The 11 best universities in the Baltics - 2024 rankings

Author: Study.eu Team — Last update: 10 November 2023

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

🌍 Why you should study in the Baltics:

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.

🏆 The best universities in the Baltics in 2024 - world rankings:

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

💸 Typical tuition fees for international students:

The Baltic countries are known for offering relatively affordable education compared to most of the other European countries.

Estonia:

Tuition fees for international students in Estonia can range from €1,000 to €7,000 per year, depending on the programme and level of study.
Some degrees may have higher tuition fees, mostly in fields like business, technology and health.

Latvia:

Tuition fees typically range from €2,000 to €8,000 per year for international students.
Business and engineering programmes may have higher fees compared to humanities or social sciences.

Lithuania:

On average, tuition fees in Lithuania are between €2,000 and €5,000 a year for Bachelor’s degrees and between €4,000 and €9,000 for Master’s degrees.
As in the other countries, fees can vary based on the level and type of programme.

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.

💬 English requirements to study in the Baltics:

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.

Start your journey now:
Study in the Baltics in 2024!

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