Home >>Europe >>Estonia >>Tour Estonia

Estonia: Education, Weather & Stay in Estonia

	Introduction Estonia, officially known as the Republic of Estonia, is located in Northern Europe and lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. The country is bordered by Latvia in the south and Russia in the east. Estonia is separated from Finland by the Gulf of Finland and from Sweden by the Baltic Sea. Estonia is a member of premier world bodies namely the European Union and NATO. As a member of the European Union, Estonia is also a part of the largest economic zone in the world. The country has also been only the second state to join the WTO. Estonia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
Ethnic Estonians constitute approximately 70 percent of the total population while the rest of the population consists mainly of Russians and other minorities. The official language of the country is Estonian, though Russian is also widely spoken. English is slowly gaining reputation in the country as the younger generation is increasingly turning to the language for conversation. The population of the country is predominantly Christian, with Muslims Buddhists, Protestants and Jewish Groups also having sizeable presence. Estonians are also said to be the least religious people in the 25-member European Union. Climatic Conditions in Estonia - In spite of its northern latitude, Estonia has a milder climate with the Gulf Stream increasingly affecting the prevailing climate in the country. The climate in the inland areas and the coastal zones differs widely due to the country’s close proximity to the Baltic Sea. The average annual temperature is 4.5o C. February is the coldest month of the year and average temperature during this period is negative 5.2o C. July is the warmest month of the year in the country and temperature during this time averages 17o C. The country witnesses 160 to 180 rainy days a year. The country also experiences snow cover (deepest in the south-eastern parts) from mid-December to late-March. Education Scenario in Estonia- The Government of Estonia has laid special emphasis on higher education and has accordingly framed a number of policies. In fact, in order to make education accessible to all, the state and local governments are financially obliged to maintain the sufficient number of educational institutions in the country. Higher education in Estonia has been segmented into vocational higher education, education with diploma, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and Doctoral degree. Foreign experts have also been involved in the recently initiated process of accreditation of Estonian institutions of higher education. The public universities and state professional higher schools receive their funding from the state. The public universities are a little free compared to professional higher schools in spending the grants. The standard of higher education in the country has improved a lot in recent times. In fact, there has been a huge influx of students into the country. In 2000, there were 12500 students pursuing different programmes at the different higher educational institutions. This number was way ahead of 5000, a level achieved in 1995. Staying options in Estonia There are not enough staying facilities and students have to find their own housing once they arrive in the country. Student hostels and dormitories are available and universities can also assist students in finding an accommodation. However, not all universities have hostel facilities and students are advised to contact the respective universities where they are going to attend a programme. Students can also contact the designated coordinators for getting information on housing options available. Alternately, they can be on the lookout for advertisement in the local newspapers. International flat share agencies also provide information on accommodation available.