In international university rankings, you often see universities from the United Kingdom, France or Germany among the top. But the sheer size of those countries, and the number of their universities, often obscure the remarkable offerings from smaller nations.
Study in the Baltics: Find Bachelors & Masters fully taught in English
International students who are looking for a high-quality education are well-advised to take note of the three small Baltic nations: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
In recent years, their educational systems have undergone an exciting modernisation with lots of improvements. All three countries offer more and more degree programmes in English, with together around 1,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. At the same time, the tuition fees are often lower than in other countries; especially for students from outside Europe.
And the Baltic efforts also pay off in the international university rankings: In its 2024 edition, the QS Universities Ranking featured ten Baltic universities; three from Estonia, three from Latvia and five from Lithuania. No wonder that an ever-growing population of international students chooses to study in the Baltics.
The University of Tartu (Estonia) and Vilnius University (Lithuania) are even ranked among the world’s top 500 universities, while many of the others make it among the global top 800.
Have a look at our table for more details on the best-ranked universities in the Baltics according to QS and THE:
University | Country | QS rank (Baltics) |
QS rank (world) |
THE rank (Baltics) |
THE rank (world) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Tartu | Estonia | 1 | 358 | 1 | 301-350 |
Vilnius University | Lithuania | 2 | 473 | 3 | 801-1000 |
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University | Lithuania | 5-7 | 801-850 | 7-9 | 1201-1500 |
Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) | Estonia | 3 | 651-660 | 2 | 601-800 |
Riga Technical University | Latvia | 4 | 751-760 | 4-6 | 1001-1200 |
Kaunas University of Technology | Lithuania | 5-7 | 801-850 | 7-9 | 1201-1500 |
Tallinn University | Estonia | 9 | 1001-1200 | 4-6 | 1001-1200 |
University of Latvia | Latvia | - | - | 4-6 | 1001-1200 |
Riga Stradins University | Latvia | 8 | 901-950 | 10-11 | 1501+ |
Vytautas Magnus University | Lithuania | 5-7 | 801-850 | 7-9 | 1201-1500 |
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies | Latvia | - | - | 10-11 | 1501+ |
Explore study options in the Baltic countries
The Baltic countries are known for offering relatively affordable education compared to most of the other European countries.
Estonia:
Latvia:
Lithuania:
Some universities also offer different fees for EU and non-EU international students, so it's important to double check with your desired institution - also in case they have scholarships or other types of financial help available.
For English-taught programmes, students are typically required to demonstrate English proficiency through standardized tests such as TOEFL or IELTS. The specific score requirements can differ among universities and programmes, since some institutions may accept alternative tests or consider previous education in English-speaking institutions as proof.
To learn more about these countries, check our guide.
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Study in the Baltics in 2024!
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