The Estonian University of Life Sciences (Eesti Maaülikool, EMÜ) is a public university in Tartu with 3,221 students as of 11 September 2026 and 43 study programmes, three of them taught in English.[1][2] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is placed in the 1201–1400 band.[3]
For 2026/27 the English-taught programmes cost €4,000 per year (Landscape Architecture, master’s), €5,600 (Environmental Governance and Adaptation to Climate Change, master’s) and €9,800 (Veterinary Medicine).[4][5][6] Applicants prove English at level B2, for example with IELTS Academic 5.5.[7] There are no bachelor’s programmes in English; the other programmes are taught in Estonian.[8]
Key facts
| Official name | Eesti Maaülikool (Estonian University of Life Sciences) |
| Location | Tartu, Estonia (F. R. Kreutzwaldi 1, 51006 Tartu)[9] |
| Type | Public university[2] |
| Founded | 1951 as the Estonian Agricultural Academy (Wikipedia); the university’s own history page dates its roots to the Tartu Veterinary School of 1848; current name since 2004[2] |
| Students | 3,221 as of 11 September 2026 (2,175 first-cycle, 847 master’s, 199 doctoral); the page gives no figure for international students[1] |
| Study programmes | 43, of which 3 are taught in English[1] |
| Staff | 1,164 employees, 559 of them academic staff[1] |
| Institutes | Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Forestry and Engineering; Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences[1] |
| English-taught programmes | Landscape Architecture (master’s); Environmental Governance and Adaptation to Climate Change (joint master’s with the University of Tartu); Veterinary Medicine (integrated bachelor’s and master’s)[10] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Band 1201–1400 (exact position not given)[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27 (English-taught, per year) | €4,000 Landscape Architecture · €5,600 Environmental Governance · €9,800 Veterinary Medicine[4] |
| Application fee | €100 for international master’s applicants (not for Veterinary Medicine)[11] |
| English proof | Level B2, for example IELTS Academic 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 61[7] |
| Application route | DreamApply (estonia.dreamapply.com)[10] |
| Official website | emu.ee |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the Estonian University of Life Sciences
The Estonian University of Life Sciences is based in Tartu. Its own history page dates the university’s history to 1848, when the Tartu Veterinary School was founded; in 1873 this became the Tartu Veterinary Institute.[9] Wikipedia gives 1951 as the year the Estonian Agricultural Academy was established, with roots in a Chair of Agriculture at the University of Tartu in 1802, and states that the current name dates from 2004.[2] The sources therefore use different starting points, and we show 1951 as the founding year in the table of the Estonia ranking.
The university has three institutes: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Forestry and Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences.[1] As of 11 September 2026 it had 3,221 students (2,175 first-cycle, 847 master’s and 199 doctoral) and 1,164 employees.[1] An older Wikipedia figure of 2,931 students differs from this.[2]
How is the Estonian University of Life Sciences ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the university is ranked in the 1201–1400 band, according to Estonian World’s report on the release; no single position is given.[3] The university’s own English pages that we read give no 2027 position.
Rankings differ by publisher, year and subject, so treat one band as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the Estonian University of Life Sciences?
The university lists 43 study programmes: 2 in applied higher education, 13 bachelor’s, 4 integrated bachelor’s and master’s, 19 master’s and 5 doctoral programmes. Three are taught in English.[1]
- Landscape Architecture: a master’s programme. Admission needs a bachelor’s degree, ideally in landscape architecture but open to neighbouring fields such as forestry, architecture or planning, with at least 60% of the highest possible CGPA, a portfolio of about 15 pages and an interview.[4]
- Environmental Governance and Adaptation to Climate Change: a master’s programme run jointly with the University of Tartu. Admission needs a bachelor’s degree with at least 60% of the highest CGPA, an online written test and a video interview.[5][10]
- Veterinary Medicine: an integrated bachelor’s and master’s programme with a six-year official study period.[8] Admission ranking uses the International Student Admission Test (ISAT) and a motivation letter.[6]
The university states that it does not offer programmes in English at bachelor’s level. Other bachelor’s programmes and most master’s programmes are taught in Estonian and require CEFR level B2 in Estonian.[8]
How much does the Estonian University of Life Sciences cost in 2026/27?
| Programme | Tuition per year, 2026/27 | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Architecture (master’s) | €4,000 | €100 |
| Environmental Governance and Adaptation to Climate Change (master’s) | €5,600 | €100 |
| Veterinary Medicine (integrated) | €9,800 | none |
Each programme page gives its fee for 2026/27 and notes that it covers courses only, not room and board.[4][5][6] The university’s fee page lists one amount per programme and does not split it by EU or non-EU citizenship; citizenship appears only in the scholarship rules.[11] That fee page carries no date, but its amounts match the 2026/27 programme pages.
Payment, scholarships and the application fee
Tuition is paid in two instalments per year after arrival in Estonia and signing a contract with the university.[11] The application fee for international master’s applicants is non-refundable, and one fee covers applications to two master’s programmes.[11]
The university also offers targeted scholarships, which are tuition-free study places without living or travel money. They go to the candidates with the highest admission points, and recipients must complete 30 ECTS per semester to keep them. The fee page lists places for Estonian, EU and Ukrainian citizens in some programmes.[11] Living costs come on top; see the Estonia overview.
How do you apply to the Estonian University of Life Sciences?
International candidates apply in DreamApply (estonia.dreamapply.com); only one account may be created.[10] The online application contains personal details, a motivation letter, scans (not photos) of education documents with official English translations, the identification page of your passport and proof of English proficiency.[10] International master’s and doctoral candidates pay the €100 application fee and upload the receipt before submitting; submitted applications cannot be edited, but documents can be added.[10]
Each programme sets its own selection steps, as described above: portfolio and interview for Landscape Architecture, a written test and video interview for Environmental Governance, and the ISAT plus a motivation letter for Veterinary Medicine.[4][5][6] We give no deadlines here because they change every year.
Which English level do you need?
All applicants must prove English at level B2.[7] The accepted tests and minimum scores are:[7]
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (Online accepted) | 5.5 overall; General Training is not accepted |
| TOEFL iBT (Home and Paper Edition accepted) | 61 |
| Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 160 |
| PTE Academic (including Online) | 51 |
| University of Tartu or TalTech English test (for applicants already in Estonia) | B2 minimum |
TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic and PTE Academic scores must be no more than two years old when you apply, and Duolingo is not accepted.[7] The requirement may be waived for applicants who completed secondary or higher education taught fully in English in an EU/EEA state, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, provided they lived there during their studies; the transcript must show an English-taught programme for higher education.[7]
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Estonian University of Life Sciences teach in English?
How much are the tuition fees at the Estonian University of Life Sciences?
How is the Estonian University of Life Sciences ranked?
It is in the 1201–1400 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027.[3]
Which English test score do I need?
Level B2: for example IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 61, Cambridge 160 or PTE Academic 51.[7]
Is there a scholarship that covers tuition?
The university offers targeted scholarships that waive tuition, awarded by admission points; the fee page lists the number of places per programme and citizenship group.[11]
More about studying in Estonia
- Estonia: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Estonia
Sources
[1] Estonian University of Life Sciences: University in figures (student count as of 11 Sep 2026; page without an update date)
[2] Wikipedia: Estonian University of Life Sciences (establishment, names and type; secondary source)
[3] Estonian World: Estonia’s top universities named in the QS World University Rankings (article of 18 Jun 2026; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[4] Estonian University of Life Sciences: Landscape Architecture, admission requirements (page without a date; fee stated for 2026/2027)
[5] Estonian University of Life Sciences: Environmental Governance and Adaptation to Climate Change, admission requirements (page without a date; fee stated for 2026/2027)
[6] Estonian University of Life Sciences: Veterinary Medicine, admission requirements (page without a date; fee stated for 2026/2027)
[7] Estonian University of Life Sciences: English language requirements (page without a date)
[8] Estonian University of Life Sciences: Bachelor’s and master’s studies (page without a date; refers to the 2026/2027 admission cycle)
[9] Estonian University of Life Sciences: The university story (page without a date)
[10] Estonian University of Life Sciences: Admissions (page without a date)
[11] Estonian University of Life Sciences: Fees and scholarships of English-taught programmes (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.