Study Load and Volume

University studies, with the exception of Doctoral studies, take place in the form of both, full-time and part-time studies. A student who has applied for full-time studies but wishes to start studies as a part-time student shall submit a relevant application to admission specialists no later than 19 August of the year of admission.

Students are divided according to their study load into full-time students and part-time students.

• In full-time studies, a student shall complete curricular subjects and accumulate the minimum of 22.5 ECTS credits per each semester of studies.
• In part-time studies, a student shall complete curricular subjects and accumulate the minimum of 15-22 ECTS credits per each semester of studies.

The required study volume to be completed per semester is 30 ECTS credits. Only courses prescribed in a study programme (and modules selected in the study programme) and open elective courses in the volume prescribed in the study programme are included in the study volume required by the study programme. Performances completed through recognition of prior learning and work experience shall be included in the completed volume of a study programme.

At the end of every two studied semesters, the university shall determine the study load for a student who is not on academic leave at the time of determining the load. The study load is determined by the end of the preliminary week of the beginning semester. If a student who has studied two semesters as of the last determination of the study load is taking academic leave at the beginning of the semester, then his/her study load shall be determined prior to academic leave being granted.

The calculation of study load is based on the volume of curricular subjects in ECTS credits required by the study programme per study semesters. Performances with a completion date earlier than the end date of the semester are taken into account, as well as studies included by way of RPL, for which application has been submitted no later than the end of the intermediate week of the semester. Performances that exceed the volume of the study programme shall not be taken into account.

In changing the study load:
1) A student who has failed to fulfil the requirements of full-time studies shall be transferred to part-time studies:
2) A student in part-time studies who has fulfilled the requirements of full-time studies during the previous academic year shall be transferred to full-time studies;
3) A student who fails to fulfil the requirements of part-time studies shall be deleted from the matriculation register according to Clause 1 of Subsection 5 and Clause 2 of Subsection 6 of Section 30 of the Regulations

NB! If you are studying in Estonia with a temporary residence permit for study, then the requirement for maintaining that permit is remaining a full-time student. Falling into part-time student status will result in revoking the temporary residence permit for study