studies

Admission and studies

It is possible to study at the Institute of Cultural Studies at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. The curricula are structured as modules, which allow students to plan their studies flexibly. Our institute prepares future cultural professionals.

There are five curricula in Estonian:

Literature and Cultural Studies (BA)
Ethnology, Folklore and Applied Anthropology (MA)
Literature and Theater Studies (MA)
Cultural Management (MA)
Literature and Cultural Studies (PhD)


There is one curriculum in English:

Folkloristics and Applied Heritage Studies (MA)


The University of Tartu offers the widest cultural education in Estonia.

The institute has close cooperation with the leading employers in the field (Estonian National Museum, Estonian Literary Museum, Estonian Theater Agency, Folk Culture Center, etc.), who offer students exciting internship opportunities.

Applications for admission to bachelor's studies can be submitted to SAIS from June 15 to June 30, 2026.

Admission to the master's degree programs starts already on February 1 and also lasts until June 30, 2026. Submission of applications in SAIS.

Admission to the master's programme Folkloristics and Applied Heritage Studies starts on January 2 and lasts until March 15. Submission of applications in Dreamapply.
Registration in SAIS starts February 1 and last until March 15, 2026.


Curricula:

Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Cultural Studies
Master's degree in ethnology, folklore and applied anthropology
Master's degree in literary and theatrical studies
Master's degree in cultural management
Master's degree in Folkloristics and Applied Heritage Studies (in English)
Literature and Cultural Studies (PhD)

Folk heritage MA thesis guidelines

Folk heritage MA projects guidelines

Annex 1 Thesis & Project timeline

Annex 2 Evaluation criteria for master's thesis

Instructions in Estonian:

Doktoritööde kaitsmise kord

Eesti ja võrdleva rahvaluule bakalaureusetöö juhend

Etnoloogia, folkloristika ja rakendusantropoloogia õppekava magistritöö juhend

Etnoloogia osakonna bakalaureusetöö juhend

Etnoloogia osakonna magistriprojekti juhend

Humanitaarteaduste ja kunstide valdkonna lõputööde nõuded ja kaitsmiskord

Kirjanduse ja teatriteaduse osakonna bakalaureusetöö juhend

Kirjanduse ja teatriteaduse osakonna magistritöö juhend

Kirjanduse ja teatriteaduse osakonna magistriprojekti juhend

Kultuurikorralduse praktika juhend

Kultuurikorralduse magistrieksami juhend

Kultuurikorralduse magistritöö juhend

Lihtlitsents lõputöö elektroonseks avaldamiseks

Lõputööde pealkirjastamine

Magistritöö hindamiskriteeriumid kultuuriteaduste instituudis

Progress review of the PhD students at the Institute of Cultural Research will be held on August 25-26, 2026
Deadline for submitting documents is 13.08.2026

Doctoral students who have matriculated since the 2022/2023 academic year must compile and submit their progress review documents in TEEK. You will find more information, and the user guides here.
Doctoral students matriculated before the 2022/2023 academic year — if you have any questions regarding progress review, extension of studies, academic leave, or the timeline for defending your doctoral thesis, please contact me.
Please see the faculty’s website for more information about progress review or contact the academic affairs specialist of your department or coordinator of the institute.

Doctoral Studies in Humanities

See more

Internship in Estonia

See more

Student organizations

See more

Academic fraud

Read more

Study abroad

Read more