Tallinn University (TU) is a public institution of higher education. It was established in 2005 by Act of Parliament as the result of a merger of the Academic Library of Estonia (1552/1946), the Baltic Film and Media School (1992/97/05), the Estonian Institute of Humanities (1988), the Institute of History (1946) and Tallinn Pedagogical University (1919/52/92).
Even before the Act which brought Tallinn University into being, Tallinn Pedagogical University had signed deeds by which several research institutes – the Institute of Ecology, the Institute of Educational Research, the Institute of Estonian Demography and the Institute of International and Social Studies – came under its aegis. All in all, Tallinn University was born with many different heritages and as the heir to many different traditions.
Today Tallinn University is the third largest university in Estonia, consisting of 19 institutes and 6 colleges. It has more than 9500 students as well as more than 500 faculty members and research fellows, and is the fastest growing university in Estonia. Its main strengths lie in the fields of the humanities and social sciences, but it also has a strong and constantly growing component of natural and exact sciences, as well as a notable tradition of teacher training and educational research.
The university sees itself as providing an environment which encourages the intellectual and personal growth of all its members, faculty members and students alike, and has proclaimed as its values academic quality (which involves combining research and teaching), solidarity and collegiality, procedural transparency and simplicity, openness (which involves significant internationalisation) and an outward focus on society instead of isolating itself in an ivory tower.
One of the main aims of the university is large-scale internationalisation – with its 13 academic degree programmes and a number of shorter programmes and courses offered in the English language it is already one of the most international universities in the Baltic area. Many academic positions in the university are announced for international application and the University is glad to host international visiting scholars on their sabbatical leaves or by other agreements.
The summer schools of the university, organised independently or jointly with international partners, such as the University of Bologna and the University College of London, have already achieved a notable reputation, and the university currently maintains 37 inter-university agreements with universities from 18 different countries all over the world and around 440 Erasmus exchange agreements with European universities.
Most of the buildings of Tallinn University are located in the city centre. The central campus on Narva mnt/Uus-Sadama Street houses most of the institutes, with dormitory for students only a short walk away.
The Academic Library of Tallinn University is a universal research library that assembles literature in all fields of research, except for the narrowly defined fields of medicine, construction and agriculture. The library holds 2,536,000 books and also enables access to many e-books, e-journals and e-newspapers.
Students can use computers in the libraries and computer classes. Free wireless Internet (wifi) is available throughout the main building, student library and new building.
The Career and Counselling Centre provides counselling for students who are facing personal, academic or vocational challenges. Academic, career and psychological counselling.
Students can enjoy the following activities in Tallinn University:
Student Board: All the students of our university make up the Student Union of Tallinn University. The purpose of the Student Union of Tallinn University is to protect and represent students on the university level as well as on the Estonian Republic level.
International Club (IC) is an organization for International Students. The main goal is to organize social events and support international students studying at Tallinn University.
Tutors are students who help international students to adapt into academic environment at Tallinn University and Tallinn in general. Tutors are ready to provide additional guidance and information on several matters, ranging from studies to living
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN Tallinn) organizes various events for international students from different universities in Tallinn, all with the aim of helping them adapt and feel comfortable in our culture. The events include “get- to- know- you evenings”, city tours, excursions, concerts, theatre performances, theme parties etc.
The cost of living in Tallinn is in average 300-400 EUR per month, not including accommodation.
Accommodation: prices range from 100 EUR (dormitory) to 300-400 EUR in private flats.
Bachelor level (BA) applicants are required to have completed their secondary education and possess university eligibility. According to the Estonian higher education standard all applicants should have achieved at least 50% of the possible score at graduation exams.
Completed Tallinn University application form. Applications are accepted until the following deadlines:
Students who will graduate from upper secondary schools or universities in spring and are not able to submit the education certificates by the requested deadline are asked to contact the International Student Adviser (maarja.liht@tlu.ee).
Master level (MA) applicants are required to have completed Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent. A research Master's program is a training course in advanced work. The candidate learns the basics of research and new techniques under close supervision, and the resulting thesis should make an original contribution to the field of study. MA Degree Programs take two years to complete.
Completed Tallinn University application form. Applications are accepted until the following deadlines:
Students who will graduate from universities in spring and are not able to submit the education certificates by the requested deadline are asked to contact the International Student Adviser (maarja.liht@tlu.ee).
Application form: http://summerschool.tlu.ee/practical/registration/
Name: Ann Tsurtsumia
Age: 23 years old
Country of origin: Georgia
Student of European Studies: MA in Europeanization of Governance and Politics
I'm Ann Tsurtsumia, from Georgia and currently I take Master's degree of European Studies: Europeanization of Governance and Politics at Tallinn University. While applying for any academic institution, usually one already has an idea about the university, conditions, quality of studies, teachers and number of aspects which make a university attractive. In my case, I was the first MA degree student from Georgia ever accepted at Tallinn University.
What I have witnessed here is a rector and personnel permanently striving for excellence and development which is achieved through diverse means. University with a range of students from a different countries and continents needs to take a personal approach to each and every student and it has worked successfully in my experience due to professionals at International Students' Office.
The university is constantly in the centre of extra curricula events and civic activities. We usually have a luxury to listen to prominent scholars, top level politicians and diplomats which adds a value to our academic life. Tallinn University strives for and has already achieved diversity not only in students but academic personnel coming from highly reputable western universities.
International Club and Erasmus Students Network put an effort to introduce Estonian culture to us, which is crucial in creating profile of Estonia among foreigners. During the period of two years, I've experienced so much progress at this university and I'm happy to be so lucky and going home with different packages of experience gained at TLU. One concerns my academic career and in this respect Tallinn University contributed so much to create my European way of thinking which is crucial for students of my specialization. The second is linked with widening the scope of my world view and thus creating a cosmopolitan through intensive interaction with students from different European countries and hence from different continents. Thus, my experience encouraged to come to a conclusion the Tallinn University creates a unique environment where civilizations coexist without clashes.
