Student Housing in Estonia: Dormitories in Tartu and Tallinn
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Most international students in Estonia start in a student dormitory, where rents are far below the private market. You apply to the dormitory operator, not through the admission system, so do it as soon as you are admitted.
Who rents to students
| City | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Tartu, Viljandi, Narva | Tartu Student Village (Tartu Üliõpilasküla, campus.ee), priority for University of Tartu students |
| Tallinn, Kohtla-Järve | TalTech Student Campus |
| Tartu | Estonian University of Life Sciences dormitories |
| Tallinn | Tallinn University dormitory; the joint dormitory of the Estonian Academy of Arts and the Academy of Music and Theatre; EUAS student hostel |
Study in Estonia, the official portal run by the Education and Youth Board, links to each of them.
Prices
Study in Estonia puts dormitory rents at €150–€350 a month and private flats at €350–€750. The two largest operators publish their rents. For Tartu, the figures are for the five Tartu halls that house first-year students (rents from 1 July 2026); for Tallinn, TalTech's dormitories as listed in October 2026:
| Tartu Student Village | TalTech, Tallinn | |
|---|---|---|
| Bed in a shared twin room | €175–€182 | €161–€173 |
| Single room | €202–€287 | €296–€440 |
| Studio, apartment or private flat | €365–€472 | €348–€388; €418–€518 plus utilities in the Akadeemia 5a apartments |
Except in Akadeemia 5a, the rent includes heating, water and electricity; in Tartu it also covers internet and the laundry. TalTech's dormitory in Kohtla-Järve is much cheaper, from €99 a month for a bed in a twin room. Rooms come with basic furniture but no bedding, dishes or pots, so budget for those.
Deposits
Both operators take a deposit:
- Tartu Student Village: €150–€400, depending on the room. You pay it by invoice after accepting the offer, and it is returned at the end of the contract to the bank account you give, which may be abroad.
- TalTech: from €125 for a bed in a twin room up to €600 for a 2-room apartment.
On the private market, Study in Estonia warns that deposits are often the equivalent of three months' rent.
How to apply in Tartu
- First-year students apply online between 1 and 10 June. In this period, and until the end of August, first-year students take priority.
- List several residence halls: the more you list, the better your chance of an offer.
- Extend your application every 30 days in the E-kyla portal, or it expires and loses its place in the queue.
- Accept an offer within 7 days. An application that declines three offers is cancelled.
- Pay the deposit and sign the agreement after you move in. Agreements run from 1 July to 30 June, and a new one is signed each year.
How to apply in Tallinn
TalTech's Student Campus has about 2,000 places, most of them a few minutes' walk from the university, plus Siidisaba 7 in the Kristiine district. You apply online through the TalTech student housing pages. TalTech lists waiting times of about one to four months for some single rooms and up to a year or more for private flats.
Waiting times
Waiting times are long for the most popular rooms. In Tartu, several halls list waiting periods of 8 months to 1.5 years for some room types, and two to three years for some 2-room apartments. At TalTech, waiting times for private flats reach about 1.5 years. Be flexible about the room type and building, and consider taking a shared room first and moving later.
The private market
Study in Estonia suggests kv.ee and city24.ee for private flats and warns that rents can be inflated for foreigners. Sharing a bigger flat in the centre with friends is common. Look with the help of local students or your university, sign a written agreement and never pay before you have one. Read finding student housing in Europe without being scammed.
Registering your address
Non-EU students must register their place of residence in the population register within one month of receiving the residence permit and keep it registered while the permit is valid. EU students register within three months of arrival. Ask your landlord or dormitory for the details you need. See student visa for Estonia.
Tips
- Apply for a dormitory the day you are admitted, and in Tartu during the June window.
- Keep your application active: an expired one cannot be restored.
- Students registered in Tallinn travel free on public transport there.
Where to look next
- How much it costs to study in Estonia
- How to get into a university in Estonia
- Student visa for Estonia
- Document recognition for Estonia
- All programmes in Estonia
Official sources
- Study in Estonia: Accommodation: Education and Youth Board (Harno)
- Tartu Student Village: Guide for applicant
- TalTech: Student housing
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.