Why is it worthwhile to study abroad?
Going abroad either for studies or for practical training diversifies the worldview and provides a good opportunity to achieve international experience. Later in your life, experience of that kind would rather likely improve your position on the labour market, since various companies and organizations prefer to recruit an employee of international networking background with members from different nationalities.
You venture to assert having travelled the world… Indeed this may be true, yet the tourist’s angle does not always amount to experience gained by studying and living in a foreign country. By means of student mobility between partner universities, you will acquire several competences immediately related to your selected specialty and some of these aspects may partially remain unexamined in the courses you have attended here at the University of Tartu. However, besides learning you may also choose to undergo traineeship abroad.
Every student of the School of Economics and Business Administration has the opportunity to spend 1-2 semesters studying abroad and there exists a special measure in the curriculum for such a study track – the mobility window. During the studies in an exchange program, students must collect the minimum of 15 ECTS for each semester. Our recommendation for you is to seek and attend such courses that best match the learning outcomes of the compulsory or elective courses in your curriculum. By doing so you will be able to decrease the expected study load after coming back. Note that in bachelor’s studies the most suitable semesters for studying abroad are the 3rd, 4th and 5th semester. When you are already in master’s level studies, a fair option would be the 2nd and 3rd semester. Eventually, the decision is up to you.
Whenever you gather 15 ECTS per one semester at the host university, you are entitled to an extension semester at your home university as you return. This does not necessarily mean that you are now required to postpone graduation. As long as you manage to complete the curriculum in the nominal period of 3 or 2 years, you will be able to graduate in time (i.e. together with fellow students).
Note that when you collect less than 15 ECTS during an exchange semester, you will not be entitled to extend the studies based on that period abroad. The study information system will still count the semester when you lived and studied abroad down from your nominal study period and you run the risk of having to reimburse the missing credit point volume. There is also the slightly worse scenario that you will continue in part time (fee-paying) studies when the academic year ends. Therefore, please make sure that you safely return with the volume of at least 15 ECTS collected at the host university.
This depends on the chosen exchange program for realizing your studies abroad.
• The most popular choice is the Erasmus+ program of the European Union (you can apply for study mobility starting from the 2nd semester and the scholarship is 470…520 euros monthly, travel expenses are covered). More info: https://www.ut.ee/en/studies/studyabroad/erasmus/erasmus-student-exchange
• Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (scholarship 700 euros monthly, plus travel expenses)
• Scholarship for traineeship abroad (scholarship 670…720 euros monthly, plus travel expenses; students must individually search for a traineeship place!). This scholarship is available also for recent graduates, duration 4 months. https://www.ut.ee/en/studies/studyabroad/erasmus/erasmus-traineeship-grant
• ISEP program (International Student Exchange Program) – 320 universities worldwide, financial support for studies, accommodation in the dormitory, meals; travel expenses are not covered.
Where do I start when I decide to study at a partner university?
• Find out where the School of Economics and Business Administration has mobility partners. Here and here you can browse the list of partner universities.
• Ask for advice from the program director of your curriculum, and consult the specialist for International Studies Kristi Liivamägi.
• Follow the applications timeline. HERE you can browse information about the ongoing contests.
• Take time to look into the financial support possibilities.
• Complete the application form and be ready for a positive response.
