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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Estonia

3 Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
Fall Start
Grant Length
9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research Award
Award Profile

Program goal is to strengthen economic, security, and educational relationships between the United States and Estonia, and to advance American values globally. General benefits: host country-supported fieldwork and research in economy and mutual prosperity, society and politics, science and technology, public health, law and security, and education as well as arts, both performance and fine arts. Well-qualified candidates at all degree levels will be considered. Candidates must be mature, self-motivated individuals capable of working independently. Applications will be considered in all fields except medical science involving direct patient contact. Excellent opportunities exist for the study of Estonian language and society.

Grant Length
9 Months
Grant Period
Fall Start

The grant period will be September to June.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation

All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in June or July as a condition of their grant. The virtual event is organized by IIE.

An in-country orientation is arranged by the Embassy for all grantees upon arrival to Estonia. 

Candidate Profile

Well-qualified candidates at all degree levels will be considered. Candidates must be mature, self-motivated individuals who are capable of working independently. Applications will be considered in all fields except medical science involving patient contact.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.

Estonia is a small Northern European country that has embraced new technologies and has seen tremendous development since regaining independence in 1991. The country may be best known as the birthplace of Skype, but since then many other start-ups founded here have gone global like Bolt, Wise, and Pipedrive. Estonia’s vibrant and innovative start-up culture is part of the reason it ranks among the most wired and technologically advanced countries in the world and is a leader in promoting Internet freedom. Most recently, Estonia has become a leader in providing e-government services, online voting and is now even offering e-residency. The capital city, Tallinn, is the European Sports Capital in 2025, and the university town Tartu was the European Capital of Culture in 2024. Tallinn’s medieval Old Town is brimming with charm and is full of restaurants, cafes, and cultural activities. Estonia’s belief in free speech contributes to its high freedom of press rankings. In 2024, Reporters Without Borders put the country 6th in its World Press Freedom index. The academic year runs from September through June with January and June usually being reserved for examinations; there is also a two-week winter holiday. Teaching is in English and opportunities exist for research, especially in collaboration with Estonian scholars and institutions. Applicants can contact Fulbright staff at the U.S. Embassy in Estonia for further information to find additional contacts to those provided in award descriptions. There are ample opportunities for engagements throughout the country via the U.S. Embassy’s American Spaces program, and EducationUSA Advising Centre at the Tallinn University of Technology. For further information, please contact Public Engagement Specialist at the Public Affairs Section, Jane Susi  at the U.S. Embassy in Estonia.
Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
3 Months

Applicants proposing projects in the medical sciences involving patient contact are not eligible for consideration. 

Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form

If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.

Not Required

Additional Information: Estonian language proficiency is not required unless necessary for the successful completion of the project. Supervision by English-speaking professors is widely available, as are classes taught in English. Some opportunities also exist for Russian speakers. Some study of Estonian prior to arrival is encouraged to promote deeper engagement with the host community.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
No
Affiliation

Applicants are required to arrange affiliations and submit letters of invitation/affiliation with their application.  Please contact Jane Susi in the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy for advice and networking contacts. 

There are six public universities in Estonia, the three largest are University of Tartu (UT); Tallinn University; and Tallinn University of Technology. These institutions also have specialized branch institutions in other Estonian cities, for example, Viljandi Academy of Culture of University of Tartu, located in Viljandi, and University of Tartu Narva College in Narva. For more information, please check the homepages of the above-mentioned institutions. There are also three smaller, specialized universities: University of Life Sciences in Tartu; Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn; and Estonian Academy of Arts in Tallinn. All these universities have well-developed international student service systems. 

Tartu is an historic university city (UT was founded in 1632); Tallinn is Estonia’s cultural and political capital; both provide students with a wealth of research possibilities and community outreach options. Students wishing to enroll in classes, aside from their primary research activities, must make appropriate prior arrangements with their host institution. Please note that the decision to grant access lies fully with the host institution and might be for a fee not covered by the Fulbright grant.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits
Award Benefits
  • A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
  • International travel benefits
  • Accident & sickness health benefits
  • 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
  • 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

1,600 monthly stipend amount in
$ [US Dollar]
One-Time Allowances

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

5,070 in
$ [US Dollar]
  • Research/Materials allowance
  • Settling in allowance

The one-time allowances total includes allowances for round trip international airfare, settling in expenses, and research.

Estimated Cost of Living

Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.

Students can use the following website as a resource to research the estimated cost of living in various parts of Estonia: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Estonia 

Dependents
Dependent financial support is available
Housing Arrangements

Grantees are expected to arrange their own housing. Resources will be shared by the U.S. Embassy in Estonia. 

Visa Requirements

To obtain legal residency in Estonia, all applicants need to be ready to secure a D-type visa through the Estonian Embassy/Consulate prior to embarking on the program in Estonia. The application needs to be coordinated with the Embassy and the host institution in Estonia to obtain necessary paperwork from the hosts. Students need to apply for the D-type visa for the length of their stay. The host institution would need to confirm the legal status of the candidate as student to be eligible for the visa.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.EUR@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
https://ee.usembassy.gov/
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Jane Susi: SusiJ@state.gov
Additional Online Resources
Estonian Government Study in Estonia Portal: https://www.studyinestonia.ee/
Visit Estonia: https://www.visitestonia.com/en/why-estonia/estonia-facts
US Embassy X: https://X.com/USEmbTallinn
US Embassy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usembassytallinn/?hl=en
US Embassy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estonia.usembassy