Baltic Sea Region Studies

This 2-year programme provides an excellent opportunity to obtain an interdisciplinary Master´s degree in Baltic Sea Region issues. The Baltic Sea region includes eleven countries around the Baltic Sea and its close neighbours, such as small states like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland, but also regional and global powers like Germany, Poland and Russia, whose coastal lands belong to the region. With a population of over 100 million people, it is a significant and thriving European region.

The objective of the programme is to broaden academic knowledge and practical competence in various areas of social sciences with a focus on the Baltic Sea Region. The need for such competence is directly related to the regions further integration and increasing economic and political importance in the European Union and the world.

The aim of the Baltic Studies programme is to broaden academic knowledge and practical competence about Baltic Sea region matters. The Baltic Sea region is on of the most economically dynamic, technologically advanced and culturally diverse regions in Europe.

We educate the region experts who can provide expertise for academic institutions, as well to private companies and public organizations. The programme is suitable also to the people who wish widen their knowledge about wonderful Baltic region.

The programme covers various areas with the focus on the Baltic Sea Region by introducing the international students to distinctive features of Baltic history, culture, politics, society and economic developments.

Curriculum structure:

All students start with the general module on introductory subjects (24 ECTS) which provides general overview of historical developments in the Baltic Sea Region and introduces its political structures. The module also trains students academic skills necessary to conduct their independent research:

Methodology of Science (6 ECTS)

Methodology of Science II (6 ECTS)

History of the Baltic Sea Region (6 ECTS)

Political Developments in the Baltic Area (6 ECTS)

The specialisation module (30 ECTS) aims to offer thorough overview of theoretical approaches to analyse societies and their interaction in the Baltic Sea Region.

Baltic Sea Region Economies (6 ECTS)

Nature and Environment in the Baltic Sea Region (6 ECTS)

Baltic Sea States in the International Relation Systems (6 ECTS)

Baltic States Political History (6 ECTS)

State and Society in Eastern Europe (6 ECTS)

The elective module (30 ECTS) provides opportunity to focus on study fields that are the most interesting for student in the Baltic Sea Region. It helps to prepare students for their individual research in the form of MA thesis.

International Marketing (6 ECTS)

EU enlargement, transition processes and neighbourhood policy (6 ECTS)

Russian Foreign Policy (6 ECTS)

Social Developments in the Baltic Societies (6 ECTS)

Minorities and the Media in the Baltic Sea Region (6 ECTS)

Religion and Politics (6 ECTS)

The Politics of Memory and History (6 ECTS)

Special Seminar in the Politics of Memory and History (6 ECTS)

Language, Identity and Nation-State (6 ECTS)

Language and Society in the Baltic Sea Region (6 ECTS)

Baltic Identities (6 ECTS)

Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Cultural History (6 ECTS)

Estonian Culture (6 ECTS)

Cross-Cultural Psychology (3 ECTS)

Internship (6 ECTS)

The curriculum also includes elective courses from all over the university amounting to a total of 6 ECTS.

The last semester in the programme is allocated to completion of the masters thesis (30 ECTS).

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in social sciences, natural sciences or humanities (at least 3 years of studies at a higher educational institution).

Applicants for whom English is not a native language need to provide proof of English language proficiency.

To apply you need to:

- Fill in the online application form. Remember to print it out at the end and sign it, because you also need to send it to us. You also need to upload copies of your other documents so we can start checking them. When you register to fill in the application form, you will receive an applicant code, which gives you access to your account to track your application status.\

- Mail the printed and signed application with all the required documents by deadline (16 April) to:International Student Service, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18, Tartu 50090, Estonia

What kind of documents do you need to apply?

- online application;

- motivation letter - guidelines and evaluation criteria are included in the online application form and on UT webpage;

- official copy of the Bachelor’s Diploma or its equivalent and Diploma Supplement (transcript/grade list) in the original language;

- official translation of the Bachelor’s Diploma and Diploma Supplement into English, translation certified;

- proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL iBT 75, IELTS 5.5, Cambridge English FCE grade B, CAE, CPE, PTE Academic 59 points, exceptions listed on web);

- copy of the passport page stating the applicant's personal particulars.

*Please note that all copies of educational documents (diploma and diploma supplement/academic transcript) must be officially certified: bear an original seal and a signature of an authorized official of the issuing school/university.

Copies of education documents can also be notarized or certified with an Apostille. Some country specific requirements also specify the way documents must be certified. 

Tuition fee for the programme is 3200 EUR/year. Very limited tuition-waiver scholarships are available for the best applicants. Students receiving this scholarship do not have to pay the tuition fee if they complete full-time study load (30 ECTS per semester). If it turns out that they do not complete full-time study load per semester, they have to pay tuition fee per missing credit point below the required 30 ECTS. 

Accreditation

The University of Tartu (register code 74001073) is public university and operates pursuant to the Universities Act (passed with the law from January 12, 1995 (State Gazette I 1995, 12, 119) that entered into force February 18, 1995), University of Tartu Act (passed with law from February 16, 1995 (State Gazette I 1995, 23, 333) that entered into force March 21, 1995), Statues of the University of Tartu and other legislative acts.

According to the subsection 22 (7) of the Universities Act, the basis for conducting studies at universities lies in study programmes that are confirmed by the councils of the respective universities and correspond to the Standard of Higher Education in Estonia. The study programmes are entered into the Estonian Education Information System, which was founded on the basis of subsection 366 (4) of Republic of Estonia Education Act. State recognition of diplomas is based until 31.12.2011 on a positive accreditation decision of a study programme. Starting from 2009, educational institutions may provide higher education programmes, award academic degrees and issue diplomas, if, as a result of the assessment of the respective study programme group, the Government of the Replublic has granted them such a right (in Estonian higher education system this right replaces education license). In years 2009-2011 both regulations are valid for issuing state recognised diplomas. All higher education programmes in the University of Tartu belong to the assessed study programme groups and our dilomas are nationally recognised. Before 2017 universities have no obligation for institutional accreditation.