Academic Information
Each programme combines lectures, seminars, study-trips and independent study.
Responsibility for the content of each course lies with the respective university department and the responsible professor for the course. Each course meets the academic requirements of the University of Tartu.
Students will receive course materials in the form of printed handouts or via e-mail during the lectures. Students are expected to work independently with the course materials as directed by the professors. If the course requires readings to be completed prior to the start of the programme, reference to the materials will be sent in advance to each participant.
Each participant will be awarded a certificate if he/she fulfils the attendance requirements and if required, passes tests or/and submits the written assignment.
Credits and ECTS - European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System
Upon successful completion of the chosen ISU programme students will receive the Certificate of Completion and an Academic Transcript awarding the official academic credits by the University of Tartu.
According to the European academic credit system applied by the University of Tartu, 1 ECTS credit equals 26 hours of study, which includes contact hours with the instructor in lectures and seminars, independent work and practical studies. In addition to the classroom work the participants of the summer programmes are required to participate in the afternoon meetings and field-trips designed by the programme managers - which constitute part of the required study. Typically one week of studies at the summer programme awards 2 ECTS credits. There are some programmes which may award more credtis for studies in case the student submits a research paper. In that case the requirements are given in the respective programme description.
The Academic Transcript will indicate pass/fail option. If the participant wishes to receive a letter grade, he/she needs to notify the University two weeks in advance. The participant will be assigned a research paper which needs to be submitted within two weeks after the end of the programme.
As Estonia is part of the European Union, all the University of Tartu credits are fully transferable to any university in the world recognising university studies within the European Union. Each student needs to check with their university study abroad advisor prior to arrival how ECTS credits transfer into their national system of credit points.