Summarizing the Baltic States as a single entity does not do justice to the individual nations represented there, as they differ massively from one another in terms of ethnicity, tradition and language. At this point, we would therefore like to turn our attention to the northernmost of the Baltic countries - a mecca for nature lovers, sun worshippers (at least in summer for fans of the midnight sun) and those who like peace and quiet and rustic food: ESTONIA. With the "Partner country of the month" campaign, we want to shine the spotlight a little on the countries and partner universities of TU Dresden that are not always the first choice of our exchange students.

General facts and figures about Estonia

Capital: Tallinn
Population: 1.3 million
Official language: Estonian
National holiday: February 24 (independence from Russia, 1918)
Currency: Euro (since 2011)

You can find more facts and figures on wikipedia, Visit Estonia or Statista, for example.

© panthermedia/f9photos

A little language excursion:

• Hello - Tere
• How are you? - is not used in small talk. Estonians are reserved people who value privacy. You should only ask how the other person is doing when you already know each other or after your first vodka together...but here's the next word:
• Cheers - Terviseks
• My name is ... - Minu nimi on ...
• How much is ...? - Palju ... maksab?
• Thank you - Aitäh

Estonian Youtuber Artur Kamberg gives you a very clear introduction to the peculiarities and uniqueness of the Estonian language.
But don't worry, there are English-language courses available at universities in Estonia.

© panthermedia/candy18

Did you know that ....?

• Estonia is the most digitized society in the world? Since 2005, political votes and tax returns can be completed online.
• Anyone can become an Estonian citizen? Since 2005, anyone can apply for digital citizenship in Estonia, regardless of nationality, religion, ethnicity, etc.
• 50% of the country is covered in forest ? No wonder that over two thirds of Estonians, although not particularly religious, believe that trees have a soul.
• The Estonian language belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family and is therefore one of the most difficult languages to learn?
• Estonians are the inventors of an extreme sport : in kiiking, you swing while standing on a specially invented swing with the aim of achieving a somersault. Your hands and feet are securely fastened in loops and you can enjoy a unique adrenaline rush without having to take any great risks.

Cooperations with the TU Dresden

You can find an overview of all TU Dresden cooperations that you can use for the exchange in our database. It is also often worth asking professors in your own faculty who have direct contacts with the desired partner university.

Erasmus cooperations of the TUD with Estonian universities:

• Talinna Tehnikaúlikool:

  • Civil Engineering

  • Hydrosciences

  • Computer Science

  • Business Administration and Economics

• Tartu Ülikool:

  • IHI Zittau (Environmental Sciences)

Don't miss...

Europe's biggest sauna marathon in Otepää: a worldwide unique competition in which the saunas of the region are passed one after the other, naturally in a race. Beating the Estonians is almost impossible, but the chances of becoming the German national champion in this sport are not bad.

Hiiuma: Estonia's second largest island, can be reached in winter by ice road (the longest in Europe over a distance of 25 km). It is home to one of the oldest lighthouses (16th century) in the world and is particularly popular with surfers and fish fans.

© panthermedia/candy18

the tranquillity of Estonia: many places are so remote that you have the feeling of being alone in the world. A good example: the island of Kihnu

Tartu and the National Museum: built on the runway of a former Soviet base by a team of young architects, all in their early 20s, it was named Europe's most innovative museum in 2018

© panthermedia/xeipe

Unique flora and fauna: with around 30 inhabitants per square kilometer, Estonia has one of the lowest population densities in Europe and thus offers optimal conditions for untouched natural areas, such as raised bogs and mixed deciduous forests, which offer unique biodiversity. For example, Estonia is home to 36 species of orchid!

Let's cook...

Estonia has 3,794 km of coastline and more than 1,500 islands - so fish is not a surprising part of Estonian cuisine. The official national fish is herring, which is best served with tomato sauce.

© panthermedia/mary_smn

In addition to Russian influences, many other occupying powers, such as Danes, Swedes and Germans, have also immortalized themselves in Estonian cuisine: Onions, sauerkraut and jacket potatoes are therefore popular side dishes. The dishes are not always easy on the stomach, but this can be countered with a good glass of Estonian vodka;)

You can find a few typical main dishes and desserts with recipes to try out here: https://www.nordisch.info/estland/rezepte-aus-estland/

Contact

Have you had a great time in Estonia? Successfully spent your semester abroad in Tallinn? What is your favorite Estonian dish? Have you tried Kiiking or do you have tips for places and experiences that are not to be missed? We would be happy to share your experiences here, on social media or, if you want, in information events for other TUD students. Get in touch with us:

© Sven Ellger/TUD

Advice on studying abroad

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Partner countries archive

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