How I kick-started my career by studying in Estonia

Having found a university and degree that paired perfectly with his long-term career objectives, Elman also spoke warmly of the support he received from his fellow students during his studies. 

Elman told us: “The student community at the University of Tartu is wonderfully diverse and active. I've deeply appreciated the sense of camaraderie among law students. Whether it's preparing for exams, collaborating on research papers, or engaging in extracurricular activities, there's always someone willing to help.  

“The diversity in the student body, bringing in perspectives from different legal systems, has made classroom debates incredibly enriching and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the engaging guest lectures given by experienced legal professionals from around the world.” 

When reflecting on the cohort within his Actuarial and Financial Engineering programme, the qualities which stood out to Bill most were the international diversity and high quality of students:  

“There is a large international community here. Within my programme there are about 15 students in a cohort. About half of these were Estonian with other students coming from Latvia, Japan, USA, Azerbaijan, Morocco, China and many other places.  

“I think many of the international students who come to Tartu are extremely technically competent and can be competitive for graduate jobs from day one. The master’s degree is that final step and it’s great that the government permits international students to work while studying, even as early as their first semester.” 

Of course, the study abroad experience is about so much more than what happens in the classroom and both Elman and Bill spoke with delight of using some of their spare time to explore the beautiful natural environment which surrounds Tartu and Tallinn.  

Elman said: “Estonians have a deep appreciation for nature which is reflected in the beautiful landscapes and well-preserved natural spots throughout the country. The serene landscapes, especially the coastal regions, offer a perfect retreat after intense legal readings.” 

For Bill, one of the biggest highlights has been getting to experience the sauna culture within Estonia: “I’ve really taken to that sauna culture and have been to maybe 30 or 40 different saunas around the country. Getting to socialise with people has been really fun and a sauna is one of the primary ways to do that. 

“It’s also an incredibly safe place, with virtually no crime and not even any litter. The low population density means that there’s lots of open space. Everyone seems very conscientious and there’s a great sense of personal responsibility within the community, and what’s really nice is that a lot of the international students adopt that mentality too.” 

When asked if international students arriving in Estonia should be aware of anything in particular, Bill highlighted the seasonal differences between summer and winter as something to adjust to: 

“Winters here are long. It’s not unreasonable to have snow before the end of October and it can be around until early April. There’s a lack of daylight as the days get shorter but the counterbalance is that in the summer it can stay light past 11pm. 

“In the winter, it’s important to have a good friendship group and to have developed good habits and routines so that you’re still making the most of things.” 

Elman echoed this, urging prospective international students: “Embrace the winter! Although it’s cold, the snow-covered landscapes are enchanting!” 

After studying in Estonia, you’ll be equipped with the hard and soft skills required to succeed anywhere in the world, but you won’t have to look far for amazing career opportunities. 

Elman told us: “Post-graduation, I'm exploring opportunities with international legal firms operating in Estonia, especially those focusing on business law, intellectual property law, information technology law and cyber law, given Estonia's lead in digital innovations. 

“However, I'm also considering a Ph.D., and with the quality of research at the University of Tartu, staying here is a strong possibility.” 

Bill is also keeping an eye on career openings within Estonia: “A lot of companies have offices in both Tartu and Tallinn, including my current company, so there’s freedom to work in either city whenever we want and you don’t necessarily need to move to a different company if you decide you want to live in the bigger city after graduation. Typical careers for graduates in my programme include banking, insurance and financial risk management (e.g. actuary, risk engineer).”