Interest in studying at the University of Tartu remains high

This year, 10,835 people applied for studies at the first and second levels of higher education at the University of Tartu, submitting a total of 15,020 applications. Compared to the previous year, the number of applications for first-level studies has remained the same, while applications for master’s studies have increased by 7%.

This year, the University of Tartu offers admission to 28 English-taught curricula, including 25 master’s programmes, two bachelor’s programmes and an integrated curriculum in Medicine. According to current figures, 581 students, including 354 international students, have applied for English-taught curricula. A total of 1,418 applicants submitted 1,611 applications for non-Estonian-taught curricula.

11,202 applications were submitted this year for Estonian-taught curricula of the first level of higher education, and 3,818 for master’s studies. The most popular curricula in full-time studies at the first level are Law, Medicine, and Psychology. In block mode studies, the applicants’ greatest interest was in the programmes Early Years Teacher, Early Years Teacher in Multilingual Learning Environment, and Administration of Social Work and Rehabilitation. At the master’s level, the largest number of applicants applied to the programmes Special Education and Speech Therapy, Law, and Teacher of Languages in a Multilingual School.

This year, competition for student places at the first level of higher education in the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Science and Technology was more intense than in previous years. There are 13 applicants per student place in Physiotherapy, 10 per place in Dentistry, and eight per place in Mathematical Statistics. According to the University of Tartu’s Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Aune Valk, this demonstrates that young people are highly motivated to study disciplines that require a strong background in mathematics and science.

“This year, due to a large number of upper secondary-school leavers, it is once again possible that many highly capable students are not admitted to their preferred curriculum, and they will apply again next year. As the number of school-leavers continues to grow, competition may become even more fierce in the coming years. As a result, regrettably, many talented young people may be left out of university,” said Valk.

In the autumn, approximately 3,883 new students are expected to begin their studies at the University of Tartu at the two levels of higher education. The new academic year starts on 31 August.