How Much Does It Cost to Study in Estonia? Tuition Fees and Living Costs
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
In Estonia the price of a degree depends first on the language of the programme, then on the institution, and only sometimes on your citizenship.
Who studies for free
According to the Ministry of Education and Research, higher education is free of charge for those studying full-time and in Estonian. This applies at public universities and state institutions, whatever your citizenship. The catch is the language: you must be able to follow a degree in Estonian.
That is why the typical fee in our catalogue is €0, even for non-EU students: most of the 195 programmes we list are taught in Estonian. For English-taught programmes, look at the figures below.
Tuition for English-taught programmes
Each institution sets its own fees, and most charge the same fee to EU and non-EU students. Examples for students starting in 2026/27, from the universities' own pages:
| Institution | Programme | Fee a year |
|---|---|---|
| University of Tartu | Business Administration | €4,200 |
| University of Tartu | Science and Technology | €6,000 |
| University of Tartu | Medicine | €13,200 |
| Estonian University of Life Sciences | Veterinary Medicine | €9,800 |
| TalTech | Law; International Business Administration | €5,000 (€2,500 a semester) |
| TalTech | Integrated Engineering | free for EU citizens, €6,000 for others |
| TalTech | Cyber Security Engineering | free for EU citizens, €7,000 for others |
The highest public fee in our catalogue, €13,200 a year, is for medicine at the University of Tartu. Tallinn University has already published its fees for the 2027/28 intake: €4,600–€5,800 a year for its English-taught bachelor's programmes.
TalTech's rules exempt only citizens of EU member states and permanent residents of Estonia from the engineering and IT fees; EEA and Swiss citizens should check with the university. Fees can change each year, so check the programme page for your intake.
Private universities
Estonian Business School and the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences charge tuition for every programme, including those taught in Estonian. In our catalogue their fees run from €6,200 to €8,320 a year, typically €7,820 for EU students and €8,100 for others.
Paying before you arrive
Non-EU students often pay part of the fee before enrolment. TalTech asks students from outside the EU for two semesters' fees before enrolment, Tallinn University for the first semester, and the University of Tartu for half of the first semester. Applicants with foreign diplomas also pay an application fee, €100 at Tartu, Tallinn University and TalTech.
Scholarships and waivers
Some universities reduce fees for strong students, but do not count on it. The University of Tartu stopped offering tuition waivers to newly admitted non-EU/EEA students from 2026/27, though some programmes still offer reductions. Study in Estonia lists the scholarships open to international degree students. See also scholarships and financial aid in Europe.
Living costs
Study in Estonia, the official portal run by the Education and Youth Board, gives these figures:
- Rent: usually €150–€350 a month in dormitories and €350–€750 in private flats.
- Food: around €300 a month.
- Transport: public transport is free in Tallinn for registered residents, including international students. In Tartu a student monthly ticket costs €7.67.
Dormitory rents in Tallinn and Tartu are in student housing in Estonia. In most rooms at TalTech's dormitories and the Tartu Student Village, the rent includes heating, water and electricity.
Money to show for the residence permit
Non-EU students sign a declaration that they have enough legal income. The Police and Border Guard Board's 2026 student guide sets this at €880 a month, four times the subsistence level, and it is updated each year. Count on the state fees too: €120 for a D visa and €225 for a residence permit applied for in Estonia (€255 at an embassy). Details are in student visa for Estonia.
International students are not covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund unless they work in Estonia or hold a long-term residence permit, so budget for private health insurance as well.
How to keep costs down
- If you can learn Estonian well enough, a full-time programme in Estonian is free.
- At TalTech, EU citizens pay nothing for the English-taught engineering and IT programmes.
- Apply early for a dormitory place: it costs much less than a private flat.
- Students with a residence permit may work without an hours limit, as long as work does not interfere with full-time study. See working while studying in Europe.
Where to look next
- How to get into a university in Estonia
- All programmes and cities in Estonia
- Student visa for Estonia
- Document recognition for Estonia
- Student housing in Estonia
Official sources
- Ministry of Education and Research: Higher education
- Study in Estonia: Living costs: Education and Youth Board (Harno)
- TalTech: Tuition fee rates 2026/2027
- Tallinn University: Tuition fees
- Police and Border Guard Board: Student guide
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.