High School Exchange in Estonia
Epic Estonia
Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, borders the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland. Including more than 1,500 islands, its diverse terrain spans rocky beaches, old-growth forest and many lakes. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, it’s dotted with castles, churches and hilltop fortresses. The capital, Tallinn, is known for its preserved Old Town, museums and the Tallinn TV Tower, which has an observation deck.
Wild nature, medieval cities and Nordic fusion cuisine are minutes apart in this compact country. You can explore easily and travel from place to place in a short time. Estonia is almost 50% forest and in the Winter, it is often covered in snow. This is a country where a student will enjoy the outdoors and be ready to learn a new language and engage with a forward thinking population.
Life as an exchange student in Estonia
Estonia is highly urbanised and around a third of their population live in cities. The people are progressive and the country is clean, relaxed and safe. Despite it’s small size, it would take too long to enjoy all the galleries, theatres, concerts, markets, fairs and beaches that the country has to offer. Estonians are traditionally known for being somewhat quiet, stoic and reserved, but as a member of their community, you will make friends for life.
The Estonian school system
Depending on your age, you will either be enrolled in Lower Secondary School for students up to the age of 16, or Gymnasium for students aged 16 and upwards. The school day runs from 8am until 3pm, and the school year starts in early September and ends in July. Many students cycle to and from school or use public transport. There is no uniform in Estonian schools.
You will be offered a large number of subjects to study, some being compulsory and others being optional. From creative subjects to languages and science, you will enjoy the options available to you.
After school you should join an extra-curricular activity in the local community. Clubs are not usually associated with the school, but there will be many options available to you, from Handball to Football, Art to Music, there is something for everyone. You will meet new people and build your friendship network even more.
Video from www.visitestonia.com
High School Exchange in Estonia 2024-25|| 10 months: £6,995 || 5 months:£5,995
Arrival Orientation
All arrivals will receive an orientation as they get to Estonia. August arrivals will enjoy a 3-4 day camp which will be managed by the partner organisation staff. The camp will involve language support, preparation for exchange in Estonia, team building activities and seeing some of the sights. January arrivals might have a shorter orientation depending on numbers arriving for the semester. Language support lessons continue throughout your time in Estonia and students also have a seminar (meet up) in the middle and at the end of the program. All of this is included in the program fee and is great fun.
Optional Tours
As it is easy to travel within Estonia, the partner organisation arranges day trips and gatherings throughout your stay. The seminars are part of your support and you will also be given the opportunity to see beautiful parts of Estonia and do some fun activities. These are all included in your fee. The partner also offers one international trip which is optional as there is an additional cost. Previous trips have been a 2 day trip to Helsinki, Finland or 4 days in St Petersburg, Russia. Trips will hopefully run in 2022, based on COVID allowances.