Master in Estonian and Finno-Ugric Languages

Suppose you are interested in Estonian or Finno-Ugric languages like Hungarian, Finnish or Komi, and you're looking for a master's programme in Language and Linguistics. In that case, this is the programme for you! You can begin your studies right away without first developing your language skills.

There are two specialisations:

• Estonian. In addition to a foundation in Linguistics, this specialisation includes in-depth studies in Estonian, allowing students to test for placement and begin studies at the appropriate language level. Students will also gain an overview of Estonian and Estonian history and culture structure.
• Finno-Ugric Languages. In addition to a foundation in Linguistics, this specialisation gives an overview of the history and comparison of Finno-Ugric languages and cultures. Students have the opportunity to learn three or more Finno-Ugric languages.

Modules

1. General subjects

2. Speciality module

3. Module of Graduate School of Linguistics and Translation

4. Elective course module

5. Optional courses

6. MA thesis or Master's project

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After graduation, you can work in language teaching, translation, diplomacy, tourism, enterprise, international cooperation in multilingual environments or continue your academic career at the doctoral level.

Graduates of this programme will be highly trained for employment requiring language skills in Estonian or the other Finno-Ugric languages, both in Estonia and abroad. This includes jobs in language teaching, translation, diplomacy, tourism, enterprise, or international cooperation in multilingual environments. Students completing the programme will learn analytical and digital skills and practice communication and teamwork. Graduates are well-placed for employment in cultural heritage fields and museums.

The programme affords opportunities to learn big data processing and data analysis skills, which are transferrable to many jobs outside of traditional linguistics. Graduates will be qualified for jobs that require multiple language skills or facilities with processing language data, depending on their coursework choices.

The MA programme also gives a solid foundation for continuing studies at the PhD level. Our courses give students a taste of serious linguistics research, helping them decide whether a research career is their path.

Why study Estonian and Finno-Ugric languages at the University of Tartu?

• Be in the right place! Tartu is the best place in the world to study Estonian because of the University of Tartu's excellent language teaching and because the language is alive all around you. You can soak it in and never be at a loss for places to practice with native speakers.
• Great opportunities for studying other Finno-Ugric languages: Tartu has long attracted students and scholars from other Finno-Ugric speaking areas. Languages like Finnish, Hungarian and Komi are taught by experienced native speakers. Other Finno-Ugric languages also have communities in Tartu where you can speak the language and experience the culture.
• Cutting-edge research: The University of Tartu boasts some of the top researchers in Estonian and Finno-Ugric linguistics and other related disciplines like ethnography, folklore, history and cultural studies.
• European quality with long university traditions: The University of Tartu is imbued with the sense of its illustrious history, dating to 1632. The Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics is located right beside the famous 19th-century, neoclassical Main Building of the university, the prized Toomemägi Park, and a hop, skip and a jump away from the Town Hall Square. Today's UT is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and convenience in classrooms while keeping student traditions alive, striving to combine the best of old and new.
• Academic excellence: The EFUL programme is taught in a strong academic unit with expertise in many subfields of linguistics and with connections to related departments and disciplines.
• International collaboration in research and teaching: Estonian and Finno-Ugric linguists are embedded in global collaboration networks, giving access to leading research in the field and various opportunities for supplementary courses. For instance, students can take advantage of our many Erasmus partnerships for study abroad, and an established network of Finno-Ugric institutes organises yearly winter schools.
• Special scholarship and stipend opportunities: In addition to six tuition waiver study places, a number of scholarships and living expense stipends are available specifically for EFUL students. Specifically, merit-based scholarships are available from the Kadri, Nikolai and Gerda Rõuk Memorial Fund as well as from the Kindred Peoples’ Programme (the latter specifically for students on the Finno-Ugric language specialisation track) and are intended to cover tuition costs (4000€/year) and subsidise living costs (200€/mo. for 10 months). The Rotalia Foundation in the USA supports one student with a €2000 scholarship for the academic year. All applicants are automatically considered for tuition waiver study places. A separate (but minimal) application is required for the living cost stipends; applicants will receive more information about this after submitting their EFUL application.