Student Mobility in Estonia
(By Ülle Hendrikson, University of Tartu )

1. GENERAL FRAMEWORK

Higher education is primarily regulated by the Universities Act, the Institutions of Applied Higher Education Act, and the Private Schools Act.

The Estonian higher education system is binary and consists of universities and applied higher education institutions. Some vocational schools also have the right to offer professional higher education programmes. Based on the form of ownership, institutions of higher education can be divided into state, public and private institutions.

Since the academic year of 2002/2003, the general structure of the higher education system is based on two main cycles, following the undergraduate-graduate model. The first cycle is the bachelor level; the second cycle is the master level. For some specialities, the study programmes have been integrated into a single long cycle leading to a master level qualification. The highest stage at universities is doctorate studies. Applied higher education programmes constitute the first stage of the higher education system and correspond to bachelor level programmes.

Universities are institutions that provide academic higher education and can also offer professional higher education programmes. Institutions of applied higher education provide professional higher education and may offer master level programmes in the field of theology and defence or in other fields in cooperation with universities.

2. ACCREDITATION AND RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS

Accreditation is a process in the course of which an institution of higher education or its study programme is evaluated. The Higher Education Quality Assessment Council, in cooperation with foreign experts, carries out accreditation. The term of validity of a positive accreditation decision is seven years. A conditional accreditation decision is also a positive decision, the term of validity of which is three years.

Qualifications awarded to students who have completed a study programme that has been accredited positively as well as the qualifications that have been awarded up to two years before a positive accreditation decision are deemed to be recognised by the state. Diplomas of public universities awarded upon the completion of study programmes that were registered before June 1, 2002 , as well as diplomas awarded upon the completion of professional higher education programmes that were registered before June 30, 2003 enjoy state recognition even without being accredited.