Admissions

Please read the official admission pages for admission dates. The main admission period is in the summer.

These are the important dates for the current admission period: 

• The additional round of admissions for the academic year 2026/2027 opens on 5 October 2026
• The application deadline is 18 October at 13:00 pm [Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) (UTC+03:00)]
• Interviews will take place on 4 November 2026 over Zoom. Detailed information will be sent directly to the applicant.

Courses

The course list and nominal study plan for the Information Society Technologies doctoral programme for the 2026/2027 admission can be found here.

Admission process

The admission process involves two parallel processes: the process of finding a research topic and a supervisor and the general admission process. It would be best to start these processes early because both will take some time.  

1. Before applying you need to have a research topic and a supervisor. The School of Digital Technologies supports you in finding a research topic and a supervisor.

2. The Admissions Office deals with the general admission process at Tallinn University.

 Extensive information on the formal requirements, what to submit for the application, and deadlines can be found in the general information for the university's doctoral programs.

If you have any questions about this, including language requirements, visa requirements, and where to send the application, don't hesitate to contact admissions@tlu.ee.

Documents

The following documents must be submitted in the SAIS admissions system:

• Application form (applications are accepted during the period announced in the academic calendar)
• Doctoral research proposal approved by an academic referee qualified to supervise doctoral research
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter

Admission criteria

The admission criteria are:

• General motivation (10 points)

• Academic excellence (20 points)

• Originality and independence (20 points)

• Communication skills (20 points)

• Preparedness for doctoral studies (30 points)

The minimum programme enrolment threshold is 75 points out of 100.

Application stages

Stage 1 – Document-based assessment (min 65 points). During the document-based assessment, committee members evaluate candidates based on the materials submitted with the application, including the motivation letter, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, diplomas, certificates, and research proposal. The purpose of this stage is to assess the applicant’s overall academic preparation and readiness for doctoral studies, as well as the quality, clarity, originality, and feasibility of the proposed research.

Candidates obtaining a score below 65 points will not proceed to the interview stage. Candidates obtaining 65 points or more will be invited for interview.

Stage 2 – Interview-based assessment. The interview stage complements the document review by allowing committee members to assess aspects that cannot be fully evaluated through written materials alone, including motivation, critical thinking, communication skills, intellectual independence, and the candidate’s ability to engage constructively with feedback.

Doctoral students' positions at Tallinn University

Tallinn University has three kinds of doctoral student positions:

• Junior Research Fellows – The university employs these doctoral students for the purpose of their studies. The nominal study period for a full-time position is 4 years. The exact workload and nominal study time depend on the individual study and research plan and can last from 4 to 8 years. Junior researchers devote 85% of their time to research, knowledge transfer and institutional activities and 15% to educational activities such as: supervising students at the first and/or second level of higher education; teaching at the first and second level of higher education; supporting educational activities in their field of teaching.  
• Doctoral Students – These are doctoral students the university does not employ for their studies. The nominal study period depends on the individual study and research plan, lasting 4 to 8 years. Doctoral students do not receive doctoral allowances but selected activities can be supported by the universit's reserach fund.
• Doctoral Studies in Cooperation with Companies and Public Sector Organisations – Tallinn University offers opportunities to carry out doctoral research in close collaboration with companies and public sector organisations. These doctoral studies are designed to support partners’ strategic development by addressing real-world challenges through research and development activities. The focus is on strengthening innovation capacity, supporting data-driven decision-making, and developing sustainable, knowledge-based solutions. Such collaboration enables organisations to integrate research into their everyday practices while contributing to the development of new knowledge, competencies, and long-term impact.

Finding a research topic and a supervisor

There are pre-defined and open research topics:

• Pre-defined research topics are well-identified, have predefined supervisors and are usually associated to ongoing projects.
• Open research topics are not pre-defined but should relate to the broad areas of research within the School of Digital Technologies. 

You can find additional information about both kinds of research topics below. Once you have identified your topic and a potential supervisor, You can use this template to write your research proposal.