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Estonia is famous for its diversity of nature and landscapes and could be called “the national park of Europe”. There are very few places in Europe and in the world where you can see so much untouched pristine nature in one small country. Nearly 50% of Estonian territory is covered with forest, and the country boasts to have 1.500 islands and 1.000 lakes. Tallinn, the Estonian capital, is sometimes referred to as a medieval jewel of Northern Europe, or the “pocket-sized Prague”. The city presents a unique combination of old and new coexisting in harmony. The medieval Old Town of Tallinn is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admired by tourists and locals alike. The new city is vividly growing, and is in fact among the top seven of the world’s most intelligent cities (according to Intelligent Community Forum ranking) with regard to the use of information technology, particularly broadband and the Internet. It is a joke that free wireless Internet is a “human right” in Estonia, but it is not an overstatement. Tartu, second biggest town of Estonia, is also known as an academic capital of the country. It definitely has a special atmosphere as one fifth of its citizens are young people and students. Around 40% of Estonia‘s students live and study in Tartu, home to the country’s largest and most prestigious university. Founded in 1632, the University of Tartu is one of the oldest universities in this part of Europe. For centuries it has been an international hub for the academic and intellectual elite, free thinking and cutting edge research. Almost 70.000 students currently study at Estonian universities, most of which are concentrated in two main centres, Tallinn and Tartu. The education system of the country is diverse, extensive, and wellestablished, but at the same time very dynamic. All academic institutions have introduced bachelor and master degrees so that their study programs are recognized internationally. The number of study programmes with instruction in English has increased every year at all major universities in the country: University of Tartu, Tallinn University, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Estonian University of Life Sciences and Estonian Business School. Each year nearly 20.000 new students start their academic career in Estonia, and many come from abroad. The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research encourages international applicants by offering generous scholarships for Master and PhD degrees. More than 100 degree programmes are offered with instruction in English. One can find an international study programme in any of the following fields: Arts and Humanities, Business, Law, Computing, Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Social and Natural Sciences. English is widely spoken throughout the country, making it a comfortable place for living and studying. All major Estonian universities have joined the Good Practice Charter ensuring that international students in Estonia enjoy the same rights as local students. Student life is bustling on campus, and regularly spills over into the streets, as is the case with the Spring and Autumn Student Days. These are a highlight of student life every semester, full of fun and educating events, festivals and contests, both in Tallinn and Tartu. If you are considering studying abroad for a semester or even a full degree, think of small country in the North that will positively surprise you. It is only a short flight away. Svetlana Vogel University of Tartu, Estonia 00372-7376109 studyinfo@ut.ee www.ut.ee itchy feet Nr.7, Ausgabe 2010 |
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