Estonia punches above its weight when it comes to its impact on technology and innovation. Often called the “Silicon Valley of Europe,” it has become one of the world’s most digitally advanced societies in a relatively short period of time.
After gaining independence in 1991, Estonia rebuilt itself around digital solutions, putting nearly all public services online. Voting, signing contracts, and filing taxes are virtual and take only minutes. Life in what’s been described as the world’s leading digital society and Europe’s top start-up hub seems to run on seamless tech.
Estonia made this possible by doubling down on STEM education. From early schooling to university, students learn digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem‑solving — the foundation of its tech‑driven growth.
At the centre of it all is Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), the country’s top institution for engineering, IT, and technology-focused education.
Tallinn University of Technology regularly updates its curricula to meet the demands of today’s employers, with strong involvement from private industry. Source: Tallinn University of Technology
At the TalTech School of Engineering, you learn by building working prototypes from scratch and solving challenges. For instance, students at TalTech tackle projects like self-driving vehicles, satellites, solar-generating pavement, and advanced robotics, including humanoid robots that help for example in medical rehabilitation equipment. These may take place within campus or in collaboration with partner universities across Estonia.
Many students have won awards and recognition for their work. TalTech is home to the world’s top-ranked Formula Student (FS) team and the second-best Solaride car at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
It has been a home for international robots’ competition Robotex for more than 25 years, before it went International.
At the bachelor’s level, you can study Integrated Engineering, which gives you a strong foundation in engineering and applied sciences. If you move on to a master’s, you can choose your curricula from Industrial Engineering and Management, Marine Engineering, or Technology of Wood, Plastics, and Textiles, each designed to deepen your knowledge and sharpen skills. For advanced research, the PhD programme in Engineering Sciences lets you explore complex challenges in your field and contribute original solutions. These programmes are all taught in English language.
Your academic experience expands even more through TalTech’s memberships in the EuroTeQ network and NordTek network. Through that you get access to courses at other leading technological universities across Europe, extending your learning beyond a single campus while remaining part of one structured degree path.
The School of Engineering is the largest school at Tallinn University of Technology. Source: Tallinn University of Technology
The only university in Estonia that has everything you need
TalTech hosts nearly 40 student organisations that cater to diverse interests and ambitions, from satellite construction and robotics to entrepreneurship, technology (BEST), culture, and event management (ESTIEM). These communities enhance university life, building friendships and professional networks across disciplines and nationalities, just like it did for Matteo Ingrassia from Italy.
He first arrived in Estonia to study Integrated Engineering at TalTech before going on to pursue a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management.
“When I arrived at TalTech, I was excited and also a bit overwhelmed,” Ingrassia says. “I didn’t know the campus, the city, or anyone here.”
By joining one of TalTech’s international student organisations, Ingrassia got to take part in cultural evenings, trips, workshops, and informal meetups. These helped him understand the university and the city of Tallinn better. Best of all, he could connect with new people from all over the world, and soon enough some of them turned into friends.
This is how TalTech’s student organisations work at scale. They give students a sense of belonging to their university and community. Feeling supported, these students can focus on making the most of their time here, a move that has helped many learn new skills and build their confidence. With greater depth and breadth in their university experience these students have real, tangible experiences to reflect on in job interviews as well as key soft skills that enhance their employability.
This combination has served many graduates well. They stand out for their skills and experience, the kind that open doors to Estonia’s dynamic startup ecosystem. In fact, Estonia ranks among the world’s leading countries for unicorns per capita. Despite its small population of around 1.3 million people, the country has produced billion-dollar world famous companies such as Bolt, Wise, Pipedrive, Playtech, and Veriff (explore more about Estonian unicorns here).
It’s little surprise since the small domestic market pushes founders to think globally from day one, while the country’s digital infrastructure enables fast, efficient scaling.
Or, if you’re ready to take the entrepreneurial route, Estonia makes starting a company straightforward. You can register a company online, handle taxes electronically, and manage operations remotely through the e-Residency programme. This streamlined environment has turned Estonia into a gateway to the EU market for tens of thousands of founders, making entrepreneurship a realistic next step rather than a distant goal. Would you like to be one of them?
Interested in taking a first step? Take a virtual tour of the TalTech campus and laboratories.
Learn more about the School of Engineering.
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