Degree education

The Open University of the University of Tartu offers Vocational Higher Education, Bachelor and Master studies. The applicants for the Vocational Higher Education and Bachelor's studies need to have completed their secondary education; for Master's studies a Bachelor's degree or equal levels of education are required.

The Open University facilitates access to education by imposing less strict entrance requirements, as a rule there is no requirement for having passed national examinations after secondary school. The entrance examination may be a written test, an essay or an interview.

The study period in the Open University has not been strictly regulated. A full-time student usually completes 40 credits per academic year but at the Open University 20-30 credits per academic year is considered optimum. Students choose either full-time or part-time studies. Full-time students have to complete at least 75 per cent of the compulsory curriculum (i.e. 30 credits) per academic year while the respective percentage for part-time students is 50-75 (i.e. 20-30 credits).

Learning in the Open University involves a great deal of independent work with study materials and participating in web based courses taking place virtually over the Internet. It allows the students to pursue their studies without neglecting professional or family responsibilities. Onsite classes are usually conducted once a month including lectures, seminars, consultations with supervisors etc.

The academic requirements and quality standards of the Open University are equivalent to the full-time programmes, as teaching is provided by the faculties. On graduation, the students are awarded a Diploma of the University of Tartu.

The Open University programmes take into account the previous educational experience of each student, such as unfinished tertiary education or completion of continuing education courses.

As a general rule study in the Open University is not free. Tuition fees vary among the faculties. Degree education is provided for the working teachers and for some of them it is state funded.