|
University of Tartu
Tartu, Estonia
(pop. 100,000)
Student Enrollment: 17,000
Language of instruction: Estonian, some English
www.ut.ee/
PROGRAM TYPE
Academic year or semester exchanges
ISEP-Exchange for International students.
ISEP-Exchange for US students.
ISEP-Direct site for member and affiliate students.
Summer program available.
Chance of Placement
ISEP-Exchange chance of placement for US students is generally Good.
ISEP-Exchange chance of placement for I-to-I students is generally Good.
For the most current chances of placement, see the Sites Open for Applications for US Students or Sites Open for I-to-I Applications.
Chance if placement on ISEP-Direct is Excellent.
See the Featured Program: After Empire: The Collapse of Communism and Beyond
Courses
Faculties of Science and Technology; Economics and Business Administration; Exercise and Sport Sciences; Law; Mathematics and Computer Science; Medicine; Philosophy; Social Sciences and Education; Theology.
Courses taught in Russian
For Russian Language majors there is a Russian Studies semester program, i.e. courses in Russian language, literature, culture and history (good command of the Russian language is required).
Courses taught in English
Semester programs European Union Studies and Eastern European Studies focus on transition in a broad sense, comparing and contrasting transition goals and dynamics in the European Union, Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia. Programs offer guided trips to Russia (St. Petersburg and Novgorod) and the Baltic States. Semester programs in Politics and Society of the Baltic States and History and Culture of the Baltic States, and Business and Administration introduce students to distinctive features of Baltic history, culture, politics, society and economy. Faculty of Law semester program Studies in Transitional Societies (autumn only) focuses on Estonia's transformation from a communist republic of the former Soviet Union to a democratic market economy rooted in the European Union. For Science majors the university offers a semester module in Applied Measurement Science, with courses in metrology and analytical chemistry. For IT students the university has semester module in Software Engineering. The Department of Semiotics is home to Jury Lotman School of Cultural Semiotics and offers a semester program in Semiotics.
Academic Notes
University of Tartu offers several international programs taught in English especially recommended for ISEP students. In addition, many faculties offer some courses taught in English. The language center offers courses of Estonian and Russian as foreign languages. ISEP students are free to select courses from different programs and faculties to compile a study plan that best suits their needs.
Language Notes
International exchange students study in semester programs that are instructed in English. Students with a command of Estonian may select from the university's available course offerings. Those wishing to pursue studies in Russian language and/or literature should have an excellent command of Russian.
I-to-I applicants who are not native English speakers must submit the ISEP Language Proficiency Report.
Note: The host institution ultimately determines your proficiency level and course eligibility.
Program Dates
Academic year: late August to June; Semester 1: late August to January; Semester 2: early February to June.
Housing and Meals
Students are housed in double-occupancy rooms in a new residence hall near the university, within walking distance from the study buildings and city center. Dorm rooms are equipped with kitchen. A meal stipend is provided. Note: Meals are not included in the program fee for ISEP-Direct students.
Student Activities
During every semester there are a lot of student events: international food fest, international film nights, sledging, sauna days, bog walking week-ends, and many more. The definite highlights of each semester are Spring and Autumn Students Days, filled with dozens of entertaining and educating events, competitions and festivals. Tartu offers plenty of opportunities for sports and exercise: newly built university sports hall, several well-equipped gyms and fitness clubs, classes on yoga, step, aerobics, squash and tennis courts, bowling clubs, swimming pools. For those with talent there is Tartu Academic Male Choir, Tartu University Chamber Choir, Alumni of Folk Ensemble of Tartu University, Tartu Student Theatre.
Tartu has numerous student clubs and associations, ranging from professional organizations to informal groups based on common hobbies and interests. ESN-Tartu (Erasmus Student Network) is an organization that aims to support international students of the University of Tartu. It works in close contacts with the Student Council and with the International Student Service. ESN-Tartu helps organize free time activities, such as sports events, trips and parties, that all bring international students closer to local life.
ISEP-Direct
Information about ISEP-Direct fees and dates.
Profile
The University of Tartu, founded in 1632, is one of the oldest and most venerable research universities in the Baltic countries. In 2009 the University of Tartu was ranked among top 600 universities in the world by Times Higher Education – QS World University rankings. Approximately 17,500 students are enrolled, including 670 international students representing 30 countries. Facilities include a scientific library, a botanical garden, a computing center, five museums, and a modern sport center. At the beginning of each semester international students go through 3-5 days of orientation and receive a student helper (tutor) to help them with practical issues. Counselors of International Student Services are located in the main building and are available during normal office hours.
Location
The northernmost of the three Baltic States, Estonia has historically served as a crossroads between east and west. Situated on the shores of the Baltic Sea, with a population of about 1.5 million, Estonia is slightly larger than Denmark. Across the gulf lies Finland, Estonia's closest neighbor linguistically and ethnically. Estonia offers a great case study of successful transition from Soviet past to democracy and recent accession to EU. It is modern country, with newest high-tech solutions, e.g. free wireless Internet can be found even in the town hall square of Tartu!
Tartu, Estonia's second largest city of 100,000, is situated in southeastern Estonia on the banks of the Emajõgi River, about 2.5 hours drive (186 km) from Tallinn. One of the oldest university towns in Europe, Tartu is home to the University of Tartu, the Estonian Agricultural University, the Baltic Defense College and some private universities. With a combined total of more than 20,000 students living in the city, Tartu can rightfully call itself a City of Youth and enjoys a unique atmosphere of a true European university town, young, vibrant, compact, safe. Tartu feels like one big campus and offers an ever increasing number of theatres, night-clubs, galleries and other places of entertainment.
|
