An unexpected choice, a defining experience: Studying Economics and Business at the University of Tartu

When Mateusz Micuda first began thinking about where to spend a semester abroad, Tartu wasn’t top of his list.

“I was actually considering Scandinavia,” he says. Curious about Nordic history and culture, Mateusz had hoped to get a taste of life in Northern Europe – but there were practical issues to consider.

“When I started looking at the finances, I realised it might be difficult.”

Then, he discovered Estonia.

“It was cheaper and close to the Scandinavian countries, so I could still visit them,” Mateusz explains.

A month into his Erasmus exchange semester at the University of Tartu, he has no doubt he made the right decision.

“I could have studied almost anywhere in Europe,” he says. “But I really like Tartu – I like the city, I like the people here and I like the university.”

Flexibility to discover

The long Estonian winter is beginning to melt away when I met Mateusz in a Tartu café.

Having completed most of his studies in Poland, he’s now in the final stages of his bachelor’s degree in economics and business.

He’s taking several courses in Tartu – some directly related to his major in accounting, others introducing him to new topics.

“Because it’s my last semester, I can take classes I couldn’t take at my home university,” he explains. “Things like marketing or strategic management.”

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He sees that flexibility as one of the biggest advantages of studying abroad.

“I can learn new things that are not directly related to my studies – and at the same time, I can be here,” he says.

“And that’s the best part.”

Leaving his comfort zone

It’s not just the subjects that have been new for Mateusz.

He’s also noticed a difference in approaches to teaching. The Polish system, he says, is geared toward preparing students for end-of-course exams.

“In Tartu, teachers focus much more on group projects and practical tasks,” he says. “You’re not just trying to remember things for an exam, that you then forget.”

Adapting to a different learning style hasn’t been easy.

“I actually prefer working individually,” Mateusz admits. “Because I’m quite introverted.”

Still, he recognises the value of group work as “a way to leave my comfort zone” – and an opportunity to connect with others.

“Studying was my main purpose for coming here but I also wanted to get to know the culture and meet new people,” he says.

“I can see this is really helping.”

Always something happening

Studying abroad is about far more than the lessons learned in the classroom.

Mateusz has already made a trip to Tallinn and now plans to visit Narva – the historic city on Estonia’s eastern border overlooking the Russian town of Ivangorod.

“I like discovering new places and cultures,” he says. “So, seeing the border and the Russian side will be really interesting.”

Not that he needs to leave Tartu to find things to do.

From cultural evenings to board game nights, the packed schedule of events organised by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) means there’s always something going on.

“You just sign up online – it’s very easy,” Mateusz says.

It’s a great way to meet people from all over the world and try new activities – like winter swimming.

“I’ve never done it before, so, I really want to do it for the first time here.”

A smooth transition

Moving to another country alone can feel daunting.

For Mateusz, this is the first time he’s lived away from home.

“I’d been living with my parents my whole life,” he says, “and now I don’t.” To ease the transition, the University of Tartu’s Buddy Programme was a big help. Mateusz was matched with an international student who already lived in the city to lend a hand with the practical aspects of relocating to Estonia.

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“My buddy met me at the bus station and showed me around the city,” Mateusz recalls. “That really helped at the beginning.”

“He also showed me to my dormitory and I met my roommate, which was especially nice.”

Those first impressions made a difference – Mateusz felt welcome straight away, allowing him to focus on studying and enjoying life in the city.

“Now, I feel very free,” he says.

Finding independence

After his Tartu semester, Mateusz will return to Poland to complete his degree.

“I’ve already started writing my thesis – about personal income taxes,” he says.

He knows he’ll take much more home with him than academic knowledge.

“I want to keep doing things I’m not used to,” he says. “Meeting new people, experiencing a different system and learning about other cultures.”

And there’s lots to look forward to before he leaves in June. Not least, ESN-organised trips to Lapland, Estonia’s biggest island Saaremaa, and the other two Baltic capitals – Vilnius and Riga.

“The great thing is,” Mateusz says, “you can get there without an aeroplane.”

“And also,” he smiles. “I’m not going alone.”