Estonia Education Scholarships
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Even though Estonia suffered under Soviet rule and is imagined similarly to its other Eastern European brethren, the country geographically is almost more Northern European than it is Eastern. Not far away is Finland, one of the more contemporary and modern of Northern European countries and Estonia has benefited in a grand way from Finland’s influence. Since Soviet occupation ended tiny Estonia has flexed it economic muscle in a big way.
For students interested in the Eastern European renewal, Estonia is heralded by many as one of the most economically and socially stable countries in the region. And it is welcoming to an array of international students and scholars. The capital city of Tallinn is saturated with historic, centuries old relics as well as a cacophony of cosmopolitan multinational companies.
Scholarship Programs
The National Security Education Program has designed the David L. Boren Scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students whose interests lie in national security and more non-traditional countries of study. Estonia and any of the Eastern European countries remain high on the federal government’s list of interests and for this reason students interested in studying there may be eligible for up to $25,000. Applicants of course must be top scholars and vigorously pursuing immersive courses of study. This scholarship for service program requires a term of service with the national government following graduation.
Old Dominion University in Virginia offers students an exciting four-week summer study abroad program that covers the diverse countries of Estonia, Finland and Russia. Political Science students are encouraged to participate. The program analyzes the differences and commonalities between the three countries from a political, social and economic perspective. The trip cost is almost $5,000 and for this reason a dozen Dean’s Education Abroad Awards to most academically outstanding participants who also require financial assistance.
The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) is an international organization devoted to providing assistance and support to scholars and researchers all over the world for the purpose of communication and collaboration. Besides a cadre of impressive research funds specifically targeting the Eastern European region, IREX offers $5,000 Travel Grants for scholars whose research needs to be carried out in Estonia or another country in Eastern Europe. Research must be highly developed and of a short-term nature. Specifically projects must be geared toward political, economic or social topics.
The Alexander Dubcek Fund at the University of Minnesota provides generous scholarships to students, faculty and Eastern European students and scholars. Funding is available under the following circumstances:
- Undergraduate and graduate students with a purpose for study in Estonia or another Eastern European country are encouraged to apply for up to $2,000 for their trip abroad. Likewise students from Estonia may qualify for this money as long as their projects are applicable to on site studies in the States.
- Faculty may be qualified to receive up to $5,000 to go to Estonia for research or scholarly collaboration and Estonian university faculty may apply as well, to help fund their research at UMN.
Fulbright Scholarships are available for qualified students who are passionate about pursuing studies in Estonia. In fact the smaller former Soviet countries may offer accessible scholarships based on lack of popularity as a study abroad location. Interested candidates must apply through their campus study abroad program for the Fulbright. Estonia is specifically geared for those applicants interested in either a political or economics focus or one that is more targeted to the arts and culture. Study programs are more applicable to graduate students who are encouraged to explore the diverse international student populations in either Tartu or Tallinn, the capital.
