Recognition of studies

Before making the final decision on what university or study programme to choose, you should check whether the university and the selected study programme is officially recognised in Estonia. As of 1 January 2012, Estonian higher education institutions may conduct studies and issue recognized graduation documents only in study programmes that belong to the study programme group  licensed by the Government of the Republic. The licence for conducting studies in the relevant study programme group is issued for an indefinite or a fixed period of time (1 to 3 years).

 

How to find out if the programme you are applying to is accredited or not?

Recognition by the Republic of Estonia is the basic requirement for the recognition of studies in your home country. Information about the accrediation of higher education institutions and their programmes can be found on the database of Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education.

Pursuant to the laws of Estonia, accreditation is not compulsory; it is, however, the only possibility for an institution of higher education to acquire the right to issue officially recognised documents certifying higher education. According to the Agreement on Good Practice in Internationalisation, the signed institutions have agreed that all study programmes offered to international students (English-taught programmes) have to have full accreditation.

Recognition by the Republic of Estonia is the basic requirement for the recognition of studies in your home country. Information about the accreditation of higher education institutions and their programmes can be found on the databases of Estonian higher education institutions (Õppekavade akrediteerimine) on the website of the Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education.

Recognition of your previous studies if applying to study in Estonia as an international degree student

If you wish to continue your studies in Estonia on the basis of a foreign academic certificate, diploma or degree, you must apply directly to the higher education institution offering the most suitable programme for admission. You can turn to the ENIC/NARIC Centre in Estonia for recognition of your studies. 

The Estonian ENIC/NARIC belongs to the Council of Europe and UNESCO ENIC (European Network of National Information Centres on Academic Recognition and Mobility) network, and is a member of the European Commission NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centres) network. The main activities of the Centre in Estonia are the evaluation of foreign educational qualifications (certificates, diplomas, degrees, etc.), and the provision of information on education systems and recognition. Foreign students who have been awarded a degree by an Estonian education institution but wish to continue studies or start working in either their home or another foreign country must approach the appropriate authority in that country in order to evaluate the equivalence of the Estonian credential in a particular education system.

Applying for exchange studies as an Erasmus student

Students studying in Estonia in the framework of the Erasmus programme do not need to verify the accreditation of the study programmes offered at their host institution, as only institutions with accredited study programmes are eligible to participate in the Erasmus programme. To facilitate the comparability and recognition of acquired credits and grades, you should complete a Learning Agreement to be signed by them and the home and host institutions. The Learning Agreement is an informal contract that indicates precisely what modules and courses you would be studying. At the end of the study period abroad, the host university will provide both you and your home university with a transcript of the results obtained in the agreed programme of study.