The University of Tartu is Estonia’s oldest university, founded in 1632, with around 15,000 students, of whom around 1,600 are international.[1][2] It is ranked 367th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the highest position of any Estonian university.[3][4]
For students admitted from 2026/27 to English-taught programmes, the university’s rate card sets semester fees from €1,200 to €7,000 (a bachelor’s in Science and Technology is €3,000 per semester, most master’s programmes €2,100 to €3,600, Medicine €6,600).[5] EU/EEA and Swiss citizens may receive tuition-waived places in many master’s programmes; students from outside the EU/EEA no longer receive waivers from 2026/27.[6][7] Applicants prove English with a recognised test, for example IELTS Academic 6.0.[8]
Key facts
| Official name | Tartu Ülikool (University of Tartu) |
| Location | Tartu, Estonia (main address Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu)[9] |
| Type | Public university; the largest and most comprehensive university in Estonia[9] |
| Founded | 1632 (foundation decree of King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden signed on 30 June 1632); reopened in 1802 and, with Estonian as the language of instruction, in 1919[2] |
| Students | Around 15,000, of which around 1,600 international and more than 1,100 doctoral students[1] |
| Staff | About 4,500 employees, including 265 professors[1] |
| Faculties | Social Sciences; Arts and Humanities; Science and Technology; Medicine[9] |
| English-taught programmes (2026/27 admission) | 28 curricula: 25 master’s, 2 bachelor’s and the integrated Medicine curriculum[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 367th (362nd in 2026)[4] |
| Other rankings (university’s own listing) | THE World University Rankings 2026: 301–350; ARWU 2025: 501–600[4] |
| Tuition 2026/27 (English-taught, per semester) | €1,200 to €7,000 depending on programme; Medicine €6,600[5] |
| English proof | IELTS Academic 6.0 overall (no part below 5.5), or an equivalent accepted test[8] |
| Application route | International applicants to English-taught programmes apply in DreamApply[6] |
| Official website | ut.ee |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the University of Tartu
The University of Tartu (Tartu Ülikool, UT) traces its foundation to a decree signed on 30 June 1632 by King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden, which created Academia Dorpatensis.[2] It was reopened on 21–22 April 1802 as the German-language Kaiserliche Universität zu Dorpat, and on 1 December 1919 it opened as Tartu University of the Republic of Estonia with Estonian as the language of instruction.[2]
Today the university has around 15,000 students, including around 1,600 international and more than 1,100 doctoral students, and about 4,500 employees.[1] It has four faculties: Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Science and Technology, and Medicine.[9] Study in Estonia, the national promotion site, describes it as the largest and most comprehensive university in the country.[9]
How is the University of Tartu ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Tartu is 367th in the world and the highest-ranked university in Estonia. Estonian World, which reported the release, counts four Estonian universities in the ranking.[3] The university’s own rankings page lists its QS position as 358 in 2024 and 2025, 362 in 2026 and 367 in 2027.[4]
The same page lists Times Higher Education World University Rankings positions of 301–350 for 2024, 2025 and 2026, and ShanghaiRanking’s ARWU positions of 601–700 for 2024 and 501–600 for 2025.[4] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Tartu?
For admission in 2026/27 the university offers 28 English-taught curricula: 25 master’s programmes, 2 bachelor’s programmes and an integrated Medicine curriculum.[6] The programmes are spread over the four faculties:[9]
- Social Sciences: for example the master’s programmes in Quantitative Economics, International Relations and Regional Studies, and International Law and Human Rights, which appear in the fee schedule.[5]
- Arts and Humanities: master’s programmes, including Creative Project Management.[5]
- Science and Technology: bachelor’s and master’s programmes, among them the Erasmus Mundus joint master’s in Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, which the university coordinates.[6][5]
- Medicine: the integrated Medicine curriculum and Clinical Nutrition.[5]
The university also mentions a one-year master’s in Entrepreneurship in Economic Policymaking that starts in February 2027.[6] A search of all curricula, with filters, is available on the university’s admissions site. An older, undated Study in Estonia page counts 31 fully English-taught international programmes, which does not match the 28 curricula the university itself reports for 2026/27.[9]
How much does the University of Tartu cost in 2026/27?
The University of Tartu publishes a rate card for students who start in 2026/27 in English-taught (non-Estonian-taught) curricula. The amounts below are per semester; the university charges its semester fee in autumn and in spring, so an academic year has two payments.[5][10] The rate card was approved by Rector’s Directive no. 392 of 5 November 2025.[5]
| Faculty and programme | EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, per semester | Third-country citizens, per semester |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities, master’s programmes | €2,400 | €2,400 |
| Arts and Humanities, Creative Project Management | €3,000 | €3,000 |
| Social Sciences, bachelor’s and most master’s programmes | €2,100 | €2,100 |
| Social Sciences, Educational Technology; Innovation and Technology Management; Quantitative Economics | €1,200 | €2,400 |
| Social Sciences, International Relations and Regional Studies; International Law and Human Rights; Politics and Governance in the Digital Age; Entrepreneurship in Economic Policymaking | €2,400 | €2,400 |
| Social Sciences, Disinformation and Societal Resilience | €3,500 | €7,000 |
| Science and Technology, bachelor’s programmes | €3,000 | €3,000 |
| Science and Technology, master’s programmes | €3,600 | €3,600 |
| Science and Technology, Excellence in Analytical Chemistry | €4,500 | €4,500 |
| Medicine, integrated Medicine curriculum | €6,600 | €6,600 |
| Medicine, Clinical Nutrition | €3,400 | €3,400 |
For the university, “EU citizens” in the rate card means citizens of EU member states, EEA states and Switzerland, plus long-term residents of these countries.[5] Two semesters at €3,000 come to €6,000 for one academic year, before any reduction.
Waivers and reductions
Students admitted to English-taught programmes either pay or may receive a tuition-waiver place.[10] For 2026/27 the university says it admits international applicants to 25 master’s curricula, 16 of which (including the Erasmus Mundus joint programme) are tuition-free for EU citizens and persons treated as such.[7] Master’s curricula in Science and Technology and most in Arts and Humanities are tuition-free for EU citizens; in Social Sciences some curricula are free and others charge half the regular price; the English-taught master’s curricula in Medicine charge a fee.[7]
From 2026/27 the university no longer offers tuition waivers to newly admitted students from countries outside the EU/EEA.[6] Some English-taught curricula do offer a limited number of reductions of 25%, 50% or 100%, granted one semester at a time.[7][10] Non-EU/EEA and Swiss applicants must pre-pay half of the first semester’s fee after receiving an admission offer.[10] The cost page also says that full-time study in Estonian-taught programmes is free.[10]
The cost page itself carries no date; the PDF of the 2026/27 rates is the binding source. Living costs come on top: see our Estonia ranking for context.
How do you apply to the University of Tartu?
International applicants to English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes submit their application electronically in DreamApply.[6] All application documents go through DreamApply, and admission results and offers are also sent there; documents sent by email are not considered.[11] The documents required depend on the curriculum.[6]
- First step: choose a curriculum in the university’s degree search and read its admission page.[6]
- Paper documents: for English-taught programmes only electronic documents are needed at first; accepted students then mail their application package to Student Admissions, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18-133, 50090 Tartu.[11]
- Estonian-taught programmes: these use a different route, and applicants send documents both electronically and by post.[11] Estonian applicants use the SAIS admission system.[6]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme and by nationality; check the admission page of your curriculum.
Which English level do you need?
Most applicants to English-taught programmes must prove their English with an international test.[11] The university’s requirements page lists these minimum scores:[8]
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (including IELTS Online) | 6.0 overall, no section below 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT (taken before 21 January 2026) | 75 |
| TOEFL iBT (taken from 21 January 2026) | 4 total (1–6 scale), Speaking 4, other sections 3.5 |
| Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 169 |
| PTE Academic (including Online) | 59 |
IELTS General Training is not accepted, and TOEFL ITP is not accepted.[8][11] Tests must have been taken no more than two years before applying.[8]
The requirement can be waived for applicants who completed secondary education in English in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, or who studied full-time for at least one academic year in an English-taught programme in one of those countries. Online or offshore study does not count.[8] The university does not offer a preparatory English course.[11]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Tartu free for international students?
Not in general. From 2026/27 the university no longer offers tuition waivers to newly admitted students from outside the EU/EEA, although some programmes offer fee reductions.[6] EU/EEA and Swiss citizens may study tuition-free in many English-taught master’s programmes (16 of 25 for 2026/27).[7] Full-time study in Estonian-taught programmes is free.[10]
How much are the tuition fees at the University of Tartu?
For students starting in 2026/27 the rate card lists €1,200 to €7,000 per semester for English-taught curricula, for example €3,000 for a Science and Technology bachelor’s, €2,100 for most Social Sciences programmes and €6,600 for Medicine.[5]
How is the University of Tartu ranked?
It is 367th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the highest of the four Estonian universities in the ranking.[3]
Which English test score do I need for the University of Tartu?
IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no section below 5.5, or an equivalent score in TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or PTE Academic.[8]
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] University of Tartu: University in numbers (page without a date)
[2] University of Tartu: History of the University of Tartu (page without a date)
[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] University of Tartu: UT in rankings and surveys (page without a date; lists QS 2027)
[5] University of Tartu: Establishment of tuition fees for 2026/2027 (Rector’s Directive no. 392) (directive of 5 Nov 2025, linked from the cost page)
[6] University of Tartu: International admission to the University of Tartu has started (news item of 31 Dec 2025)
[7] University of Tartu: Applications for English-taught master’s programmes are closing soon, tuition waivers available (news item of 6 Mar 2026)
[8] University of Tartu: English language requirements (page without a date)
[9] Study in Estonia: University of Tartu (page without a date, newest ranking quoted is from 2024; used for faculties and address only)
[10] University of Tartu: Cost of tuition (page without a date)
[11] University of Tartu: Frequently asked questions (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.