Based on the QS World University Rankings 2026 and Times Higher Education (THE) 2026, here are the Estonia top universities:
- University of Tartu
- Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)
- Tallinn University
- Estonian University of Life Sciences
- Estonian Academy of Arts
- Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
- Estonian Business School
- TTK University of Applied Sciences
At a Glance:
- Capital: Tallinn
- Best Student Cities: Tallinn, Tartu
- Country Population: 1,316,000 people
- Currency: Euro
- Number of Listed Universities: 12
- Number of Ranked Universities: 3
- Academic Programs:
- 25 Bachelor’s Programs
- 77 Master’s Programs
- 81 Doctoral Programs
For more detailed information about admission requirements, tuition fees, and available programs at the top universities in Estonia, we recommend visiting the Study in Estonia page to explore your study opportunities in this innovative European country.
Rank 1: University of Tartu
- Location: City of Tartu, Estonia
- Rank: #135 in Europe and #301 in the world
- Established: 1632
- Number of students: 13000
- Percentage of international students: 13%
- Faculty members: 1400
- Tuition: Annually between 4700 to 16200 US dollars
The University of Tartu is an important institution in Estonia known for providing comprehensive educational services and research innovations. This university, with a score of 88.97, offers a diverse range of programs in various fields.
The main campus of the university is situated in the city of Tartu, the second-largest city in Estonia and one of the best student cities in the country, offering a diverse range of academic programs.
The University of Tartu offers a wide range of fields in English, Estonian, and one field in Russian. This university hosts approximately 14,000 students and over 1,800 international students from more than 100 countries worldwide.
Language Scores
Minimum acceptable language scores for admission:
- TOEFL: 75+
- IELTS: 6+
- PTE Academic: 59+
- Cambridge CAE Advanced: 169+
Faculties and Programs
| Study Level | Faculty | Field | Duration | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | Business and Management | Business Management | 36 months | 4200 Euros |
| Life Sciences and Medicine | Medicine | 72 months | 13200 Euros | |
| Natural Sciences | Science and Technology | 36 months | 6000 Euros | |
| Master's | Arts and Humanities | Estonian and Finno-Ugric Languages European Languages and Cultures Folkloristics and Applied Heritage Studies Philosophy Semiotics | 24 months | 4000 Euros |
| Business and Management | Creative Project Management Entrepreneurship in Economic Policy Environmental Governance and Adaptation to Climate Change Innovation and Technology Management | 12 to 24 months | 3800 to 6000 Euros | |
| Engineering and Technology | Computer Science Computer Engineering and Robotics Software Engineering | 24 months | 6000 Euros | |
| Life Sciences and Medicine | Bioengineering Nutrition Pharmacy | 24 months | 3170 to 6000 Euros | |
| Natural Sciences | Financial Engineering and Statistics Applied Measurement Sciences Excellence in Analytical Chemistry Geoinformatics for Urban Society Materials Science and Technology | 24 months | 4500 to 6000 Euros | |
| PhD | Arts and Humanities | Humanities | 48 months | - |
| Engineering and Technology | Engineering and Technology | 48 months | - | |
| Life Sciences and Medicine | Medicine and Sports | 48 months | - | |
| Natural Sciences | Chemical and Physical Sciences Life and Earth Sciences Mathematics and Computer Sciences | 48 months | - | |
| Management and Social Sciences | Educational Sciences Social Sciences | 48 months | - |
Rank 2: Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)
- Location: Tallinn, Estonia
- Rank: #261 in Europe and #601 in the world
- Established: 1918
- Number of Students: 9,200
- International Students: 13%
- Faculty Members: 1,160
- Tuition Fee: $0 to $7,000 per year
Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) is the best school for engineering and technology in Estonia. Students can study many things here, like engineering, science, business, and social sciences.
The university is a great place for students. It has nice rooms to live in and good places for sports. The main campus is near a big science park called Tehnopol. There are more than 200 technology companies there. For example, the office of Skype is right next to the school.
TalTech is the most international university in Estonia. It has more than 1,700 students from 100 different countries.
Language Scores
To study here, you need these minimum scores:
- TOEFL: 72+
- IELTS: 5.5+
Faculties and Programs
| Level | Program |
|---|---|
| Bachelor (Undergraduate) | International Business Administration |
| Law | |
| Cyber Security Engineering | |
| Integrated Engineering | |
| Master (Graduate) | MA in International Business Administration |
| MA in Law | |
| MA in Technology Governance and Digital Transformation | |
| MBA Entrepreneurial Management | |
| MSc in Applied Physics | |
| MSc in Communicative Electronics | |
| MSc in Computer and Systems Engineering | |
| MSc in Cyber Security | |
| MSc in Design and Technology Futures | |
| MSc in Environmental Engineering and Management | |
| MSc in Health Care Technology | |
| MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management | |
| MSc in Materials and Processes of Sustainable Energetics | |
| MSc in Mechatronics | |
| MSc in Technology of Wood, Plastics and Textiles | |
| MSc in e-Governance Technologies and Services |
Rank 3: Tallinn University
- Location: Tallinn, Estonia
- Rank: #378 in Europe and #901 in the world
- Established: 2005
- Number of Students: 9,000
- International Students: 5%
- Faculty Members: 400
- Tuition Fee: $0 to $10,500 per year
Tallinn University is a modern and friendly school in the capital city. It is famous for high-quality teaching and a lively community. The university focuses on research and new ideas. It encourages students to help solve real problems in the world today.
Language Scores
To study here, you need one of these minimum scores:
- IELTS: 6.0+
- TOEFL: 72+
- PTE Academic: 59+
Faculties and Programs
| Level | Faculty | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | Arts, Design and Media | Audiovisual Media Crossmedia |
| Humanities | Liberal Arts in Humanities Liberal Arts in Social Sciences |
|
| Law | Law | |
| Social Sciences | Liberal Arts in Social Sciences Politics and Governance |
|
| Master | Arts, Design and Media | Documentary Film Interaction Design Kino Eyes Screen Media and Innovation |
| Business and Management | Communication Management Educational Innovation and Leadership Social Entrepreneurship |
|
| Computer Science and IT | Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies Human-Computer Interaction |
|
| Humanities | Literature, Visual Culture and Film | |
| Health and Medicine | Health Behaviour and Wellbeing | |
| Social Sciences | Anthropology Digital Learning Games Educational Innovation and Leadership Estonian Studies Human Rights in the Digital Society International Relations Social Entrepreneurship |
|
| PhD | Arts, Design and Media | Audiovisual Arts and Media Studies |
| Business and Management | Demography | |
| Computer Science and IT | Information Society Technologies | |
| Environment and Agriculture | Ecology | |
| Health and Medicine | Health Behaviour and Wellbeing | |
| Math and Natural Sciences | Analytical Biochemistry Physics |
|
| Social Sciences | Educational Sciences Government and Politics Health Behaviour and Wellbeing Psychology Social Work Sociology Studies of Cultures |
Top 10 universities in Estonia
Estonia has many other good universities. These schools welcome international students who want to move to Estonia. Here is a list of these schools:
- Estonian University of Life Sciences: This school is great for studying nature, farming, and the environment.
- National Institute of Chemical Physics & Biophysics: A top place for students who love deep science and research.
- Estonian Academy of Arts: The best place for students who want to study painting, design, or architecture.
- Estonian Business School (EBS): A famous private school for people who want to become business leaders or start a company.
- Tallinn University of Applied Sciences: This school focuses on practical skills for jobs like engineering and construction.
- Estonian Academy of Security Sciences: This school trains people for the police, border guard, and rescue services.
- Tartu Health Care College: A place to learn nursing and other healthcare jobs in the city of Tartu.
- Tallinn Health College: Similar to the Tartu college, but located in the capital city, Tallinn.
- Estonian Information Technology College: A specialized school for learning about computers and coding.
- Estonian Academy of Music & Theatre: The main school for students who want to be professional musicians or actors.
Final Note
Estonia is one of the most advanced countries in Europe. Studying here is a great opportunity for international students.
- University of Tartu: This is the most famous and oldest school in Estonia. It is ranked #358 in the world (QS 2025). It offers more than 160 programs in English for Bachelor’s and Master’s students.
- Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech): This is the best choice for students who love engineering and technology. It is the only technical university in the country. It has 1,500 international students from 100 countries. It is famous for IT and Robotics. Because the school works with many startup companies, it is easy for students to find good jobs.
- Tallinn University: This school is perfect for social sciences, media, and teaching.
- Estonian University of Life Sciences: This university is very strong in agriculture and environmental studies. It is ranked #93 in the world in its field.
FAQs
University of Tartu (best for general research and medicine), TalTech (best for engineering and IT), and Tallinn University (best for social sciences and media)
Yes, it is! Estonia has a modern education system and uses a lot of digital technology. Schools like the University of Tartu have high global rankings (#358 in QS 2025). The country is very safe, and living costs are low (€500–€800 per month). It is also easy to get a student visa, and there are many jobs in technology.
Study is not completely free, but there are many scholarships. For example, the “Dora Plus” scholarship helps Master’s and PhD students. Universities like Tartu and TalTech also offer scholarships that can cover 100% of your tuition fees. Usually, tuition costs between €4,000 and €7,500 per year, but with a scholarship, it can be free or very cheap.
Yes, TalTech is one of the best technical schools in Europe. It is famous for Engineering and IT. They offer more than 30 programs in English. Because they work with famous companies like Bolt and Skype, more than 90% of students find a job after they graduate.
To apply, you need:
– A high school diploma or a Bachelor’s degree.
– English scores (IELTS 5.5–6.5 or TOEFL).
– A Motivation Letter and a CV.
– Sometimes, an interview or an entrance exam.
– You must apply online using the DreamApply website, usually between February and April.
Yes! There are more than 150 programs in English for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels. You do not need to speak Estonian to study there; you only need your English certificate (IELTS/TOEFL).
