All international postgraduate students are welcome to apply for our doctoral programs. However, please review the admission requirements and application procedure beforehand.
The PhD program consists of 240 ECTS credits and includes:
- Core academic courses
- Independent research and completion of a doctoral thesis under the supervision of a faculty member from one of the institutes at Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ)
Study places
All institutes have a certain number of PhD study places financed by the Estonian state. Candidates can apply only for appointed research topics that are linked with a certain study place.
Tuition fees
There are no tuition fees for PhD students in full-time studies.
Application procedure
Admission period is from the 1st of April to the 1st of June.
Pleas note that you must hold a Master's degree or a corresponding level of education.
Before submitting an application you need to find a prospective supervisor. The names of the supervisors are linked to the PhD topics.
Please submit your application to the respective curriculum under which the topic of your interest falls.
Please explain the relevance of your chosen topic in your motivation letter and doctoral research proposal.
NB! You can find more information about doctoral studies and PhD curricula HERE
The 2026 re-admission period for the PhD programme is open from 13 July to 3 August 2026.
Step 1: Select the PhD topic and the supervisor
- Please select a suitable PhD topic and supervisor from the list of topics available in the supplementary admission round.
- Topics are listed under the PhD curricula.
- PhD topics are selected and determined each spring through the supervisors' competition.
- Here are the topics for the intake of 2026/2027
Topics 2026/2027
Ivar Ojastelink opens in new page, Vallo Tilgarlink opens in new page
Rändhanede antropogeense häiringu taluvusläved kevadistel peatusaladel: käitumuslikud, füsioloogilised ja elukäigulised tagajärjed
Anthropogenic disturbance thresholds in migratory geese at spring stopover sites: behavioural, physiological and carry-over effects
There will be no supplementary admission for this doctoral programme.
Topics 2026/2027
Alar Astoverlink opens in new page, Jordi Escuer Gatiuslink opens in new page
Operatiivse protsessiahela arendamine mulla süsiniku- ja lämmastikuringe modelleerimiseks
Development of an operational process chain for modeling soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics
Darja Podmetina, Rando Värniklink opens in new page
Tehisintellektil põhinev innovatsiooni ja ärimudelite transformatsioon põllumajanduses: digivahendite kasutuselevõtt, strateegiline otsustustugi ja andmehaldus
AI-Enabled Innovation and Business Model Transformation in Agriculture: Digital Tool Adoption, Strategic Decision-Support and Data Governance
Topics 2026/2027
Risto Ilveslink opens in new page, Kersti Venniklink opens in new page, Margus Araklink opens in new page
Mulla penetratsioonitakistuse ja mahulise niiskuse automaatmõõtesüsteem sõiduki maastikuläbitavuse modelleerimiseks
Automated Measurement System for Soil Shear Strength and Volumetric Moisture Content for Vehicle Mobility Modeling
Eda Merisalulink opens in new page, Kadri Maikovlink opens in new page, Kalev Kuklanelink opens in new page
Biofiilse ja värvipõhise ruumidisaini sünergiline mõju kognitiivsele töösooritusele ja -heaolule
Synergistic Effect of Biophilic and Color-Based Workplace Design on Cognitive Performance and Occupational Well-Being
Topics 2026/2027
Mati Roastolink opens in new page, Kadrin Meremäelink opens in new page, Mihkel Mäesaarlink opens in new page
Genomic epidemiology of Campylobacter spp.: a one health approach
Step 2: Submit application - step by step guide
Important steps in DreamApply
- Create an application;
- Add your personal details;
- Write your motivation letter;
- prepare the doctoral thesis project (you are welcome to ask advice from your potential supervisor);
- Upload only scanned documents (not photos)!
- NB! You may create only one account and apply for only one PhD program!
- You can edit your application till submission. Submitted applications can not be edited.
- The application must be submitted by the application deadline at the latest!
Required documents
- Academic curriculum vitae (CV);
- Doctoral thesis project;
- A copy of the passport page stating the applicant´s personal particulars;
- An official copy of the diploma and diploma supplement (transcript of records/ mark sheet) of the preceding study levels in the original language. Official documents must be provided from the institution awarding the degree or certified with an Apostille.
- Candidates from non-EU countries should submit also certified copies of secondary school leaving certificate and transcript;
- Official translation of the diplomas and diploma supplements into English;
English language certificates. Before paying the application fee and submitting the application please make sure you are able to submit an acceptable proof of English language proficiency by the application deadline.
Detailed information of the English Language Requirements.
NB! You have to send all required documents via regular post to:
Doctoral School
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Kreutzwaldi 1
51006 Tartu
Estonia
Application fee
International candidates applying to the Doctoral level program at the Estonian University of Life Sciences are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of EUR 100.
The payment must be made by the application deadline (May 31) at the latest. Please note that international bank transfer can take up to two weeks to process, therefore we advise to make the payment at your earliest convenience.
An application will be processed only after the application fee has been received by the university.
You do not need to pay the application fee if:
- they have Estonian citizenship
- they have completed the previous study level in Estonia
- they have Ukrainian citizenship.
Click here link opens in new pagefor payment instructions. NB! This link takes you to our old webpage that can currently accept credit card payments.
Payment methods
Bank transfer
The payment must be done in euros. It is the responsibility of the applicant to cover the possible transaction charge(s) and make sure the total fee amount (100 euros) is received by the university. Please request information on possible charges for international transfers from the service provider before making the payment. If less than 100 euros is received by the university, your application cannot be processed before the total amount is transferred. Over-payment will not be refunded.
Once you have made the payment, please upload the payment receipt to the “documents” section on your DreamApply application.
Beneficiary: Eesti Maaülikool
Address: Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwaldi 1, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
IBAN: EE581010102000203009
Bank name: SEB Pank AS
Bank address: Tornimäe 2, 15010 Tallinn, Estonia
Bank code: 401
SWIFT/BIC: EEUHEE2X
Description: first and last name of the applicant, Dream Apply Applicant ID, name of the program
Amount: EUR 100
You can submit your application only if you have paid the application fee.
After completing the payment, upload the application fee receipt to the DreamApply system and submit your application.
Only submitted applications will be processed after receiving your application fee.
Submitted applications will be reviewed by the University and you will receive feedback.
If the application is complete, you will receive a positive feedback and your application will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for evaluation (happens after the application deadline). If your application is not complete, you will receive feedback regarding the missing documents (including the deadline for submitting them). You can reopen the submitted application to add the missing documents and resubmit the application.
Applicants will receive all notifications through the DreamApply system and to their e-mail (used for registering in DreamApply).
Usually supervisors are interested in discussion with the potential candidate.
Your potential supervisor will let you know about the details of the interview.
Step 3: Wait for the study offer and confirm the offer in DreamApply
If the decision of the Admission Committee is positive, you will receive an acceptance letter or a conditional acceptance letter.
You will be in conditionally accepted status as long as the education documents are evaluated in ENIC/NARIC Centre.
All education documents will be assessed by the link opens in new pageENIC/NARIC Centrelink opens in new page after the University has received the hard copies of your education documents. It might take up to a month.
Please see more information about documents from country-specific requirementslink opens in new page website.
Admission notifications will be sent electronically through the DreamApply Estonialink opens in new page application system.
All admitted candidates must accept or decline the offer in DreamApply within 7 days.
Admission letter
The official admission letter will be sent to admitted students electronically via DreamApply only after the University has:
- Received the applicant's confirmation for the study offer on DreamApply;
- Received all the required documents by post;
- Received a positive evaluation for education documents from the Estonian ENIC/NARIC Centrelink opens in new page.
Step 4: Congratulations, you have been admitted to the doctoral studies!
You can read about organization of the doctoral studies here
Step 5: Apply for a long term visa (non-EU citizens)
For entering Estonia, non-EU citizens need to apply for a long term visa (D type visa) in an Estonian embassy abroad in person.
Once they are in Estonia, a temporary residence permit (TRP) application process can be started (if applicable).
To apply for a visa you will need the official admission letter that you received via DreamApply (the electronic document will suffice, there is no need for a hard copy). Please see more information about applying for the visalink opens in new pagelink opens in new pagelink opens in new pagelink opens in new page.
Registration upon arrival (non-EU citizens)
NB! Admitted students who are not citizens of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland need to make sure they obtain the Estonian long-term visa on time in order to be able to participate in the Orientation Week for international students held in the last week of August.
NB! Book appointment to visit the Senior Specialist of PhD studies in person to complete registration of arrival!
Your contact of the doctoral studies:
Diana Rimm, Senior Specialist of Doctoral Studies
NB! For 2026/2027 academic year admission, the university has decided that a citizen of the Russian Federation or Belarus who cannot apply for a long-stay visa or residence permit for the purposes of studies in compliance with the procedures in force or does not have a valid legal basis to stay in Estonia until the end of the nominal period of study of the study programme cannot apply to the Estonian University of Life Sciences. The legislation in force can be found herelink opens in new page.
Based on the former, the DreamApply application system is closed to candidates from the Russian Federation and Belarus. In case the candidate has a valid legal basis for staying in Estonia until the end of the nominal study period of the study programme of interest, please send the proof document to [email protected] to be given instructions on how to apply for the studies.
Welcome to Estonian University of Life Sciences!
Here you can find important information to help you with your arrival.
