You can enrol at vocational school if you have:
● basic education;
● secondary education (from an upper secondary school or vocational school);
● basic education that has been interrupted.
Admission requirements (i.e. assessments, exams, tests, etc.) are set by each school individually, so these may vary. For more information, visit the website of your school of interest. Usually, this information is found under ‘enrolment info’, ‘admission’, ‘admission info’ etc. As well as admission information, you can find all the necessary forms (e.g. application form) on the school website.
Be prepared to submit the following documents for admission:
● a written application;
● a basic school graduation certificate (or a certified copy);
● a medical report from your GP;
● photos (usually 2 to 4 photos of 3 × 4 cm);
● written consent from a parent or guardian if you are under 18 years of age;
● any other documents or paperwork the admissions committee considers necessary (e.g. a copy of your passport or ID card, etc.);
● remember to bring your ID.
Many schools have joined the online admissions information system SAIS (Study Admission Information System), which allows you to submit applications for admission electronically.
Once you are admitted to a vocational school, you will need to submit a written confirmation of your enrolment. If you fail to submit this confirmation or are absent for the first two weeks of school without a valid reason, you will be removed from the list of students and the next candidate will be admitted to the vacant place on the basis of ranking.
If you wish to study at a private vocational school, you should first check whether the school has a valid training licence. You can do this via the Estonian Education Information System. Bear in mind that private vocational schools generally charge a fee and that you need to sign a relevant contract to enrol. For detailed information about what such contracts must contain, see the Private Schools Act. Students in private schools have the same rights and obligations as those in state schools.
Prepared by the youth information portal Teeviit on the basis of Rajaleidja www.peaasi.ee.
Rajaleidja (English: Pathfinder) is a nationwide network providing free educational counselling to adults – parents, teachers, support officers and others – who support children in their education.
Published in the youth information portal Teeviit in 2021.
