Arrival ABC
Here are the checklists for those students who are about to arrive or have already arrived at the University of Tartu in order to keep track of all the most relevant procedures.
There is one checklist for short-term students and one for degree-seeking students. Also, due to all the different cards that students may need to apply for, you will find a table with some brief information as to what to use each card for, whether it is compulsory, etc.
| Action | Timeframe | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Your UT username and password will be sent to you by email. If you have not received your UT username and password, please contact the Study Abroad Centre. | By the beginning of the semester. | All exchange students will receive the university's email address in the format of firstname.lastname@ut.ee, through which communication with the university takes place. |
| Erasmus students: Certificate of arrival/departure is signed by email. | Upon arrival to Tartu. | Only if the sending institution requires it. Form is provided by sending institution; |
| Proof of study document | Student status must be active. | Please send an email to the given address first, do not go to the office! |
Register for courses in the Study Information System (SIS/ÕIS in Estonian). NB! Should you have any question concerning registration for courses, please email to the administrative support (can be found in SIS under each course Lecturers tab). | Before the beginning of semester once you have received login credentials. | Registration for courses |
| Fill out your contact information in the Study Information System. Make sure your contact information is correct and keep it updated! | Within two weeks after the beginning of the semester. | See your profile in the SIS |
| Students who receive stipend from UT: In order to receive a stipend, you are advised to open a local bank account and insert the account number into the SIS. (If you would like an ISIC card, you must open an account with Swedbank or SEB). In LHV bank opening an account is free of charge. | Within the first weeks of the semester. Not in the first week! | To open a bank account you will need to request the proof of study document at UT from the respective dean's office at the beginning of the semester, this document proves your student status at the University of Tartu. Please send an email to the given address first, do not go to the office! Instructions for opening a bank account and/or for ordering a virtual ISIC Student Card (Estonian ID code is needed). |
| Pay your tuition fee (if applicable). | Based on the invoice issued by UT. | Tuition fees |
| Short-term (C) visa holders: begin applying for a long-term (D) visa (if you will be staying in Estonia for more than 90 days) at the Police and Border Guard Board. | Immediately upon arrival in Tartu! | Non-EU citizen resident permits and visas |
| Long-term (D) visa holders: request an Estonian ID-code (isikukood) from Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli street 17). | As soon as possible. | Tartu Welcome Centre UT adds your ID-code to your profile in SIS, no need to send it to us, we shall get it from the Tartu Welcome Centre. ID-code gives the possibility to register with a family doctor and to use a variety of other e-services. |
| EU citizens: register as a resident of Tartu at the Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17) or at the Tartu Population Registry (Küüni 5) in order to have the right of residence in Estonia and receive your ID-code. | Within one month after your arrival in Estonia. | Tartu Welcome Centre UT adds your ID-code to your profile in SIS, no need to send it to us, we shall get it from the Tartu Welcome Centre. ID-code gives the possibility to register with a family doctor and to use a variety of other e-services. |
| EU citizens: After completing the above step, you can apply for an Estonian ID-card from the Police and Border Guard Board (Riia 132) which certifies your right of residence in Estonia. ID-card is compulsory and allows you to use various e-services. | After registering as a resident of Tartu. | EU citizens: apply for an ID Card |
| Start looking for a family doctor and register yourself with the doctor of your choice. | As soon as possible. | Estonian health care system |
| Action | Timeframe | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Your UT username and password (login credentials) will be sent to you by email. If you have not received your UT username and password, please send an e-mail to internationalstudent@ut.ee. | August 26, not all students get info at the same time. | Reminder: non EU/EEA citizens need to complete their arrival registration before getting UT login credentials. See info here. All first-year students will receive the university's email address in the format of firstname.lastname@ut.ee, through which communication with the university takes place. |
| Fill out your contact information in the Study Information System (SIS/ÕIS). Make sure your contact information is correct and keep it updated! | At the beginning of studies. | See your profile in the SIS. |
Register for courses in the SIS. NB! Should you have any question concerning registration for courses, please email to the contact person in the institute/school/college. | As of August 26, after receiving login credentials. | Registration for courses |
| Proof of study document (UT student status confirmation letter). | Once academic year has started, not before. | It is not mandatory, but may be needed for various purposes (opening bank account etc). Proof can be asked from your dean's office at the beginning of the semester, not before. Please send an email to the given address first, do not go to the office! |
| Students who receive stipend from UT: In order to receive a stipend, you need to open a local bank account and insert the account number into the SIS. If you would like an ISIC card, you must open an account with Swedbank or SEB bank. In LHV bank opening an account is free of charge. | Within the first weeks of the semester. | To open a bank account you will need to request the proof of study document at UT from the respective dean's office at the beginning of the semester, this document proves your student status at the University of Tartu. Please send an email to the given address first, do not go to the office! Instructions for opening a bank account and/or for ordering a virtual ISIC Student Card (Estonian ID code is needed). |
| Tuition fee contracts are to be signed at respective dean’s office or institute. Students will be informed as where and when (varies across study fields). Tuition-waiver scholarship contracts will be sent to students by email with further instructions. This section applies only to the students of English taught study programmes (not PhD). | Within two weeks after the beginning of the semester. | Covering the cost of tuition |
| Non-EU citizens. Long-term (D) visa holders: Request an Estonian ID-code (isikukood) from Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli street 17). If you will be studying in Estonia longer than one year and have not applied for an Estonian Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) for study yet, begin applying for it at the Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB). | Immediately upon arrival in Tartu! | Non-EU citizen resident permits and visas. Tartu Welcome Centre |
| Non-EU citizens: After having received your TRP card (if applicable), register as a citizen of Tartu at the Population Register Office in Tartu (Küüni street 5). | As soon as possible after receiving TRP card. | After receiving your TRP |
| EU citizens: register as a resident of Tartu at the Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17) or at the Tartu Population Registry (Küüni 5) in order to have the right of residence in Estonia and receive your ID-code. | Within one month after your arrival in Estonia. | EU Citizen's Right of Residence Tartu Welcome Centre |
| EU citizens: After completing the above step, you can apply for an Estonian ID-card from the Police and Border Guard Board (Riia 132) which certifies your right of residence in Estonia. ID-card is compulsory and allows you to use various e-services. | After registering as a resident of Tartu. | EU citizens: Apply for an ID Card |
| Pay your tuition fee (if applicable) | Based on the invoice issued by UT. | Tuition fees |
| Start looking for a family doctor (FD) and register yourself with the FD of your choice. Please note that Estonian ID-code is needed for signing up with a FD. | As soon as possible. | Estonian health care system |
| Action | Timeframe | More information |
| Your UT username and password (login credentials) will be sent to you by email. If you have not received your UT username and password, please send an e-mail to internationalstudent@ut.ee. | Before the beginning of the semester. | All first-year students will receive the university's email address in the format of firstname.lastname@ut.ee, through which communication with the university takes place. |
| Fill out your contact information - address and phone number in Estonia - in the Study Information System (SIS/ÕIS). Make sure your contact information is correct and keep it updated! | At the beginning of studies. | See your profile in the SIS. |
Register for courses in SIS. NB! Should you have any question concerning registration for courses, please email to the contact person in the institute/school/college. | Within two weeks after the beginning of the semester. |
|
| Conclude period plan and insert it to the SIS. | Within one month after matriculation | PhD period plan. |
| Conclude supervision agreement. | Within one month after matriculation | PhD supervision agreement. |
| To receive salary from UT, there is no need to insert your bank account number into SIS. In single cases an Estonian bank account may be needed for receiving some stipend from UT, in that case Estonian banck account number is needed in SIS. If you would like an ISIC card, you must open an account with Swedbank or SEB bank. In LHV bank opening an account is free of charge. | Within the first weeks of the semester. | To open a bank account you will need to request the proof of study document at UT from the respective dean's office at the beginning of the semester, this document proves your student status at the University of Tartu. Please send an email to the given address first, do not go to the office! Instructions for opening a bank account and/or for ordering a virtual ISIC Student Card (Estonian ID code is needed). |
| Proof of study document (UT student status confirmation letter). | Once academic year has started, not before. | It is not mandatory, but may be needed for various purposes (opening bank account etc). Proof can be asked from your dean's office at the beginning of the semester, not before. Please send an email to the given address first, do not go to the office! |
Non-EU citizens. Long-term (D) visa holders: Request an Estonian ID-code (isikukood) from Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli street 17). If have not yet applied for an Estonian Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) for study, begin applying for it at the Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB). NB! Although you have a junior research fellow position at UT, you need to apply for a TRP for study (NOT for employment)! | Immediately upon arrival in Tartu! | Tartu Welcome Centre Non-EU citizen resident permits and visas.
|
| Non-EU citizens: After having received your TRP card, register as a citizen of Tartu at the Population Register Office in Tartu (Küüni 5) or at Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17). Also, please send a copy of your TRP to personal@ut.ee. | As soon as possible after receiving TRP card. | |
| EU citizens: register as a resident of Tartu at the Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17) or at the Tartu Population Registry (Küüni 5) in order to have the right of residence in Estonia and receive your ID-code. | Within one month after your arrival in Estonia. | EU Citizen's Right of Residence Tartu Welcome Centre |
| EU citizens: After completing the above step, you can apply for an Estonian ID-card from the Police and Border Guard Board (Riia 132) which certifies your right of residence in Estonia. ID-card is compulsory and allows you to use various e-services. | After registering as a resident of Tartu. | EU citizens: Apply for an ID Card |
| Start looking for a family doctor (FD) and register yourself with the FD of your choice. Please note that Estonian ID code is needed for signing up with a FD. | As soon as possible. | Estonian health care system. |
| Card | What for? | Obligatory? | Where and how to get? | How much? |
| ISIC | Proves student status; several discounts internationally. Please note that UT does not have a UT specific student card! | No | 1. by opening a bank account with Swedbank or SEB bank. 2. by physical application process described here (ID card/TRP card is not needed, see the title "If you don't have a valid ID card"). 3. LHV virtual ISIC Student Card (Estonian ID code is needed).
| |
| ESNcard | Proves your status as a member of the Erasmus Student Network; several discounts; benefits in Tartu | No | ESN Tartu office Tue and Thu 19:30-20:30 | 16 € |
| Estonian ID card (EU citizens only) | Proves one's right to stay in Estonia; access to UT library, e-services (banking, digital signing, mobile ID), authentication; different discounts,eg. some pharmacies/shops use ID card, in Estonia. More information here. | Compulsory and available only for students from the EU studying in Estonia at least 3 months. | Riia St. 132 Mo-Fr 9:00-17:00 (Within one month from receiving your right of temporary residence and Estonian ID code) | 30 € |
| Temporary residence permit card (non-EU citizens only) | Proves one's right to stay in Estonia; access to e-services (banking, digital signing, mobile ID), authentication. | Compulsory and available only for degree-seeking non-EU students studying in Estonia more than 6 months. | After applying for the TRP, the students are informed when and where they get TRP card | 64€ in Estonia; 95€ abroad (from 06.01.2020) |
| Library Access | Access to UT Library NB! UT library printing service is accessible only with an Estonian ID card or a bus card (available at any R kiosk). You can additionally print from your computer or mobile device. Further information at this link. | No card is needed to enter the library but in order to borrow books you must have an Estonia ID card/TRP card (long term studies) or register with the library (short term studies). | W.Struve 1 Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00
| 1.60 € without an Estonian ID card |
| Tartu bus card | Discounted tickets apply with personalized bus card. Discount groups: * child (7-19 years old) * youth (20-26 years old) Additional discount for Residents of Tartu (Official place of residence in Tartu city, Kambja, Luunja or Tartu municipality.) | No | Any R-Kiosk, post office, the bus station, and some stores. A full list of sales points is available here. You can top up your bus card at any R-Kiosk or you can do it electronically here. You can peronalise your card online here (Estonian ID card is needed) or physically here (Estonian ID card is not needed). Personalisation is needed for getting transport discount. | 2 € |
| European Health Insurance Card | Covers some medical services (such as visit to General Practitioner). | Only for EU citizens | Health insurance institution of your home country | Free of charge |
| Store customer cards | Many stores (e.g., Kaubamaja, Selver, Rimi, Konsum, Maxima and others) offer customer cards that allow you to save money and/or accumulate bonus points when you shop. | No | From the cashier or at the info desk of the store | Varies; generally under 2 € |
| I am from an EU country |
|
| I am from a non-EU country and have D-type visa |
|
| I am from a non-EU country and have TRP of any EU member state for my studies in Estonia |
|
| I am from a non-EU country and have TRP |
|
The Government of Estonia offers a programme to facilitate foreign nationals with fundamental information about working and studying in Estonia, social aspects, family life, organization of everyday life and Estonian language. You are eligible to participate in the programme only if you are a foreign national who has resided in Estonia for less than 5 years and if you comply with the following:
- A foreign national who has been granted temporary residence permit (TRP) in Estonia.
- Citizen of the European Union who has acquired the temporary right of residence in Estonia.
- Family member of a citizen of the European Union who has been granted the temporary right of residence in Estonia.
Please find fully-detailed information about the programme and how to apply here:
Welcome to Estonia: Welcoming programme
NB! Please note that D-Visa holders are not eligible to participate in this programme.
| Service | Website | Contact | |
| International support for degree seeking students | Support services | depending on topic, see the website | |
| Study Abroad Centre for exchange students | Support services | depending on topic, see the website | |
IT Services Printing | UT Library | helpdesk@ut.ee | |
| Visa/residence permit assistance | Residence Permits and Visas | studentvisasupport@ut.ee or migrationadvice@politsei.ee | |
| Counselling for students with special needs | Counselling Services | noustaja@ut.ee | |
| Center for Academic Writing (AVOK) | AVOK | avokeskus@ut.ee | |
| Career counselling | Counselling Services | noustaja@ut.ee | |
| Psychological counselling | Counselling Services | ||
| Support Services Beyond UT: Tartu Welcome Centre | |||
| Safety and security | Emergency number: 112 Police & Border Guard Address: Riia 132 | ||
| Banking - opening account | Tartu Welcome Centre |