When people think about studying in Europe, countries like Germany, the UK, or France usually come to mind first. But here is a hidden gem that many students overlook — Estonia. This small, digitally advanced Baltic nation is home to some of Europe’s most innovative universities, and its government actively invites international students, researchers, and academic staff to come and study or work there through the Estonian National Scholarship Programme.
Administered by the Estonian Education and Youth Board (Harno) under the Ministry of Education and Research, this scholarship programme for 2026 is open across three distinct pathways — degree and exchange studies, summer school participation, and research/academic staff grants. Whether you are a Bachelor’s student wanting to explore Estonian culture, a Master’s or PhD candidate looking for funded studies in Europe, or a researcher seeking a short academic stay, Estonia has something genuinely valuable to offer.
🎓 Scholarship Overview
The Estonian Government Scholarship Programme is based on bilateral intergovernmental and inter-ministerial agreements between Estonia and partner countries. Running since 2016, it brings together multiple scholarship types under one unified framework. Applications are handled by Harno (Education and Youth Board) and the results are determined by a dedicated scholarship commission.
| Feature | Details |
| Scholarship Name | Estonian National Scholarship Programme for International Students |
| Host Country | Estonia 🇪🇪 |
| Offered By | Estonian Ministry of Education & Research / Harno |
| Degree Levels | BA (limited), Masters, PhD, Exchange, Research |
| Scholarship Types | Degree Study, Summer School, Research Grant |
| Monthly Stipend | €350 (BA/Masters), €660 (PhD & Researchers) |
| Open To | Citizens of 39 eligible countries |
| Application Mode | Email (Word format) |
Important Notice: Applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus will not be accepted for the 2026/2027 academic year, as per the guidelines of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.
🎓 Benefits / Funding
Estonia offers three types of financial support under this programme, each with its own benefit structure:
1. Scholarship for Degree & Exchange Study
- Bachelor’s / Master’s level: €350 per month
- PhD level: €660 per month
- Paid for the duration of studies (exchange students: up to 10 months per year; degree students: up to 12 months per academic year, except the final year when 10 months are covered)
- No additional allowances for travel, accommodation or other costs — the monthly stipend is the full benefit
2. Summer School Scholarship
- Course fee: Covered up to €700 per applicant (one course only)
- Accommodation: Up to €25 per night for a maximum of 4 weeks
- Payments are made directly to the hosting Estonian university
- Online summer school course fees are also eligible
3. Grant for Researchers & Academic Staff
- Short-term (1–9 days): €45 per day
- Long-term (10 days to 10 calendar months): €660 per month
- Any 30-day period counts as one full month
- Paid monthly to the grant holder’s bank account
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility varies depending on the scholarship type, but the core requirements are:
For Degree & Exchange Study Scholarship:
- Must be a citizen of one of the 39 listed eligible countries (see full list below)
- Must be admitted to an Estonian higher education institution for the 2026/27 academic year
- Masters and PhD studies are supported in all fields
- At the Bachelor’s (BA) level, scholarships are only available for programmes related to Estonian language and culture
- PhD students with an active junior researcher employment contract at an Estonian HEI are not eligible
- From the 2nd year onward, degree study applicants must be enrolled in full-time studies
For Summer School Scholarship:
- Must be a current BA, MA, or PhD student at a university abroad
- Must have been enrolled at their home university for at least one year at the time of application
- Must pre-register to a specific eligible summer course before applying
For Researcher & Academic Staff Grant:
- Must hold an academic position at a foreign higher education institution (professor, associate professor, researcher, lecturer, etc.)
- PhD students are not eligible for this grant — they should apply under the student scholarship instead
- Postdoctoral grants are not offered under this programme
- Must have a confirmed hosting letter from an Estonian HEI
English Language: All submitted documents must be in English or Estonian. No specific test score is mandated, but proficiency is expected at a level suitable for university study.
🎓 Eligible Countries (Degree & Exchange Study)
Applications for degree and exchange scholarships are accepted only from citizens of the following countries:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States of America.
🎓 Who Should Apply
This scholarship is ideal for you if:
- You are a citizen of one of the 39 eligible countries and want to study in Europe affordably
- You want to pursue a Masters or PhD degree in Estonia with monthly financial support
- You are a researcher or academic looking for a funded short or long-term visit to an Estonian university
- You want to attend a summer school in fields like AI, digital services, game design, genetic research, or Estonian language and culture
- You are drawn to Estonia’s reputation as one of the world’s most digital and forward-thinking countries
Consider other options if:
- You are a citizen of Russia or Belarus (not eligible for 2026/27)
- You are a BA student wanting to study a non-Estonian-related field (only Estonian language/culture BA programmes are funded)
- You are a PhD student already employed as a junior researcher at an Estonian institution
🎓 Available Summer School Programmes (2026)
Estonia’s universities offer an impressive range of international summer courses eligible for this scholarship:
University of Tartu:
- Strengthening Democracies & Information Disorders
- Applied Neuromarketing Research for Marketing Strategy
- Entrepreneurship in Arts and Creative Industries
- Hands-On Data Engineering
- Synthetic Biology and Its Applications
- Designing Social Robots Summer School 2026
- Genetic Variants to Risk Prediction (Genetic Epidemiology)
- Estonian Summer Courses
- And more across science, philosophy, and culture
Tallinn University:
- Gamification Workshop & Design of Serious Games
- Basics of Game Development
- Digital Services for Health Behaviour Change
- Storytelling in Marketing
- The Formation of Global Norms in a Changing World Order
- Estonian Language Course
Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech):
- Applied AI Summer School
- Digital Innovation
Estonian Business School:
- Digitalisation and Sustainability
🎓 Required Documents
For Degree & Exchange Study Scholarship (3 files in one email):
- Completed Application Form in Word format (cannot be modified)
- Copy of passport or ID card
- Confirmation letter from the Estonian HEI including: student status, level of study, curriculum name, start and end dates, and (for PhD applicants) proof of no junior researcher employment contract
For Summer School Scholarship:
- Application form with motivation letter
- Confirmation from home university (study level, progress, normal duration of studies)
- Confirmation letter from the course-organizing university specifying the exact course
- Copy of passport or ID card
For Researcher/Academic Staff Grant:
- Academic CV (EUROPASS format preferred)
- Formal application form
- Confirmation letter from the hosting Estonian institution confirming the hosting period and employment dates
📌 All documents must be in English or Estonian. Documents in other languages require a certified translation.
🎓 Application Process
Step 1: Choose your scholarship type — degree/exchange study, summer school, or researcher grant
Step 2: Get admitted to your chosen Estonian university or summer course (admission must come before or alongside the scholarship decision)
Step 3: Prepare your application form (download the official Word format from the Harno website — it cannot be modified)
Step 4: Gather all required supporting documents
Step 5: Send your complete application package via email to the official Harno scholarship email address as instructed on the official page
Step 6: Wait for the results. For summer schools, results are announced in June. For degree/exchange scholarships, results are notified personally by December 1.
Step 7: If awarded, sign the scholarship agreement and begin your studies in Estonia
🎓 Important Dates
| Scholarship Type | Application Period | Results |
| Summer School 2026 | 1 April – 1 May 2026 (23:59 EET) | June 2026 |
| Researcher & Academic Staff Grant 2026 | 1 April – 1 May 2026 (23:59 EET) | Notified personally |
| Degree & Exchange Study 2026/27 | September 2 – October 1 (23:59 EET) | By December 1 |
💡 Note: The application dates for the 2026/27 degree scholarship will be officially confirmed by August 2026. Check the Harno website regularly for updates.
🎓 Why Study in Estonia?
Estonia is a country that punches well above its weight when it comes to education and technology:
- Digital-first nation: Estonia is globally renowned for its e-governance, cybersecurity, and digital innovation — making it ideal for students in tech and policy fields
- Safe and modern: Tallinn and Tartu are consistently rated among Europe’s most liveable student cities
- English-friendly: Many programmes and daily life in Estonia operate comfortably in English
- Affordable living costs: Much cheaper than Western European countries, making your stipend go much further
- Top universities: University of Tartu, Tallinn University, and TalTech are internationally respected institutions with strong research output
- Gateway to Europe: Estonia is an EU member and Schengen zone country, giving you easy access to the rest of Europe during your studies
- Competitive but worthwhile: The programme is selective (historically around 10% acceptance for degree scholarships), so a strong application really matters
🎓 Official Source
To download application forms, check eligibility, and submit your application, visit the official Harno scholarship page:
🔗 Official Scholarship Page: https://harno.ee/en/scholarships-and-grants/scholarships-studying-and-working-estonia/scholarships-international
🔗 Study in Estonia: https://www.studyinestonia.ee
📧 Contact (Scholarships): Liis Uulman, Senior Specialist | +372 5917 2251
🎓 Scholarship Summary
| Feature | Details |
| Programme | Estonian National Scholarship Programme 2026 |
| Host Country | Estonia 🇪🇪 |
| Offered By | Harno / Ministry of Education & Research |
| Degree Levels | BA (limited), Masters, PhD, Exchange |
| Monthly Stipend | €350 (BA/MA) |
| Summer School | Up to €700 course fee + €25/night accommodation |
| Eligible Countries | 39 countries (see full list above) |
| Acceptance Rate | ~10% (degree scholarship) — highly competitive |
| Deadline (Summer School & Research) | 1 May 2026 |
| Deadline (Degree & Exchange 2026/27) | October 1, 2026 |
| Application Method | Email (Word format only) |
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