The Estonian Academy of Arts, founded in 1914, is the only public university in Estonia offering higher education in architecture, design, arts and art culture. It is an active study and research institution and the leading national center of innovation in visual culture, shaping the regional cultural space and helping to create a more sustainable living environment. EKA is listed among Top 200 Architecture and Design Universities in the World by QS World University Rankings.

1200 students currently enrolled at EKA are taught by nearly 300 professors, associate professors, lecturers and workshop managers from Estonia and abroad. Small groups of carefully selected students enable a more personal, one-on-one approach to instruction and family-like, close-knit atmosphere. EKA prides itself on the low student-to-faculty ratio. Studies take place in a new award-winning building with an innovative and inspiring environment, providing modern learning environment that supports artists and designers. Students are encouraged to make use of the different facilities at EKA: professional photography and sound studios, workshops for wood- and metalworking, 3D modelling, textile, glass, ceramics, printmaking and many more.

EKA offers eight master’s programmes in English: Animation MA / Contemporary Art MA / Craft Studies MA / Graphic Design MA / Interaction Design MA / Urban Studies MSc / Literature, Visual Culture & Film Studies MA (joint programme between EKA and TLU) / Service Design Strategies and Innovation MA (joint programme between EKA, AAL and University of Lapland).

The international master’s programmes are designed for artists and designers with the ambition to develop and enrich their individual practice with cross-disciplinary investigations. EKA encourages bold experimentation, and students are able to take courses and workshops outside of their specialisations. The curricula are constructed in such a way as to cultivate the analytical abilities and critical thinking of students who develop into environmentally and socially conscientious creators. The teaching language of the master’s programmes is English and duration is two years. Tuition fees range from 1800 euros to 3900 euros per year.

Application deadline for master’s programmes is March 4, 2024. Studies start on August 26, 2024. Upcoming open house events for prospective students can be found here.

In addition to the Master’s curricula, EKA also accepts applications for four doctoral programmes: Architecture and Urban Planning PhD / Art and Design PhD / Art History and Visual Culture PhD / Cultural Heritage and Conservation PhD.

Application deadline for PhD programmes is March 31, 2024.

While offering a wide selection of specialties, EKA also offers unique, individualized study and personal mentorship by members of the faculty. The departments are strong bodies of competence on their own, while at the same time facilitating synergy and interdisciplinary studies, encouraging innovation and experimentation. EKA welcomes motivated people who are visually and socially sensitive and want to develop their thinking abilities, opportunities, and potential as creative people.

We invite you to join us! Application deadline for the master’s programmes is March 4, and for the PhD programmes March 31, 2024. Applications can be submitted via DreamApply platform. For more information about the specific programmes and admission requirements, visit here or contact admissions [​at​] artun.ee.