UT International Summer University hosts 50 Chinese Students

This year, the University of Tartu International Summer University will be attended by 50 Chinese students who are mostly interested in studying medicine and EU-China relations.

According to Program Director of the International Summer University Mart Susi, this is the first time in Estonian higher education that new curricula have been developed specifically for students from a particular foreign country.

Namely, the University of Tartu International Summer University will be offering a program on medicine for students from the Southeast University in Nanjing and a special program on EU-Asia relations for students from Shanghai University.

China has now become the most important partner of the International Summer University. This year, considerably more students from China will be attending the International Summer University than from nearby Finland, Sweden, or Russia.

The Chinese students will begin arriving in Tartu starting from Monday, June 27.

During the past year, the University of Tartu has made considerable efforts to set up partnership agreements covering student and scientific exchange and academic cooperation with universities in China and other Asian countries.

According to Susi, the University of Tartu now aims to establish a center in China that would help to coordinate the exchange of academic personnel and scientific knowledge. Student exchange is not a particular priority for the university, but it constitutes a part of the general academic cooperation.

Holding summer universities enables academic institutions to provide their staff with employment opportunities in summer as well as to pursue science in a more international setting. At the same time, it is also good business. Tuition fee for one student in the International Summer University is approximately 2,000 euros.

The University of Tartu also offers summer refresher courses to Estonians at significantly lower prices. For example, a three-day course on how to find happiness and stay happy, costs 160 Euros.