Full- and part-time studies

Each programme has a designated nominal study period – in bachelor studies the nominal study period is 3 years (except for distance study groups, where it is 3.5 years). In master level, the nominal study period is  1 to 2 years.
In order to graduate from university within the nominal study period, student should always take approximately 30 ECTS each semester. In other words, student should take all the subjects planned for the study group. This selection of courses is referred to as “the package” – if you declare exactly these foreseen courses, it is guaranteed that the timetables and exam dates will not overlap. In addition to that, it is also the cheapest option – declaring the nominal “package” is always cheaper than combing courses from different years.
The study load is divided so that each year the students take 54-60 ECTS which is optimal. The fewer subjects student takes each semester the longer entire study period will be. So if the main goal is to finish studies within the nominal study period, student should always declare the package courses.

Students who completes less than 50% of the volume of the programme, will be expelled by rector’s decree and they may continue studies as external student.

Full time student	Part time student	External student
75–100% of the volume of the study program by the end of the study year (at least 45 ECTS)*	50–74% of the volume of the study program by the end of the study year (30–45 ECTS)*	3–49% of the volume of the study program by the end of the study year (less than 30 ECTS)*
May apply for study loan**	May apply for study loan**	—
Has governmental health insurance**	Has governmental health insurance**	—
May ask from employer for study leave**	May ask from employer for study leave**	May ask from employer for study leave**
May apply for student card**	May apply for student card**	—

* the volume of ECTS may vary among different study programs. Nominal programme for each semester is set by study programme
** applicable for Estonian students

Example: If you collected 43.5 ECTS during the first study year => you will be a part-time student next study year
If you declare a larger study load in the second year and collect at least 90 ECTS by the end of the second year => you will become a full-time student again.