Application to micro-credential programmes at the University of Tartu is open

In the autumn semester of the 2025/2026 academic year, the University of Tartu provides 49 micro-degree programmes and four micro-credential programmes. There are six English-taught micro-degree programmes, including four delivered online, and one of the four micro-credential programmes is taught in English. The programmes have different application deadlines.

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of Tartu, Aune Valk, is convinced that micro-credential studies are becoming increasingly popular, as adult learners prefer flexible and quick continuing education opportunities to maintain their competitiveness in the labour market.

“Importantly, the government has now regulated micro-credential studies in the Adult Education Act, and all programmes starting from 1 September must be registered in the Estonian Education Information System,” said Valk. She admitted that distinguishing between micro-degree and micro-credential programmes may be confusing at first: the former is a subcategory of the latter and, according to the law, can only be offered by higher education institutions. “Another important consideration is the proportion of degree-study courses, which ensures that the completed courses can later be taken into account towards, for example, a master’s degree,” Valk added.

A micro-degree programme is a longer, comprehensive continuing education programme consisting of degree-level courses and designed to respond to the needs of the labour market and society. The volume of the university’s micro-degree programmes is 12–30 ECTS, and their typical duration is a semester or two. Participants who complete the programme can continue their studies in a degree curriculum to obtain a degree.

While micro-degree programmes consist of degree-study courses and the participants study alongside students, micro-credential programmes are organised in a separate group. The micro-credential programmes’ volume is 5–30 ECTS, and the typical duration is generally a semester.

Learners with at least upper secondary education are invited to apply for micro-degree programmes. However, several programmes may have additional admission requirements. More detailed information about the content, application deadlines and requirements is available at the description of each programme on the university’s webpage https://ut.ee/en/content/micro-credential-programmes.