Bilateral agreements

Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Estonia and Archimedes Foundation annually offer scholarships to foreign nationals, pursuant to bilateral intergovernmental or inter-ministerial agreements concluded with the following countries: Czech Republic, French Republic, Hellenic Republic, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Belgium (Flemish Community), Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of Denmark, People's Republic of China, Republic of Georgia, Republic of Hungary, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Republic of Poland, Republic of Turkey, State of Israel, Swiss Confederation, Ukraine.
Scholarships are intended for university students, researchers or lecturers for studying and doing research at Estonian public universities and institutions, depending upon the agreement between Estonian government and the foreign government. The agreement also specifies the categories of conditions and eligible candidates.
The following scholarship categories are applied:
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Long-term grants for bachelor studies;
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Long-term grants for master studies;
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Long-term grants for doctoral studies;
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Grants for Estonian language Summer Courses;
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Grants for university teachers, lecturers and researchers (short-term visit);
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Grants for university teachers, lecturers and researchers (long-term visit).
Long-term scholarships are granted for a period of 1-10 months. The period of a short-term visit for university staff may last up to 21 days and a long-term visit more than 21 days. The study or research visits must take place from September 2011 to July 2012. Summer courses in the Estonian language are held at the University of Tartu or at the Tallinn University from July to August 2011.
The scholarship does not cover tuition fees (except tuition fees for summer courses). As a rule, the scholarships are intended for researchers or exchange students. Since the courses do not lead to awarding a degree, applicants are not required to sit entrance examinations and pay tuition fees. When applying for degree-studies, the applicant must pass admission examinations or an admission audition (or other form of assessment of his/her creative work) independent from the application procedure of the scholarship. For further information, the candidates should contact the responsible university (international student office). Applicants are requested to point out that they are applying for a scholarship award under an international bilateral agreement to the selected university.
Recipients pay their own travel expenses to Estonia and back. The scholarship is meant to cover the living expenses of only one person; any additional financial support for accompanying members of the family is not available. The scholarship is tax free. Scholarships are granted by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.
Application procedure
The following documents must be enclosed:
- Application form;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- A letter of recommendation;
- Certification of student’s (or university staff’s) status at home institution;
- Detailed working plan (except applicants for summer courses);
- Certified copy of the last received university diploma with transcripts (except applicants for summer courses);
- Letter of invitation from the proposed host institution in Estonia (except applicants for summer courses);
- Certificate of Proficiency in English (for non-EU countries);
- Application forms for summer courses (form of Tartu University or form of Tallinn University).
All the documents must be written in or translated into English. The application form and all the enclosed documents should be completed in two (2) identical sets (one original set and one cipy of the original set). Every set must be put into plastic sheet or envelope.Any incomplete applications or applications handed in after the deadline cannot be taken into consideration. Application documents shall not be returned.
Applicants need to contact the selected university and request a letter of invitation from the relevant department/international student office. Applicants are requested to point out that they are applying for a scholarship funded on the basis of the bilateral agreement.
Applicants should apply in the country of their citizenship even if they currently reside in another country. It is not possible to submit the application directly to the Archimedes Foundation (except for the applicants from Denmark). Candidates need to apply through the local authority, who will determine the deadline for submitting the applications. The authorities shall then forward the selected applications to the Archimedes Foundation before the 1st of May 2011 (to the following address: Ms. Kristiina Vaik, Centre for Higher Education development Archimedes Foundation, Koidula 13A, 10125 Tallinn, Estonia).
The list of recognised higher education institutions
Information about summer courses (Tartu University) or (Tallinn University).




