Funding of university studies, study allowances
Those students who are acquiring higher education can apply for a student loan, need-based study allowance, or need-based special allowance to fund their studies or apply for various different scholarships. The purpose of the study allowances is to support students in covering the additional expenses which arise from acquiring their higher education.
Students are not entitled to the study allowance during academic leave or during a period of receiving a study allowance from the government of a foreign country, an international or intergovernmental organisation, or from the representation of a cooperation programme.
Need-based study allowance and special allowance
Need-based study allowance can be applied for by full-time students who complete at least 75% of their curriculum and whose estimated monthly income per family member is up to 631 euros in 2022. The average income of the family is calculated based on the amount of their income subject to income tax in the calendar year before the academic year in which the study allowance is applied for.
An application for need-based study allowance must be submitted in both the autumn and spring semesters in the edu.ee education portal. Applications may be filed at any time during a semester, but should be filed in the beginning of the semester (in February and September), as the allowance will be paid staring from the month in which you submitted the application.
In the case of studying abroad, the application for need-based study allowance cannot be submitted electronically (except for the students who are included in the Erasmus+ programme). The application and the accompanying documents must be signed digitally and emailed to [email protected] or sent by post (to: Riigi Tugiteenuste Keskus, Sõbra 56, 51013 Tartu).
Required documents:
- application for need-based study allowance
- copy of an identity document
- if the student has adult sisters, brothers, half-sisters, or half-brothers who are studying, a document which proves their studies must be submitted (available from the educational institution)
- the incomes of the student’s family members in the previous year. Separate extracts must be submitted for each family member (available from the Tax and Customs Board)
- certificate which proves full-time studies (thereinafter, in the beginning of each month), which must specify the student’s level of studies and the standard period of study based on the student’s curriculum (available from the educational institution)
- certificate on the credits earned in the previous semester (not applicable to the first semester of the studies), the credits to be earned based on the curriculum, and the total number of credits earned (cumulative percentage of completion of the curriculum) (available from the educational institution).
Any documents in a foreign language must be translated into Estonian or English. A document verified by a translation bureau (seal/signature) suffices.
Further information about need-based study allowance can be found from the website of the Ministry of Education and Research.
If a student does not qualify for the need-based study allowance because their previous income exceeded the limit established for receiving the allowance, but their income has recently significantly decreased, the student may apply for a need-based special allowance from their educational institution. The amount of the special allowance is 135 euros per month. The student must contact their institution of higher education to apply for the need-based special allowance.
Doctoral allowance
Doctoral students are entitled to the doctoral allowance for 12 calendar months per year until the end of their standard period of study. First-year doctoral students, as well as the doctoral students who have passed the assessment of their studies and research work (attestation) pursuant to the procedure established by the university are entitled to a monthly allowance of 660 euros.
The student is not entitled to the doctoral allowance during academic leave.
Doctoral students may also apply for the position of a junior research fellow. Universities are, however, not under any obligation to enter into junior research fellow’s employment contracts with doctoral students. As working full time may extend the period of study of doctoral students, the doctoral allowance is paid to those doctoral students who are studying part-time proportionally, taking into consideration the student’s workload.
Loans
The student loan is a long-term state-guaranteed loan for funding studying expenses. The student loan is granted to the citizens of the Republic of Estonia and to individuals who live in Estonia based on a long-term resident’s residence permit who are studying full time.
The student loan can be applied for once per year during the entire academic year from 15 September to 1 June. The student loan can be applied for in the extent of the standard period of study based on the student’s curriculum. The student loan is granted by banks and further information about the terms and conditions and application of the loan should also be inquired from banks.
Further information about the student loan can also be found from the website of the Ministry of Education and Research.
Students may also ask banks about additional loans granted for funding one’s studies. Any options for further lending (such as an education loan) are not guaranteed by the state.
Scholarships
Students are able to apply for various different scholarships. The criteria for receiving a scholarship are announced upon establishing each specific scholarship. Further information about the scholarships can be found on the websites of the institutions of higher education and on the website of the Education and Youth Board.
Adults can acquire education within the adult education system, i.e. basic, secondary, vocational, and higher education in the form of full-time or part-time studies and to participate in refresher trainings.
Vocational educational institutions offer adults various different options for studying alongside their work and families in the form of full-time or part-time studies.
(In the case of full-time studies, the student’s independent learning forms less than a half of the volume of the curricular studies, and, in the case of part-time studies, more than half of the volume of the curricular studies.) Full-time study is divided into school-based and workplace-based study forms.
Acquisition of vocational education is generally offered free of charge to the learners, but private schools also have paid student places.
Flexible opportunities for studying are provided for adult learners. For further information about learning opportunities, schools should be contacted directly.
Refresher trainings allow the participants to add to their existing knowledge and skills, to acquire new competencies, and to develop themselves as people.
Work-related trainings are usually paid for by the learner or by their employer. If an individual pays for their own studies, they are, in certain cases, entitled to an income tax refund in the extent of the amount spent on the training.
Free trainings are offered by the Ministry of Education and Research and the courses are organised at vocational educational institutions and institutions of higher education which provide vocational training. The trainings are targeted at a wide target group of adults, ensuring access to acquiring new knowledge and skills irrespective of the individual’s economic situation or level of education. The list of free trainings provided is published on the website of the Ministry of Education and Research, but those interested should contact the specific educational institution for registration and for further information.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund also offers free labour market training to the unemployed and other target groups, as well as the so-called ‘Work and study’ services to prevent unemployment.
Information about the training and activity licences issued to the general education and vocational schools and institutions of higher education, as well as about the notices of economic activities submitted, can be found from the Estonian Education Information System.
Non-formal education is provided by informal education centres, folk high schools, cultural and village centres, and many others. Art, language, and computer study courses are the most popular.
The list of folk high schools can be found from the website of the Association of Estonian Folk High Schools. The list of non-formal training centres is available on the website of the Estonian Non-formal Adult Education Association.
Working learners may take 30 calendar days of study leave within one calendar year for studying at a general education or vocational school or for taking part in a refresher training organised by a refresher training institution. The study leave does not have to be related to a specific study or exam session.
During a study leave granted for taking part in formal education or a refresher training for the purposes of professional development, the learner is entitled to the average remuneration for 20 calendar days.
Participants in refresher trainings are only entitled to the study leave if the institution organising the training has submitted a notice of economic activities for organising refresher trainings. Whether or not such a notice has been submitted can be checked from the Estonian Education Information System.
References
- Study allowances and state grants (Ministry of Education and Research)
- Scholarships for international students, researchers and academic staff
- Study in Estonia