Software Engineering
Master's
2 January
15 March
30 April
31 August
- The University of Tartu is ranked in the top 400 universities globally in computer science.
- International study environment – more than 50% of students are international students from all over the world.
- Study at the University of Tartu Delta Centre, which brings together a vibrant community of students, researchers and innovators in computer science, business and economics, mathematics and statistics.
- You have an opportunity to spend up to half of your studies at a partner company and follow a personalised study plan.
- After graduation, you can join the highly dynamic software industry worldwide. You can start your own business or work for international companies such as Google, Meta, Ericsson, Swedbank, Wise, Bolt, Kuehne + Nagel and Nortal.
I chose the Software Engineering programme at the University of Tartu because it aligned perfectly with my career aspirations. With its specialisation in Enterprise Software Engineering, this programme provided the ideal foundation for managing software systems in large corporations or creating your startup. I chose Estonia for my master's degree because it's the perfect destination for technology and innovation-driven studies. Estonia offers world-class education, with internationally recognised programmes, particularly at top universities like the University of Tartu. The country's leadership in digital innovation, affordable living costs, and diverse student community made it an attractive choice for me. Plus, Estonia's vibrant startup ecosystem and strong tech industry provide incredible opportunities for practical experience, networking, and career growth in the tech field.
The international master’s programme in Software Engineering offers software engineering and management skills as well as specialised skills in two major software application domains. The programme starts with a base module where you will acquire foundational knowledge about modern software engineering theory and practice, spanning all phases of software development from requirements elicitation over design and implementation to quality assurance and operations. The base module will cover both technical and managerial aspects of software development. Later on, you specialise in one of two narrow field modules: Enterprise Software Engineering and Secure Systems Engineering.
Enterprise software is computer software designed to meet the needs of an organisation rather than individual users. This type of software is integral to a computer-based information system and is used to handle and optimise various business operations, such as enhancing business and management reporting tasks, supporting production operations, and managing back-office functions.
With the steady growth of software invading all aspects of life, the issue of making this software secure in the sense that unauthorised third parties cannot break into software systems, manipulate the systems, steal or manipulate data, etc., has become paramount. Learning how to develop secure software and protect it is the mission of the Secure Systems Engineering module. Many courses among the base and narrow field modules seamlessly integrate modern AI methods and tools.
The Software Engineering master’s programme is closely related to the tech industry. During your studies, you will get the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge you have gained in the programme through an internship at an IT company.
Admitted master’s students in Software Engineering also have a chance to apply to the DIGILINK - the Intersectoral Programme for IT Master’s Students. This unique opportunity allows students to spend part of their second year at a company or institution, which also helps them find an interesting thesis topic related to the industry. Additionally, students will receive a monthly scholarship of 1,000 euros.
You can find a thorough description of the curriculum on the Institute of Computer Science website.
Scholarships
There is no tuition fee for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and permanent residents. Tuition fee reductions are available for other admitted students.
Once admitted, you can apply for several scholarships. Scholarship information is available on the Institute of Computer Science website and the University of Tartu Foundation website.
Programme highlights in media
- Video: Student Admissions talks about master's admissions for 2026, and International Student Ambassadors share tips on living in Estonia as an international student (Virtual Open Day 2026)
- Video: Institute of Computer Science introduction
Upon completing the programme, students will receive a Master of Science in Engineering (Software Engineering) (MSc) degree.
Curriculum version:
More info: Study Information System
Institute of Computer Science
The University of Tartu is the leading university in Estonia in the field of Information Technology and is among the top 400 universities worldwide. The Institute of Computer Science conducts ground-breaking and internationally recognised research in IT, and many of its researchers are among the best in the world in their field.
The institute hosts various events where students collaborate with researchers, lecturers, and company representatives. The Institute Day offers a platform for research groups to showcase their work and propose thesis topics to students. Students can meet leading IT companies and employers across Estonia at the Delta Career Day. Moreover, the institute has a long-standing tradition of hosting data science seminars, conferences and other public events, bringing together university scholars and industry experts to share insights into the evolving information technology landscape.
University of Tartu Delta Centre
The Institute of Computer Science is situated in the University of Tartu Delta Centre, which provides a modern environment for studies, research, and the development of new solutions in collaboration with companies and students. Over 2,500 students are enrolled at the institutes located in Delta, and approximately 500 researchers, faculty members, and university support staff work there, along with about 400 employees from various companies.
Visit us virtually
Explore Tartu, the Institute of Computer Science, and student dormitories through the university's virtual tour.
The Software Engineering master's programme prepares students for a career path leading to high-end technical roles (e.g. software analyst, architect or research engineer) and managerial roles (e.g. project/team leader or technology officer). Graduates of this programme are well equipped to join the highly dynamic software industry in the Baltics, Northern and Eastern Europe.
Our graduates are currently employed by companies such as Google, Facebook, Ericsson, Swedbank, Wise, Bolt, Kuehne + Nagel, Nortal, Pipedrive, Playtech, Testlio, Apromore and many more.
Admission requirements for Software Engineering
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in information technology, computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, information systems or a related field – please see our country-specific document requirements
Applicants with a bachelor`s degree in Mathematics or Natural Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Business or Economics are eligible if they have completed at least 24 ECTS of courses in information technology, including courses in programming, database technology and software engineering.NB! Even if you graduate from Bachelor's studies only in the summer, you can still apply in the spring. If you are admitted, you are required to provide proof of your bachelor’s degree by 10 July if you graduate from a university in Estonia, and by 31 July if you graduate abroad.
- English language proficiency – please see our acceptable tests and exempt categories
NB! The restrictions for the citizens of the Russian Federation are specified here.
Applications are evaluated based on:
- the score of the motivation letter (yields 50% of the final score)
- average grade of the previous study level (yields 50% of the final score)
Please write a brief motivation letter (in English, maximum of 6000 characters with spaces) based on the following points:
- Why do you like to become a full-time student in the Software Engineering master's programme at the University of Tartu?
- Which of the two specializations of this master's programme (“Enterprise Software Engineering” or
“Secure Systems Engineering”) would you like to choose and why? - What technical and non-technical skills do you have that prepare you well for the Software Engineering Master's programme? When describing your technical skills, please indicate what programming languages and development tools you are most familiar with, and how you assess your level of mastery of these programming languages and development tools? When describing your nontechnical skills, explain why you think these skills are important for successfully working in the software industry.
- What is/are the most complex software engineering task(s) or project(s) that you have completed? If the output of these task(s)/project(s) are open-source or can be made opensource, please provide the link(s) to the public code repository.
- Have you participated in programming challenges or contests, informatics Olympiads, hackathons or code camps, or have you completed open online courses or extra-curricular courses in software engineering or related fields? If so, please describe your record of participation in such extra-curricular activities?
Evaluation criteria:
- fit between the student's background and goals, and the study programme (75%)
- clarity, logical structure, writing skills and fluency in written English (25%)
The maximum score for motivation letter is 100 points and the result is positive only if the applicant gains 51 points or more.
For further information on assessing candidates´ academic performance and calculating admissions´ score see here.
How to apply
The following information applies to international students and Estonian students who graduated abroad:
The application system opens on 2 January and closes on 15 March. The following electronic documents must be submitted via DreamApply by 15 March:
- online application
- motivation letter
- official certified copy of the bachelor's diploma or its equivalent and Diploma Supplement (transcript) in the original language (must include a description of the grading scale).
NB! Applicants graduating in the upcoming spring/summer and having their diploma and final transcript issued later than the application deadline should electronically submit their most recent official transcript by the application deadline. The transcript should be supplemented by an official statement from the issuing institution indicating current enrollment and expected graduation date. Admitted candidates are required to post certified copies of their graduation documents as soon as these have been issued (no later than by the end of July). - official translation of the bachelor’s diploma and Diploma Supplement (transcript) into English, translation certified
- proof of English language proficiency
- copy of the passport page stating the applicant’s personal particulars
- confirmation/receipt of application fee payment (if applicable). All international applicants are required to pay the application fee EUR 100, unless they have completed the previous study level in Estonia. An application will only be processed after the fee has been received by the UT.
Submitted applications can not be edited. It is only possible to upload new documents (e.g. graduation certificates). Applicants will receive feedback and notifications through the DreamApply system to their e-mail. Incomplete applications or those submitted by e-mail will not be considered for admission.
Guide to submitting an electronic application on DreamApply.
NB: The University of Tartu has no official partnerships with agents or educational representatives. We strongly recommend applying directly to the university without the help of unauthorised third-party entities. Should you use such a service, please ensure that your application's contact information is your personal details (your e-mail, phone number, etc.).
The evaluation of applications will be made based on the electronic copies added to DreamApply. A general ranking list will be formed based on the electronically submitted applications and admission results (including offers) will be announced to all applicants personally via DreamApply by April 30 at the latest. Admitted candidates are expected to accept or decline the offer in DreamApply in 7 days. If the decision is not communicated to UT via DreamApply by the stipulated deadline, UT reserves the right to withdraw the admission offer.
NB! It is not possible to postpone the beginning of studies to the next academic year.
Terms and conditions of the admission offer
Admission offers are conditional. This means that there are conditions in the offer which the applicant needs to fulfil in order to be admitted (e.g. sending application documents by post; obtaining the required level of education). If the conditions are not met, UT has the right to withdraw the offer. Also, UT reserves the right to withdraw or amend any offer or revoke the matriculation of a student, if it becomes evident that the application contains fraudulent information, the qualification does not provide access to the chosen study programme or the student is found to have omitted key information from the application. Should such circumstances occur, UT will not be liable for any material or immaterial loss which the student may suffer as a result.
Once the admission results have been announced, all admitted students are required to send the application documents by post to: Student Admissions, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18-132, Tartu 50090, ESTONIA.
The documents are expected to be mailed only by those receiving the admission offer (unless instructed otherwise by the admissions staff). The documents must reach the university within 3 weeks from the announcement of the offer. If the application documents do not reach the us by the deadline, the university has the right to withdraw the admission offer. Applicants will be informed when their documents have arrived.
Requirements for educational documents
All copies of educational documents (diplomas and Diploma Supplements/transcripts) must be officially certified. By certified we mean that the copies should bear an original signature and seal of the authority certifying that these are true copies of the original document(s). The copies can be certified either 1) by an authorised official of the issuing institution, or 2) by a notary, or 3) with an Apostille attached. NB! Country-specific requirements may also specify the way documents from certain countries must be certified.
Please note that UT does not accept simple copies made on the basis of already certified copies (primary copies are needed).
All admitted students are required to present their original qualification certificates upon arrival (unless these were sent directly from the issuing institution).
Paying the tuition fee
- Admitted non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are required to pre-pay half of the first semester's tuition fee. The invoice along with the pre-payment deadline and payment details will be sent to applicants via DreamApply after they have accepted the admissions offer and the University has received the hard copies of the application documents. Second part of the fee is due on 20 September. NB! The official admission letter (necessary for visa application) will only be issued once the University of Tartu has received the pre-payment.
- By transferring the pre-payment to the university, you confirm that you have informed yourself about the process of the visa and temporary residence permit application and you are able to arrive in Estonia by the start of the academic year. If you have any questions please contact [email protected].
The official admission letter will be sent to admitted students electronically via DreamApply only after the admissions office has received and reviewed hard copies of the application documents, and received the tuition fee pre-payment (if a pre-payment was required, please see step 3 for more details).
NB! The electronic admission letter is also sufficient for non-EU students for applying for visa/residence permit in Estonian embassies.
Once the admission letter is issued, accepted students may proceed further with arranging their arrival. All non-EU students should first consult information on the process of visa and temporary residence permit application to be sure, as where and when the relevant documents need to be applied. Note that housing at the UT dormitories can be applied during a limited period of time, unless specified otherwise on the website. For housing alternatives please find further information on Tartu Welcome Centre website.
NB! Admitted students who are not citizens of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland need to make sure they obtain the Estonian long-term visa on time in order to be able to participate in the orientation programme for international students held in the last week of August. They are also required to visit the Admissions Office in person to complete their arrival registration by August 31, 2026, at the latest. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of their admission decision and visa.
Travel information can be found here.
Based upon common queries, the most important information has been summarised into a pre-arrival information website UT Getting Started.
Estonian applicants should apply via National Admission Information Systems (SAIS). Further information in Estonian is available here.
Tuition fee reduction
In selected programmes, the university offers tuition fee reductions of 25%, 50%, or 100% for one semester at a time.
For this programme, ten admitted students will receive a 50% tuition fee reduction for their second semester, based on the weighted average grade of all results from the previous studied semester.
All students admitted in 2026 will be eligible to be considered for a tuition fee reduction based on their academic performance and the following criteria:
they study full-time;
are not on academic leave;
have not exceeded the nominal duration of the curriculum;
have cumulatively completed at least 30 ECTS credits per semester.
Contacts
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