Having studied Biology in Sri Lanka at the bachelor’s level, I had plans to continue my journey in academics. Biology is a natural science and basically having learned a lot about the theoretical aspects of biology, I wanted to pursue Biology as an Applied Science. Here, my knowledge of biology could be transformed into something practicable. Compared to my previous study experiences, there are differences that were noticeable to me when studying in Estonia and at the University of Tartu. So, for our new students who will be joining us this Fall (yay!), here’s my list of what to expect when coming to UT to study for your Masters:
1.Continuous Assessments which makes your life easier
The majority of the Master’s programmes at UT follow a continuous assessment style. In this case, your final examination grade amounts to a certain percentage of the final grade. The rest of the grade should be earned during single or multiple assessments throughout the course of the subject. For example, you might have to do presentations, submit essays or reports, attempt quizzes, or complete group projects to earn the rest. I found this style quite excellent for me, as it required me to work continuously throughout the semester. Whenever there were tasks assigned during the semester, I had a chance to refresh my memory and read extra material to complete them. So by the time the final examination comes, I have already earned a certain percentage that will contribute to my grade and have a fresh memory of the material. Therefore, in most of the subjects, there is no big risk of having to get your grade determined solely on the final examination.
2. Transparency: You know what you are getting into
Everything from the study plan, topics, timetable for the subject, and nature of evaluation can be viewed on the Student Information System prior to registering for the subject. For example, whether you will get the grade as pass or fail or differentiated as A,B,C,D,E,F. You can view this information prior to choosing the subject. You can see what you will be graded based on and you can choose subjects accordingly. For example, you can see that your final grade will be based on either two practical reports and a final examination, a presentation and a final examination, or simply based on a group or individual project. This helps you prepare and know what to expect even before the course has begun and gives you the power to make informed choices about the subjects you want to do based on the content.
3.Practical Training
As a student of Master’s in Bioengineering, I have had a very practical approach to my subject. Often it has given me the opportunity to replicate and perform certain novel experiments designed by researchers at UT and It has been an amazing experience. I truly felt like I was getting first-hand experience from the place where it started and you can’t get that experience anywhere else. The novelty of the subject materials and the practicals are quite impressive, and you will be asked to attempt unique experiments. How exciting!
4.Approachable Staff
Something that has always impressed me about UT and Estonia, is just how many things you can get done via email. Be it a professor, the bank, a family doctor, or whoever! Chances are most of the time you will get a swift, well-thought-out reply with an answer to your inquiry. At the university, whenever you are having trouble with registering for a subject or have questions regarding a subject, registering for exams, etc. You can always reach out to your lecturer or (depending on the issue) your academic affairs coordinator/specialist. In my experience, 9 out of 10 times you will receive a swift answer to any inquiry you have. In general, the lecturers always love to help and encourage you to ask questions.
5.Organized Lesson plans and flexibility
Even before a semester starts, you can view your timetable for the whole semester, as well as your schedule for every day. This has particularly helped me with working a part-time job and helps me plan my days well in advance. In some courses, you can even view the topic of the lesson that will be taught during that week. Of course, there will be slight changes to this, but having the dates, places, and times with me in advance and being able to arrange my schedule has been super helpful when you decide to take on a lot of subjects, want to do a lot of extra activities, plan to travel or work a job while studying.
6.Diverse Student Group
The most exciting change for me is the diverse student group I am a part of now. We have students from all over the world and from every continent. It has been a very fascinating change for me. You get to study from people from around the world and understand how things are done in different parts of the world. In my case, I enjoy noting the subtle differences in scientific techniques, and trying to understand the logic behind it is very interesting. Moreover, the conversations and learning about life from different parts of the world makes you realise, that we are not that different after all. You learn different perspectives when you learn with people from different walks of life, and you realise very important things. Tartu for me is a small city that brings people together to celebrate life.
7.Inclusive Student Activities
Just like any other university, the University of Tartu has a lot of student activities, and they are very inclusive. You are welcome at any cultural celebration, to use your voice to raise awareness and in solidarity, and support, irrespective of where you come from or who you are.
8.Balanced Student Life
Studying Master’s can get hectic sometimes. But Tartu, our lovely student city, is a highly entertaining place where there’s always something happening. You have sports events like marathons, a seasonal ice skating rink to have fun with your friends, restaurants where you can brunch, parties, tours, museums, escape rooms, and free buses you can use to get to famous hiking trails and attractions all over Estonia. Tartu is small, but that just means the fun is concentrated! Additionally, if you feel like you need more than just fun, the university offers free counseling to anyone who is in need. This way, even if you fall a bit out of balance, UT is there to help:)
9.Opportunities to grow professionally
The university always offers career development advice and professional practice modules whenever it can. In my course – Bioengineering, there’s a mandatory 24 ECTS limit we should complete in professional practice in order to be eligible to graduate. This in my opinion is a lovely opportunity, that gives us the essence and standards of working professionally even before we graduate. Career Days are quite often held at UT and entrepreneurship is always encouraged. Estonia is one of Europe’s biggest start-up hubs and there are a lot of opportunities specifically for entrepreneurs. There’s room for you to become an exchange student and widen your knowledge too.
10.Studying in Different Seasons
Studying a Master’s in Estonia is essentially studying in four different places I would say. Your studying patterns, lifestyle, clothes, cuisines, and everything changes from season to season. This is all in addition to your studies keeping you on your toes. Being from a tropical country, I love the season change so much, because it changes the way you work. Studying in Winter is different from studying in fall, but with the Estonian Festivities to top it off, the experience of being a Master’s student in Tartu can be described in one phrase: “So Unique you have got to experience this!”
