This academic year, 4,873 international degree students from 124 countries are studying in Estonian higher education institutions. In total, international degree students make up 11% of the Estonian student body.

A total of 1,484 foreign students were enrolled in the 2022/2023 academic year, which means a 15% decrease compared to the previous year. Last academic year, there were 5072 international degree students.

 "Estonia remains an attractive country for international students, but the mobility of international students has been affected by both the global health crisis and the war in Ukraine," commented Eero Loonurm, the head of International Marketing for Higher Education at the Education and Youth Board.

The number of enrolled students fell the most among the top 10 sending countries for Russia (-68%), Latvia (-35%) and Azerbaijan (-34%). At the same time, more students from Ukraine (+222%) and Turkey (5%) were accepted to Estonian higher education institutions than before.

The majority of international degree students in Estonia study at master's level (2,043 foreign students), but there has also been an increase in interest in doctoral studies, where 763 foreign students are studying this academic year.

In total, international degree students from 123 countries are studying in Estonia in the 2022/2023 academic year. The number of enrolled students from Ukraine has increased the most, so over half a thousand (528) students study in Estonia this academic year.

Most degree students coming to study in Estonia are from Finland. 17% of all foreign students in international degree studies come from Finland. Other countries in the top 10 are Ukraine (11%), Russia (9%), Nigeria (6%), India (4%), Azerbaijan (4%) and Pakistan, Latvia, Turkey and the United States (all 3%).

Bangladesh and Iran have dropped out of the sending countries' top ten, but Turkey (with 129 foreign students) and the United States (with 124 foreign students) have returned. About 70% of students who study in Estonia are from third countries, and 30% of foreign students from European Union countries.

Most popular fields of study taught in English are business, administration and law (1414 students), followed by humanities and arts (784 students) and information and communication technology (671 students). In this academic year, the number of international degree students admitted to the fields of information and communication technology and service increased the most.

The majority of international degree students study in English-language curricula. 5% of all foreign students study in Estonian-language curricula and 3% of all students in Russian-language curricula.

Read more about studying in Estonia.