Admission of athletes

The University of Tartu Academic Sports Club organises a competition to select up to twelve athletes to be admitted to the curricula of the first or second level of higher education at the University of Tartu. The competition is open to active athletes who have achieved top athletic results at the international level or have the potential to reach such a level.

To participate in the competition, the application and the supporting documents must be submitted from 20 February to 10 March 2024.

Required documents:

• application with the motivation letter (template);
• a certificate issued by the sports federation regarding the applicant’s athletic achievements;
• documents certifying the completion of the previous level of study with the academic transcript/diploma supplement (if the applicant completes the previous level of education in summer 2024, a transcript of records must be added to the application, specifying the applicant’s current educational institution and study results);
• a document certifying proficiency in the language of instruction (when applying for an Estonian-taught curriculum, graduates of non-Estonian-language schools must prove proficiency in Estonian at level B2, while applicants for non-Estonian-taught curricula must prove proficiency in the language of instruction at level B2. The options for proving language proficiency are set out in the admission requirements of the curriculum);
• a copy of the identification document.

In addition, the applicant may submit a recommendation letter from the national Olympic committee or sports federation.

In the application, applicants must indicate up to two curricula of the University of Tartu they wish to apply for. Not all curricula of the University of Tartu can be applied for through the competition of the sports club. The eligible curricula have been listed on the competition’s web page.

The documents must be emailed to kadri.kriisa@ut.ee or mailed/brought to the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club, Ujula 4, Tartu 51008. The envelope should be addressed to Kadri Kriisa.

Applicants are evaluated by a six-member committee comprising one representative of the sports club, one of the student admissions unit of the University of Tartu Office of Academic Affairs, and one of each faculty of the university. The committee assesses the applicants and makes the decision, considering the following:

• applicant’s athletic career so far, athletic achievements and development potential;
• engagement in fields of sports that are (priority) fields of the sports club;
• willingness to represent the sports club;
• receipt of the performance sports grant of the Estonian Olympic Committee;
• suitability for studies in the curriculum or curricula indicated in the application, based on the motivation letter and the document certifying the completion of the previous level of education and the diploma supplement.

The committee has the right to interview the applicant. The applicant does not have the right to demand an interview.

Through the competition, up to 12 active athletes are selected who will be granted admission under special conditions to the curriculum/curricula of the University of Tartu specified in the application. If a candidate has indicated two curricula in the application, the committee may conclude that the candidate is suitable to be admitted to one of the curricula but give a negative assessment regarding the other. Suitability to the curriculum is assessed based on the motivation letter and study results of the previous level of study.

Admission under special conditions means that the athlete selected through the sports club’s competition has secured admission and does not have to meet the usual admission requirements of the curriculum. The prerequisite for starting to study is the acquisition of higher education in the first level of secondary education and master’s education by the end of June 2024 at the latest.

A student admitted under special conditions for athletes is released from paying the
tuition fee, both in full-time and part-time studies. To maintain the tuition-waiver student place, the student must comply with the requirements arising from the Study Regulations and complete the curriculum in at least part-time volume (minimum 30 ECTS per academic year).

 The results of the competition will be known by 31 March 2024. Applicants will be informed of the results by email.