Study law at TalTech in Estonia - one of the world’s most digitised nations - and prosper as a highly qualified lawyer providing profound legal advice regarding the challenges of today’s technology driven society in business, ICT, intellectual property or cybersecurity.
Our law programme:
- provides a thorough understanding of the mechanisms and systems of classical law,but with specialisation in EU and international law;
- offers learning in a multi-cultural environment that is guided by highly qualified academics with PhDs and experienced professionals from all around the world;
- provides a firm foundation upon which to continue studies in any kind of master’s programme in law, especially in programmes taught in English and specialising in EU and international law;
- makes studies informative and engaging thanks to small group sizes, hybrid-learning availability and participation in moot court competitions.
Introduction
The programme is a classical law programme that teaches the basics of law and covering legal theory, private law, public law, and with a specialisation in EU and international law. Based on personal interests, you can choose between many optional courses. Traditional branches of law like constitutional law, contract law, property law, criminal law, etc., are taught by comparative analysis of different states’ law s, with a strong emphasis on EU and international law and technology. At the end of the programme, you have to write and successfully defend your final thesis. The programme also entails an internship, and you can participate in international moot court competitions. Upon graduation, you will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree in law with a specialisation in EU and international law.
Key Features
Study Programme
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (BA)
- Duration: 3 years
- Faculty: School of Business and Governance
- Study Load: 180 ECTS (view curriculum)
- Mode of Study: Full-time study
Study Information
- Language: English (view English language requirements)
- Tuition Fee: €4200 per year for EU/EEA and non-EU citizens
- Scholarships: Different options available
- Admission: General admission guidelines
Admissions
Students for this study programme are admitted based on the admission threshold. First, all candidates are invited to take an online test. The second step is an online interview which will be conducted only with the candidates who have passed the test. The applicant’s English, skills of expression, analysing and argumentation are evaluated on the basis of the interview, motivation letter and CV. Note that the online application form is being assessed as your CV, therefore, please describe there your work experience and previous education in details. An applicant who receives altogether the minimum of 50 points is admitted.
Admission under a special condition will be applied if the candidate proves the participation in the corresponding international competitions and Estonian olympiads and competitions determined by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. An applicant applying under a special condition receives the maximum admissions points and does not need to fulfill programme specific admission requirements apart from the secondary education requirement. Please read about the admission under a special condition here.
Please find the programme specific admission requirements below:
In order to qualify for the studies in Tallinn University of Technology an applicant has to have at least 60% of the highest possible CGPA.
The motivation letter is evaluated together with your CV. Note that the online application form is being assessed as your CV, therefore please describe there your work experience and previous education in details.
The motivation letter must provide profound answers to the following questions (max 300 words per question):
- Explain your interest in law. Describe your professional goals and explain how the degree programme and specialisation you are applying for supports your professional profile. (0-20 points)
- Describe your previous education. How does your academic background fit to the degree programme you are applying for? Evaluate your previous knowledge and skills gathered during your previous education, how they would be useful in your studies in the law programme. (0-20 points)
NB! It is important to properly cite and reference any sources used in your motivation letter (quotations, publications, ideas etc. that are not your own). Additionally, AI-generated text is not acceptable as the purpose of the motivation letter is to show the applicant’s genuine motivation. Neglecting the aforementioned principles will result in the disqualification of your application.
Moodle online test to evaluate candidate’s general knowledge and argumentation skills, including English.
- There are 2 hours to complete the test with 5 open questions.
- Grading scale: 0-100. All questions must be answered, and every question gives in maximum 20 points.
Applicants who receive the minimum of 50 points for the test, receive 10 points from the test and are invited to the interview.
Interview can be proceeded via Skype.
In the interview the following questions are asked:
- Why have you decided to study at the Tallinn University of Technology? Why you find the programme offered attractive? Why you believe that you are the right person for this programme? (0-25 points)
- What do you think about some kind of problems concerned law (can be based on the questions and answers from the test)? (0-25 points)
By the motivation letter and interview the English, skills of expression, analysing and argumentations are evaluated.
Total admission points are calculated as the following: 10points (test) + max 40points(motivation letter and CV=application form) + max 50points (interview). Student must have been participated in test, CV(=application form) and motivation letter and interview.
Admission level is 50 points. Candidate has justified interest for studying in this programme and its necessity for professional activity. Candidate is able to study on the programme, has appropriate English skills, proper skills of expression, analysing and argumentation skills to manage successfully in the studies.
Negative result is 0 to 49.99 points. The candidate has interest in the programme, however, he/she is not able to justify his/her interest in studying on the Law programme and its necessity for professional activities. Candidate does not have enough capability to study on programme. He/she does not have appropriate English skills, skills of expression, analysing and argumentation skills to manage successfully in the programme.
Curriculum overview
- General Studies (21 ECTS) – covers compulsory courses such as Sustainable Development and Legal Aspects of Environmental Protection, IT foundations I and II, Statistics and Introduction to Entrepreneurship.
- EU and International Law (18 ECTS) – covers compulsory courses such as EU Law, Comparative Private Law and International Private Law, Public International Law.
- Basic Law Subjects (33 ECTS) – covers compulsory courses such as Comparative Constitutional Law in a Digital Society and Human Rights Law in a Digital Society, Introduction to Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, Legal Syllogism and the General Part of Civil Law Systems, Introduction to Property Law and Intellectual Property Law, Foundations of European Contract Law.
- Legal Theory and Methods (12 ECTS) – covers compulsory courses such as Foundations of Law and Legal Theory, Legal Research, Argumentation and Writing.
- Specific Courses of EU and International Law (30 ECTS) – Data Protection Law, Basics of Technology Law, EU Internal Market and Competition Law, International Competition Law and Cyber Conflicts.
- Practical Law (6 ECTS) – either Legal Internship or Moot Court participation.
- Optional Courses (42 ECTS) – Legal Toolkit for Start-ups, , Contract Negotiating and Drafting, Rights, Obligations and Liability of Actors on the Internet and Consumer Protection Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution etc.
- Free electives (6 ECTS) – students can choose from a wide variety of courses offered at the university.
- Graduation thesis (12 ECTS) – individual legal research on a topic chosen by the student.
Compulsory courses
- IT Foundations I (3 ECTS)
- Sustainable Development and Legal Aspects of Environmental Protection (6 ECTS)
- Foundations of Law and Legal Theory (6 ECTS)
- Comparative Constitutional Law in a Digital Society (3 ECTS)
- Legal Syllogism and Introduction to the General Part of Civil Law (6 ECTS)
- Public International Law (6 ECTS)
Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses
- International Sales Law (6 ECTS)
- Graduation thesis (12 ECTS) – individual legal research on a topic chosen by the student.
Elective courses
Courses are delivered by profound experts of EU and international law and law and technology from Estonia and all around the world, including:
- Professor Tanel Kerikmäe, who has solid experience in assessing legal and ethical risks of different ecosystems and capacity building, including artificial intelligence.
- Professor Thomas Hoffmann's, whose research focuses on comparative private law, especially insolvency law, private international law, contracts in digital environments and consumer law. He provides comprehensive research on Estonian, German and international law to various stakeholders within numerous EC tenders.
- Adjunct professor Katrin Nyman-Metcalf, who specialises primarily in the area of information and communication technology law including freedom of expression, as well as e-governance.
- Adjunct professor Ondrej Hamulak, who focuses his research on the relations and interactions between EU law and national law, the theoretical impact of membership in the EU on the state sovereignty and the legitimacy and rule of law within the EU, in particular system of protection of fundamental rights at supranational level.
Why study Law in TalTech?
- The Programme prepares professional and high-skilled specialists in EU and international law who will be able to identify, analyse and resolve problems arising in EU and international regulation, and give motivated, logical and legally grounded arguments and solutions to these problems.
- The Programme gives a firm foundation to continue the studies in any kind of master programme in law, especially in programmes taught in English.
- Learning in a multicultural environment guided by the highly qualified academics with PhDs and experienced professionals from all around the world teaches you to learn about the different cultures and legal regulations.
- The Legal Internship is a perfect way for you to test the skills gained at the university as well as to obtain additional legal experience that will be helpful both in your studies and in your future careers, and participation in international moot court competitions and Erasmus student exchange with top European universities will provide even more wide international experience in law.
- Our Student Association Õigus actively helps students of Tallinn Law School in study matters as well as other everyday challenges, organises events and cooperates with different organisations.
Future Career
After graduating, you will be a high-skilled specialist with a thorough understanding of the mechanisms and systems of EU and international law.
The programme provides a firm foundation to continue studies in any kind of master ’s programme in law, especially in programmes taught in English.
Our graduates are qualified to work in EU and international organisations and institutions, international companies and different law offices and public offices.
Prominent alumni
- Kerli Veski is an Estonian Diplomat and Director General of Law Department in Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Tatsiana Zaretskaya is a cofounder and the CEO of Laava Tech, which developed a combination of software and hardware that both decreases the energy consumption of lights in indoor farms and increases crop yields. Its technology combines LED lights with machine learning, AI, and IoT to produce optimized growing conditions for different crops.
- Margus Raava is an Estonian diplomat who is currently an ambassador at large for economic cooperation with Africa at MFA Estonia.
- Sandra Särav is the Deputy Secretary General for Business and Consumer Environment, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications for Estonia.
- Bogdan Kelichavyi is the newly elected mayor of Kopychyntsi, in the western Ternopil region, Ukraine.
What students say?
Looking back, as a current Stanford Law School graduate student and having worked in international law firms and in-house legal departments of leading technology companies, I can say that many of those opportunities would not have been there if not for my studies in TalTech. The way that the programme encourages students to think outside the context of their own country teaches an especially valuable lesson. I can highly recommend studying in TalTech for anyone who is willing to embrace an international career path.
I was a TalTech student in the Legislative Drafting course and most importantly, Alternative Dispute Resolution. The ADR course sparked my interest in dispute resolution, which is one of the reasons I also studied arbitration in Nottingham. Things I learned in ADR and in Legislative Drafting really helped me in my interview with the European Chemicals Agency, where I currently work in the Dispute Resolution team. My job is to resolve data sharing disputes of companies importing or manufacturing chemicals in the EU, and draft the decisions as well. I just wanted to let you know what a great impact your teaching has had on my career, and say thank you. Without the ADR course, I don’t think that I would be where I am right now.
My studies at the Department of Law at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) provided me with the intellectual gravitas required to pursue further studies and a career in European Union and International Law. Moreover, the synthesis of technology in the delivery of the curriculum, fused with being taught by leading academics in their respective fields, set TalTech's Department of Law above the rest. Coming from the Caribbean, TalTech formally introduced me to Europe and the rest of the world. That introduction not only pertains to law, but also to cultural norms, languages, and networking prospects. With such a holistic approach to education, it was no surprise that I was recruited upon graduation to hold a senior position in the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. Additionally, upon graduation, I was accepted into top universities in the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. I intend to return to academia to pursue graduate and doctoral studies in European and International Law. Upon completion of those studies, I desire to return to Estonia as a researcher and academic. My TalTech law degree sets me apart from the competition, and as such, I highly recommend international students pursuing a law degree to make TalTech your primary choice.
The reason I came to study in the Law programme is that it is offered in Estonia and the country is renowned for its advanced e-governance systems and start-ups. Secondly, the programme is offered at technical university, so what would be a better place to study law and technology! The programme has lived up to my expectations – we have had many exciting courses such as digital evidence, cyber security and a course on how to build start-ups, all this through the prism of law, which gives the programme a stimulating touch of interdisciplinarity.
Being a student in TLS gave me a feeling of studying in an international atmosphere from my home country. In contemporary digital society, our educational choices must be more astute than ever. Thus, I am delighted to have TLS as my threshold to the ever-expanding career path. And this is not a subjective view - my confidence in choice has further been supported by the forward-looking former President of Estonia, Mr Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who upon meeting him, assured me that studying law and technology "is a very wise choice". Indeed, the Law and Technology degree has offered me flexicurity in my career path – even a lawyer can't just be a lawyer anymore, digital by default presumes a digitally intertwined walk of life. Following my graduation, I did a 5-month stage at the European Commission, in the Vice-President Ansip’s Digital Single Market team, employing my freshly gained skills varying from digital evidence to data protection and cybersecurity, working towards the effectuating of a seamless digital market in the EU. Following the experience from Brussels, I joined the Estonian Council of the EU Presidency team, coordinating digital policies during the Presidency from the capital, undertaking tasks varying from drafting legislation to writing speeches for our Prime Minister. As of 2018, I take a wider look at the digital revolution, being the Global Affairs Director at the Government CIO Office of Estonia, whereat my duties include promoting e-Estonia and fostering cooperation with other bright digital minds in the World. Taking a look back at my degree studies and at my career path now, I can assure you that digital is the new normal – if our society keeps innovating, why should our career choices stand still?
Does it suit me?
If you:
- are interested in EU and international law;
- would like to get an excellent job offer in a transnational corporation, international organisation or the public sector;
- are eager to study in an English-speaking environment;
Then our law programme is the right programme for you!
Ask Us
TalTech international admissions office
TalTech international admissions office provides general advice to prospective Bachelor’s and Master’s degree applicants and their advisers about applying to and studying at TalTech.
Contact us via study@taltech.ee.
Student counsellor at the School of Business and Governance
Student counsellor at the School of Business and Governance can help you with questions about the study programme.
Piret Levertand
(+372) 620 3940
piret.levertand@taltech.ee