According to Helen Põllo, deputy head of higher education department in Ministry of Education and Research, there were 9,150 free admissions available in Estonia’s universities last year. With more budget money channelled into higher education, at least 3,500 such offers may now be added.
Helen Joost, head of Academic Affairs office of Tallinn University (TU), says they received about 1,500 state sponsored students last year. All in all, close to 2,800 students entered the university in 2012. This summer, they intend to accept about 2,500 students, more that 2,400 of whom would study for free.
Pursuant to the current higher education strategy for 2006–2015, universities ought to lay more emphasis on natural and exact science. In spite of that, TU still increases free admissions to the so-called soft specialties.
According to Ms Põllo, the ministry wishes to improve academic levels in specialties better focussed at definite fields. «Not all educational establishments must necessarily invest into all fields,» she said.
Unpopular fields of study
Gertu Võsu and Liis Mehine study audio-visual media in the TU Baltic Film and Media School. The young ladies admitted to having some problems last year, but these came because of the need to move.
«There are many problems because we have a new building. The TV studio is not working yet, as moving the technology over from the old building proved difficult. But that was mainly during the first semester,» said Ms Mehine.
Ms Võsu said that creating the study programme was probably still being developed, also pointing at deficiencies in the timetable. «That was a big mess. There were not enough credit points available by compulsory subjects so we had to choose extra optional subjects ourselves,» she said.
All in all, both are still quite satisfied, not overly worried for future jobs. Ms Mehine landed a job at shootings for a serial, directed by Vilja Palm. The shootings will take place this summer, she will be working as assistant director.
According to TU biology student Kaur Pääbo, about 40 young people a year are enrolled, with only 10-15 continued their studies after the first course.
Ms Joost admitted that it is difficult to lure people to natural and exact sciences. «Last year, only two people graduated from the specialty of physics teachers,» she said.
According to Ms Joost, TU does try to be attractive at all fields. «Looking at our investments into infrastructure and new labs built, we have indeed laboured to admit more students for natural and exact sciences,» said she.
Education ministry is planning to introduce special and results scholarships, one priority being students at natural and exact science faculties.
In Ms Joost’s opinion, this is a praiseworthy idea. «We are a little worried that the first chance to pay these scholarships is only at the start of 2014,» she added.
Last year, six law students were admitted to TU for state-paid study; with no-one enrolled for advertisements or public relations. This summer, 90 law students will be admitted to free study, with 41 in advertisements and imagology, and 33 in public relations.
According to Ms Joost, the figures were determined by prior admissions, the percentage of graduations, and internal quality of study programmes.
She declined to comment on TU graduates’ success on the labour market; however, there exists, according to her, a graduates’ study based on last years’ students, not pointing to any problems. It is not yet possible to look into the study results.
Smaller changes elsewhere
According to Anne Urbla, head of admissions and counselling at Tallinn University of Technology, they have had to cut vacancies at some study programmes. «We have cut somewhat from free positions in economics and social sciences, to strengthen the technology university image,» said she.
University of Tartu admissions specialist Kaja Karo pointed to the fact that entering into fees contracts with students will probably become more complicated, by now, the university has harmonised the regulations, readjusting the information systems.
«All else will be clarified as the admissions are over and the new students are already busy studying,» said Ms Karo.
In Estonian University of Life Sciences (EULS), here is little change. While, last year, 721 students were admitted for free and paid Bachelors’ study, this year 690 are planned for the state paid positions.
«Positions formerly paid for have now turned into free-of-charge ones. Otherwise, the numbers admitted remain much the same,» said the EULS admissions head Anneli Lorenz.
According to Estonian Business School (EBS) communications manager Kerstin Sonts, the effect of higher education reform is, in their case, hard to predict – this being a private university.
In Estonian Academy of Arts (EAA) and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, admissions are already closed.
According to the EAA communications manager Solveig Jahnke, they cannot give meaningful year-on-year. Comparisons. «The data in incomparable, as this year the faculties were issued guidelines how many we may accept,» she explained.
Time to file applications
• Estonian Business School – June 25th to July 15th
• Estonian University of Life Sciences – June 22nd to July 5th
• Tallinn University – June 28th to July 9th
• Tallinn University of Technology – June 26th to July 5th
• University of Tartu – June 24th to July 5th