• Your Graduation Certificate (in English)(Program Requirement)
Masters’s degree or equivalent qualification
This means that your master’s degree should enable you to apply for doctoral studies in the education system in which you received the master’s degree. However, there might be differences between higher education systems and access requirements to PhD programmes in different countries. To apply to the University of Tartu, your qualification should correspond to a master’ degree in the Estonian higher education system.
• Your Highest Academic Transcript (in English)(Program Requirement)
- official copies of both bachelor's and master's diplomas
- diploma supplements (bachelor's and master's transcript/mark sheet, including the description of the grading scale).
• English Language Certificate(Program Requirement)
The University of Tartu only accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Cambridge English and PTE Academic test scores which have been taken no more than 2 years before applying (test must be valid at least one month after you have submitted your application). Please note that the following are the only tests and exemptions accepted by the University of Tartu. If you cannot prove your English language proficiency with one of the below mentioned English tests/results and you do not belong to any of the listed exempt categories, your application will not qualify for admission.
Minimum required scores:
- TOEFL iBT: 75. UT accepts TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test results. TOEFL institutional code for the University of Tartu is 0133. Test Taker Score Report must be uploaded to the DreamApply application system.
TOEFL iBT test score is valid for 2 years. Please note that your TOEFL test score must be valid at least one month after the application deadline.
- IELTS Academic: the minimum required score is 6.0 and no part can be below 5.5. UT accepts IELTS Academic test results. We also accept IELTS Online tests. When submitting the online application please upload a scan of the IELTS Academic test result certificate for online verification. NB! The University of Tartu does not accept the General Training IELTS certificates as proof of English language proficiency.
- Cambridge English tests: the minimum required result is 169. UT accepts the following Cambridge English tests: First (FCE), Advanced (CAE) and Proficiency (CPE).
Applicants who have taken one of the Cambridge English tests must order their result to be sent to University of Tartu electronically through Candidate Results Online website.
- Pearson Test of English Academic tests: the minimum required score is 59. UT accepts the following Pearson Test of English Academic tests: PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online. The test score must be sent to the university electronically via Pearson portal.
The University of Tartu accepts the following state exams:
- Estonian state exam in English - minimum required result is B2 level (for exams taken in 1997-2013, 66 points or higher)
- Finnish ylioppilastutkinto in English, long course – graded at least magna cum laude approbatur (M) 5
- Latvian state exam in English (centralizetais eksamen) - minimum required score at least 70%
Applicants from Estonia, Finland or Latvia who are graduating from secondary school this year and wish to prove their English language proficiency with their state exam result can submit their application without the final exam certificate on condition that they submit the exam certificate as soon as it arrives in June. Only applicants who obtain an acceptable exam result will be considered.
- English Language test offered by the University of Tartu (for applicants already in Estonia): minimum B2 level is required. The test is for applicants who are already in Estonia and it has to be taken before applying. Please be aware that this test can be taken only once per academic year.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme or European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma.
An applicant has completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in English language with Diploma, and received at least grade 5 for the final exam in English (English A, English B, English Literature and Performance). NB! Applicants who are graduating from an IB Diploma Programme in the upcoming spring/summer and wish to prove their English language proficiency with their IB English exam result can submit their application without the final exam result on condition that they submit the final exam result as soon as it arrives in the beginning of July. Only applicants who obtain an acceptable result (see before) will be considered.
An applicant has received the European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma and the final exam result for English as Language 1 or Language 2. NB! Applicants who are graduating from an EB Diploma programme in the upcoming spring/summer and wish to prove their English language proficiency with their EB English exam result can submit their application without the final exam result on condition that they submit the final exam result as soon as it arrives in the summer (by the end of July at the latest). Only applicants who obtain a positive exam result will be considered.
- Exempt categories (studies in EU/EEA, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand):
Please note that these are the only exemptions.
If your situation (including the country or region where you previously studied) is not described here, you must take a recognised English language exam.
The English language requirement may be waived if an applicant meets one of the following criteria:
- has completed secondary education in English in one of the following countries: in EU/EEA member states; Switzerland, UK, USA; Canada; Australia or New Zealand. In case the applicant studied in an offshore campus, a recognised English proficiency certificate is still required;
- has studied in English (with English as medium of instruction) in full-time student status for at least one academic year in a higher education institution in one of the following countries: Switzerland, UK, USA; Canada; Australia; New Zealand or any of the EU/EEA member states. The transcript of records must include information that the applicant was enrolled in the programme taught in English. In case the applicant studied online or in an offshore campus, a recognised English proficiency certificate is still required.
• Your Passport Copy(Program Requirement)
• Faculty interview(Program Requirement)
The applicant must describe the wider scientific background of the doctoral project and possible applicability of the results, also their motivation to be admitted to PhD studies with particular project. The entrance interview conducted by the committee lasts up to 25 minutes. Only applicants whose motivation letter is assessed positively will be invited to the interview (minimum positive result is 35 points out of 50).
The entrance interview is used to assess the following:
- knowledge of the wider scientific background of the project and possible application of the expected results
- applicant’s motivation to pursue doctoral studies in the relevant field of science and to work in this field
- wider analytical and generalization skills regarding the research and study topics.
Minimum positive result is 35 points out of 50.
• Motivational Letter(Program Requirement)
You can apply for one study place only. Please write a brief motivation letter (in English, maximum of 6000 characters with spaces) based on the following points:
1. Why are you interested in this PhD project, explain your choice.
2. What is your previous experience in this field? Explain how your educational and professional background relates to the project you are applying to.
3. What are the analytical/scientific methods you have practiced.
4. Describe briefly the methods and main results of your MSc thesis.
5. Describe your earlier research activities, including research publications and conference presentations, if available.
Assessment criteria for motivation letter:
- motivation and argumentation of skills and the choice of the project
- relevant study and work experience and other relevant activities (publications, project management etc.) as required to present in the motivation letter.
• Curriculum Vitae(Program Requirement)
