- Jan 2: application system opens
- April 15: application deadline
- May 25: final admission results
- August 29: academic year starts
International students
Estonian students
Admission to Science and Technology
General requirements
- Secondary education – please see country-specific document requirements here.
- English language proficiency – please see acceptable tests and exempt categories here.
Applicants are ranked based on the following 3 indicators:
- state exam result or final grade in Mathematics – highest result will be considered (Yields 20% of the final score)
- state exam result or final grade in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics – highest result will be considered (Yields20% of the final score)
- score of the motivation letter (Yields 30% of the final score)
- Entry test (Yields 30% of the final score)
The maximum total score is 100 points. The application will be considered for the admissions ranking if a total score of 66 points or higher is achieved. Further information on assessing candidates’ academic performance and calculating admissions’ score.
Motivation Letter
Please write a brief motivation letter (in English, maximum of 4 600 characters with spaces) based on the following points:
The bachelor’s programme in Science and Technology has three specialisations:
- genetics and biotechnology
- bioengineering and robotics
- chemistry and materials sciences
1. Which of the three specialisations interests you most and why?
2. Which elective courses would you like to take? (Elective courses need to be chosen from the list of courses of elective module of Science and Technology programme).
3. Why are you particularly interested in this Science and Technology bachelor’s programme?
4. In which role do you see yourself in your future job after completion of the programme and what is your personal motivation to study Science and Technology?
5. How do you plan to implement the skills to be gained from the programme in your future career?
Evaluation criteria:
· fit between the student’s goals and the programme (40 %)
· analytical and argumentation skills (40 %)
· fluency of written English (20 %)
The maximum score for the motivation letter is 100 points and minimum positive score 51 points.
Entry Test
The admission test for the Science and Technology program will be held online. Candidates who have got a positive score for the motivation letter (above 51%) qualify for the test. The aim of the test is to evaluate applicant’s knowledge in Mathematics, previous experience and knowledge in the fields of either Biology, Chemistry, Physics etc., specialization fit/motivation, analytical, communication and argumentation skills.
The written part of the admission test will be taken on the testid.ut.ee platform between 9-10 May 2025. The oral part of the test will be held in a designated timeframe in Zoom between 13-21 May 2025. Eligible candidates will receive a link to the platform along with all required information via email. NB! It is the candidates’ responsibility to check email for the instruction regarding the admission test.
The Admission Test consists of 2 parts: written and oral
1. written part i.e. Mathematics (5 questions, 50%)
2. oral part (10‐20 minutes of discussion, 50%)
The test is comprised of different types of assignments, including but not limited to multiple choice questions, pair matching, short answers, answers to mathematical equations (numerical answer), essay type of answer to the questions.
Candidate will have 60 minutes for the written part (Math section). For oral part of the admission test candidate will have 10‐20 minutes.
During the test you may use a pen, paper, calculator, list of formulas, additional materials. Every candidate will have ONE attempt to complete the test. The test cannot be redone. In case of lost internet connection, the candidate will not be able to restart the test. Make sure you have a stable internet connection before starting the test.
Evaluation criteria
The test can give 100 points in total (50 points per section). To pass the test you must get at least 26 points in every section. No specific feedback to every question will be provided, just the overall score for every section and total result.
Topics that are covered in the test
Mathematics:
- algebraic and trigonometric expressions,
- geometry,
- functions and their graphs,
- equations and inequalities,
- limits,
- differentiation,
- integration and their applications
There are mixed-type exercises, containing dropdowns, radio buttons, and checkboxes, as well as input boxes for algebraic expressions and numbers with or without units. Every candidate will obtain a random, unique selection of exercises with random parameters.
Biology:
- Work with visual material (graph or image analysis)
- Cell division
- Genetic information flow (transcription, translation, complementarity rule, correct matching between DNA, RNA and proteins)
- Genetic mutations
- Inheritance and genetic variety problem solving
Chemistry:
- General chemistry
- Structure of matter. Modern understanding of the structure of atom. Information in the periodic table and interpreting it. Types of chemical bonds. Hydrogen bond. Intermolecular forces. The relationship between the physical properties of a matter and the structure of a matter.
- Why and how do chemical reactions occur? Reaction activation energy, active collisions.
- Dissolution process, chemical reactions in solutions. Dissolution process of substances. Electrolytes and non-electrolytes; strong and weak electrolytes. Protolytic theory of acids and bases. Molar concentration. Interionic reactions in solutions, the conditions of their course. pH. Environment (pH) in the solution of a hydrolysing salt.
- Inorganic chemistry
- Overview of the characteristic physical and chemical properties of metals. Comparison of the chemical activity of metals; activity series of metals. Metals and their compounds in everyday life and nature.
- Non-metals. Overview of the physical and chemical properties of non-metals depending on the position of the element in the periodic table. Comparison of the chemical activity of non-metals.
- Organic chemistry
- Hydrocarbons and their derivates. Structure of carbon compounds and the ways of describing it. Alkanes, nomenclature principles, isomerism. Dependence of physical properties of substituted alkanes (halogen compounds, alcohols, primary amines) on their structure. Comparison of the chemical properties of unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes. Chain-growth polymerisation. Hydrocarbons and their derivates in nature and industry.
- Organic substances around us. Aldehydes as the oxidation products of alcohols. Substituted carboxylic acids (amino acids, hydroxy acids) and functional derivates of carboxylic acids (esters, amides). Polycondensation. Organic compounds in living organisms: fats, saccharides, proteins.
The chemistry test contains different types of questions and tasks. The applicants can use the periodic table, activity series of metals and the solubility table (the applicant can use them in the test environment).
Physics:
- Mechanics
- Dynamics
- Waves
- Electromagnetism
- Energy (thermodynamics)
- Physics of micro- and megaworld
Application process for Estonian candidates
Applicants who have completed or are about to complete their secondary school studies in Estonia should apply via the National Admission Information Systems (SAIS) – further information is available here.
Applicants with Estonian citizenship who have graduated or are about to graduate abroad as well as international applicants should submit their application using the DreamApply system as instructed below.
Application process for international candidates
Step 1. Submitting the online application
The application system (DreamApply Estonia) opens on 2 January and closes on 15 April.
The following documents must be submitted electronically via DreamApply by the application deadline:
- online application
- motivation letter
- official certified copy of the secondary school certificate and grade list in the original language (must include description of the grading scale).
NB! Applicants from the member countries of EU, OECD, CIS (СНГ), Ukraine, Georgia, IB Diploma programme or graduating with A-level exams who are graduating in the upcoming spring/summer and having their secondary school certificate issued later than the application deadline should electronically submit their most recent grade list (grades for all your high school years up until the moment of application) by the application deadline, 15 April. The grade list should be supplemented by an official statement from the issuing school indicating current enrolment and expected graduation date. Admitted candidates are required to post the certified copies of their graduation documents as soon as these have been issued (these must reach us by the end of July at the latest).
NB! Applicants from other countries can only apply if they have already obtained their final graduation documents and can submit these by the application deadline, 15 April. - official certified translation of the secondary school certificate and grade list into English
- proof of English language proficiency
- copy of valid international passport page stating the applicant’s personal particulars
- confirmation/receipt of application fee payment (if applicable). All international applicants are required to pay the application fee EUR 100, unless they have completed the previous study level in Estonia. An application will only be processed after the fee has been received by the UT.
Applicants will receive feedback and notifications through the DreamApply system to their e-mail. Incomplete applications or those submitted by e-mail will not be considered.
Guide to submitting electonic application on DreamApply.
Step 2. Evaluation and announcment of admission results
The evaluation of applications will be made based on the electronic copies added to DreamApply. A general ranking list will be formed based on the electronically submitted applications and admission results (including offers) will be announced to all applicants personally via DreamApply by 25 May at the latest. Admitted candidates are expected to accept or decline the offer in DreamApply in 7 days. If the decision is not communicated to UT via DreamApply by the stipulated deadline, UT reserves the right to withdraw the admission offer.
NB! It is not possible to postpone/defer the beginning of studies to the next academic year.
Terms and conditions of the admission offer
Admission offers are conditional. This means that there are conditions in the offer which the applicant needs to fulfil in order to be admitted (e.g. sending application documents by post; obtaining the required level of education). If the conditions are not met, UT has the right to withdraw the offer. Also, UT reserves the right to withdraw or amend any offer or revoke the matriculation of a student, if it becomes evident that the application contains fraudulent information, the qualification does not provide access to the chosen study programme or the student is found to have omitted key information from the application. Should such circumstances occur, UT will not be liable for any material or immaterial loss which the student may suffer as a result.
Step 3. Sending the documents by post and paying the tuition fee
Once the admission results have been announced, all admitted students are required to send the application documents by post to: Student Admissions, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18-133, Tartu 50090, ESTONIA.
The documents are expected to be mailed only by those receiving the admission offer (unless instructed otherwise by the Admissions staff). The documents must reach the university within 3 weeks from the announcement of the offer. If the application documents do not reach the UT Student Amdissions by the deadline, UT has the right to withdraw the admission offer. Applicants will be informed via DreamApply when their documents have arrived.
Requirements for educational documents
All copies of educational documents (secondary school certificate and grade list/transcript) must be officially certified. By certified we mean that the copies should bear an original signature and seal of the authority certifying that these are true copies of the original document(s). The copies can be certified either 1) by an authorised official of the issuing institution, or 2) by a notary, or 3) with an Apostille attached. NB! Country-specific requirements may specify the way documents from certain countries must be certified.
Please note that UT does not accept simple copies made on the basis of already certified copies (primary copies are needed).
All admitted students are required to present their original qualification certificates upon arrival (unless these were sent directly from the issuing institution).
Paying the tuition fee (applicable to those receiving a fee-based study place offer)
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are required to pay the fee for the first semester once they arrive in Tartu (by 20 September at the latest after signing the fee contract, please read more here).
- Admitted students from other countries are required to pre-pay half of the first semester’s tuition fee. The invoice along with the pre-payment deadline and payment details will be sent to applicants via DreamApply after they have accepted the admissions offer and the University has received the hard copies of the application documents. Second part of the fee is due on 20 September. NB! The official admission letter (necessary for visa application) will only be issued once the University of Tartu has received the pre-payment.
- NB! Once you have been offered a fee-based study place, be aware that it will not be changed into a fee waiver study place. By transferring the pre-payment to the university, you confirm that you have informed yourself about the process of the visa and temporary residence permit application and you are able to arrive in Estonia by the start of the academic year. If you have any questions please contact studentvisasupport@ut.ee.
Step 4. Receiving the official admission letter
The official admission letter will be sent to admitted students electronically via DreamApply only after the admissions office has received and reviewed hard copies of the application documents, and received the tuition fee pre-payment (if a pre-payment was required, please see step 3 for more details).
NB! The electronic admission letter is also sufficient for non-EU students for applying for visa/residence permit at an Estonian embassy.
Step 5. Arriving in Estonia and at UT
Once the admission letter is issued, admitted students may proceed further with arranging their travel and arrival. All non-EU students should first consult information on the process of visa and temporary residence permit application to be sure, as where and when the relevant documents need to be applied. Note that housing at the UT dormitories can be applied during a limited period of time, unless specified otherwise on the website. When preparing for travel to Estonia, check the relevant information from UT Welcome Web.
Based upon common queries, the most important information has been summarised into a pre-arrival information leaflet available on the UT Getting Started website.
Tuition fee and tuition waivers
2024 Intake
The tuition fee for tuition fee paying students on this programme is 6000 euros per year.
Altogether 50 study places are available on the programme. On the basis of the admission results, a limited number of applicants of both EU/EEA/Swiss and non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizenship will receive a stipend to cover their tuition fee. Applicants do not have to apply for the stipend separately, as they will be automatically considered for the competition. Stipend is given for the 3 year study period. NB! To hold the stipend, you need to be studying full-time.
NB! Applicants who are not citizens of the member states of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and do not hold a long-term residence permit in any of these countries are required to pay half of the semester fee after they have been informed of the admission decision (offer) via DreamApply in May. The official admission letter (necessary for visa application) will only be issued once the University of Tartu has received this payment. The second half of the semester fee is to be paid after the studies have started, by 20 September.