Getting started for international studentsby Study Abroad Centre |  |
Arrival ABC
We hope that you have received all information necessary to process your visa/temporary residence permit application from our Welcome Web.
Here are the fundamentals for those students who are about to arrive or have already arrived at the University of Tartu.
We strongly advise you to use the checklists down below in order to keep track of all the most relevant procedures after your arrival at UT. There is one checklist for short-term students and one for degree-seeking students. You are advised to make sure that you do not skip any of the steps. Also, due to all the different cards that students may need to apply for, you will find a table with some brief information as to what to use each card for, whether it is compulsory, etc.
The students staying in self-isolation, all steps you need to take that require your physical presence can be taken once the self-isolation period is over, not before or during your self-isolation period!
Checklist (Short-term/Visiting Students)
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Action |
Timeframe |
More information |
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Your UT username and password will be sent to you by email. If you have not received your UT username and password, please contact the Study Abroad Centre. |
By the beginning of the semester. |
You can register to the courses and see the timetables when semester begins not earlier. |
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(Erasmus students) Get your certificate of arrival signed (if you home university requires it) by email. |
Upon arrival to Tartu |
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Register for courses in the Study Information System (SIS/ÕIS in Estonian). NB! Should you have any question concerning registration for courses, please contact your institute/school/college or programme director. |
Within two weeks after the beginning of the semester |
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Fill out your contact information in the Study Information System. Make sure your contact information is correct and keep it updated! |
Within two weeks after the beginning of the semester |
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In order to receive a stipend from UT, you are advised to open a local bank account and insert the account number into the SIS. (If you would like an ISIC card, you must open an account with Swedbank or SEB). In LHV bank opening an account is free of charge. |
Within the first weeks of the semester. Not in the first week! |
To open a bank account: You will need to request the confirmation of studies at UT from the respective dean's office at the beginning of the semester, this document proves your student status at the University of Tartu. |
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Based on the invoice issued by UT. |
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C-visa holders: Begin applying for a D-visa (if you will be staying in Estonia for more than 90 days) at the Police and Border Guard Board. |
Immediately upon arrival in Tartu! |
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D-visa holders: request an Estonian ID-code (isikukood) from Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17). |
As soon as possible. |
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EU citizens: register as a resident of Tartu at the Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17) or at the Tartu Population Registry (Küüni 5) in order to have the right of residence in Estonia and receive your ID-code. |
Within one month after your arrival in Estonia. |
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EU citizens: After completing the above step, apply for an Estonian ID-card from the Police and Border Guard Board (Riia 132) which certifies your right of residence in Estonia and allows you to use various e-services. |
After registering as a resident of Tartu |
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Send your Estonian ID code (isikukood) to the Study Abroad Centre: studentvisasupport@ut.ee
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As soon as you have received it. |
ID code gives the possibility to receive transportation discounts, to register with a family doctor and to use a variety of other e-services. |
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Start looking for a family doctor and register yourself with the doctor of your choice. |
As soon as possible. |
Estonian health care system |
Checklist (Degree-seeking Students)
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Action |
Timeframe |
More information |
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Your UT username and password will be sent to you by email. If you have not received your UT username and password, please contact the Study Abroad Centre. |
Before the beginning of the semester. |
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Fill out your contact information in the Study Information System (SIS/ÕIS). Make sure your contact information is correct and keep it updated! |
As soon as possible. |
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Register for courses in the SIS. NB! Should you have any question concerning registration for courses, please contact your institute/school/college or programme director. |
Within two weeks after the beginning of the semester |
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In order to receive a stipend from UT, open a local bank account and insert the account number into the SIS. (If you would like an ISIC card, you must open an account with Swedbank or SEB). In LHV bank opening an account is free of charge. |
Within the first weeks of the semester. Not in the first week! |
To open a bank account: You will need to request the confirmation of studies at UT from the respective dean's office at the beginning of the semester, this document proves your student status at the University of Tartu. |
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Tuition fee contracts are to be signed at respective dean’s office or institute. Students will be informed as where and when (varies across study fields). |
Within two weeks after the beginning of the semester. |
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PhD students: add Individual study plan to SIS |
Within two weeks from matriculation |
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Non-EU citizens. D-visa holders: request an Estonian ID-code (isikukood) from Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17). If you will be studying in Estonia for more than 6 calendar months and have not applied for an Estonian Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) yet, begin applying for it at the Police and Border Guard Board. |
Immediately upon arrival in Tartu! |
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Non-EU citizens: After having received your TRP card (if applicable), register as a citizen of Tartu at the Population Register Office in Tartu (Küüni 5). |
As soon as possible after receiving TRP card |
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EU citizens: register as a resident of Tartu at the Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17) or at the Tartu Population Registry (Küüni 5) in order to have the right of residence in Estonia and receive your ID-code. |
Within one month after your arrival in Estonia. |
EU Citizen's Right of Residence Tartu Welcome Centre |
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EU citizens: After completing the above step, apply for an Estonian ID-card from the Police and Border Guard Board (Riia 132) which certifies your right of residence in Estonia and allows you to use various e-services. |
As soon as possible. |
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Pay your tuition fee (if applicable) |
Based on the invoice issued by UT. |
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Send your Estonian ID code (isikukood) to the Study Abroad Centre: studentvisasupport@ut.ee |
As soon as you have received it. |
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Start looking for a family doctor (FD) and register yourself with the FD of your choice. Please note that Estonian ID code is needed for signing up with a FD. |
As soon as possible. |
Estonian health care system |
Check also the Important Dates on 1st Semester.
What cards do I need during my studies?
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Card |
What for? |
Obligatory? |
Where and how to get? |
How much? |
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ISIC |
Proves student status; several discounts internationally. |
No |
Three options:
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ESNcard |
Proves your status as a member of the Erasmus Student Network; several discounts; benefits in Tartu |
No |
ESN Tartu office Tue and Thu 19:30-20:30 |
12 € |
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Estonian ID card (EU citizens only) |
Proves one's right to stay in Estonia; access to UT library, e-services (banking, digital signing, mobile ID), authentication; different discounts in Estonia. More information here . |
Compulsory and available only for students from the EU studying in Estonia at least 3 months. |
Migration Bureau Riia St. 132 Mo-Fr 9:00-17:00 (Within one month from receiving your right of temporary residence and Estonian ID code) |
25 € |
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Temporary residence permit card (non-EU citizens only) |
Proves one's right to stay in Estonia; access to e-services (banking, digital signing, mobile ID), authentication. |
Compulsory and available only for degree-seeking non-EU students studying in Estonia more than 6 months. |
After applying for the TRP, the students are informed when and where they get TRP card |
64€ in Estonia; 95€ abroad (from 06.01.2020) |
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Library Access |
Access to UT Library NB! UT library printing service is accessible only with an Estonian ID card or a bus card (available at any R kiosk). You can additionally print from your computer or mobile device. Further information at this link. |
No card is needed to enter the library but in order to borrow books you must have an Estonia ID card/TRP card (long term studies) or register with the library (short term studies). |
W.Struve 1
Mo-Fr 10:00-21:00
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1.60 € without an Estonian ID card |
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Tartu bus card |
Contactless card for use on all city buses in Tartu/Tallinn. Student discounts can be available only, if one has an Estonian ID code. Discounts activate later, not immediately after starting studies at UT. |
No |
Any R-Kiosk, post office, the bus station, and some stores. A full list of sales points is available here. You can top up your bus card at any R-Kiosk or you can do it electronically here. You can peronalise your card online here (Estonian ID card is needed) or physically here (Estonian ID card is not needed). Personalisation is needed for getting transport discount. |
2 € |
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European Health Insurance Card |
Covers some medical services (such as visit to General Practitioner). |
Only for EU citizens |
Health insurance institution of your home country |
Free of charge |
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Store customer cards |
Many stores (e.g., Kaubamaja, Selver, Rimi, Konsum, Maxima and others) offer customer cards that allow you to save money and/or accumulate bonus points when you shop. |
No |
From the cashier or at the info desk of the store |
Varies; generally under 2 € |
Estonian ID-card/ID code depending on your country of origin
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I am from an EU country |
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I am from a non-EU country and have D–type visa |
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| I am from a non-EU country and have TRP of any EU member state for my studies in Estonia |
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I am from a non-EU country and have TRP |
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Welcoming programme to settle in Estonia
The Government of Estonia offers a programme to facilitate foreign nationals with fundamental information about working and studying in Estonia, social aspects, family life, organization of everyday life and Estonian language. You are eligible to participate in the programme only if you are a foreign national who has resided in Estonia for less than 5 years and if you comply with the following:
- A foreign national who has been granted temporary residence permit (TRP) in Estonia.
- Citizen of the European Union who has acquired the temporary right of residence in Estonia.
- Family member of a citizen of the European Union who has been granted the temporary right of residence in Estonia.
Please find fully-detailed information about the programme and how to apply here:
Welcome to Estonia: Welcoming programme
NB! Please note that D-Visa holders are not eligible to participate in this programme.
Support services
| UT Support Services | ||
| Service | Website | Contact |
| Study Abroad Centre (SAC) | SAC |
Your study coordinator UT Main Building (Ülikooli 18) Room 134 |
| Student-to-student support services | Getting Started | - |
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IT Services Printing |
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| Visa assistance | Residence Permits and Visas | studentvisasupport@ut.ee |
| Financial matters | Getting Started | |
| Counselling for students with special needs | Counselling Services | noustaja@ut.ee |
| Center for Academic Writing (AVOK) | AVOK | |
| Career counselling | Counselling Services | |
| Psychological counselling | Counselling Services | |
| Support Services Beyond UT | ||
| Banking | Info about banking system | - |
| Practical aspects of daily life in Tartu | Tartu Welcome Centre | |
| Student dormitories | Tartu Student Village | info@campus.ee |
| Health care | Info about health care system | - |
| Sports facilities | For UT Sports Club: info@tysk.ee | |
| Safety and security |
Emergency number: 112 Police & Border Guard Address: Riia 132 |
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| Visas | ||
| Tartu Population Registry Service (to register your place of residence) |
rt@raad.tartu.ee |
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