on the European Heritage Label list as an embodiment of Enlightenment-era ideas of a university. English-taught cohorts are small, so classes are close-knit, and science students can get involved early in projects such as the ESTCube satellite and the iGEM team. The university runs an International Student Ambassadors programme, student shadowing days and a podcast for international applicants, and its mascot is a blue bird called Tiksu.
- Small English-taught cohorts of 24 to 50 students.
- ESTCube satellite and iGEM synthetic biology team open to students.
- International Student Ambassadors and student shadowing for prospective students.
- Member of the Coimbra Group and the Utrecht Network.
Location
Tartu is Estonia's main university town, in the south-east of the country; the university's neoclassical main building and other historic buildings, on the European Heritage Label list, are in the city centre. Medicine students train at Tartu University Hospital, Estonia's largest medical care provider. The university also runs colleges in Narva and Pärnu and the Viljandi Culture Academy, and hosts the Estonian Marine Institute in Tallinn.
Nearest airport: Tallinn Airport (TLL)
Notable alumni
- KK Kaja KallasFirst female Prime Minister of Estonia (2021-2024); bachelor's degree in law (1999)
- KK Kersti KaljulaidPresident of Estonia 2016-2021; biology degree and MBA from Tartu
- JT Jaan TallinnCo-developer of Skype and Kazaa; BSc in theoretical physics (1996)
- WO Wilhelm OstwaldNobel Prize-winning chemist; studied and completed his doctorate at the University of Dorpat
- KE Karl Ernst von BaerPioneer of embryology; educated at the Imperial University of Dorpat
- AH Ahti HeinlaSkype developer and co-founder of Starship Technologies; studied physics at Tartu for two years
Frequently asked questions
Is the University of Tartu free for EU students?
Not for English-taught bachelor's programmes: all of them charge tuition, e.g. EUR 4,200 a year for Business Administration and EUR 6,000 for Science and Technology. Some English master's programmes offer tuition-waiver places for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
When is the University of Tartu application deadline?
For 2026 entry, bachelor's and Medicine applications ran from 2 January to 15 April 2026 via DreamApply. The 2027 dates are not yet published but are likely to follow the same pattern.
Does the University of Tartu have entrance exams?
Yes. Business Administration uses an online Mathematics test, Science and Technology an entry test and interview, and Medicine an online Physics and Chemistry exam plus an interview.
What IELTS score does the University of Tartu require?
IELTS Academic 6.0 with no part below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 75 for tests taken before 21 January 2026.
How much does Medicine at the University of Tartu cost?
The six-year English-taught Medicine programme costs EUR 13,200 a year and has 24 places.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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