Internship at TalTech
Completing an internship or an individually supervised project at TalTech gives you the opportunity to gain international academic experience, work closely with a university professor, and become part of a research-oriented academic environment in Estonia.
Internships at TalTech are suitable for international students who need academic supervision as part of their study programme and whose home university requires formal confirmation and documentation of the internship period.
This option is suitable for you if you:
- are currently enrolled at a university outside Estonia;
- need an academic internship or individual supervised project as part of your studies;
- are able to independently contact a professor whose research field matches your interests;
- understand that individual supervision is based on academic cooperation, not paid employment.
Please note that internships at TalTech are not centrally assigned. Each internship depends on the availability and willingness of an individual professor to supervise you.
Before starting the application process, please keep in mind:
- Individual supervision is offered only if you have direct contact with a TalTech professor who agrees to supervise your internship voluntarily.
- Internship supervision is not part of the professors’ formal workload, which means availability may be limited.
- The minimum internship duration is 2 months.
- TalTech does not cover costs related to:
- accommodation
- travel
- insurance
- living expenses
- The application process may take time and should be planned well in advance.
- Students from outside the European Union must start the process at least 1–1.5 months before arrival, as TalTech must register the internship as short-term employment with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
Internships and supervised projects are usually connected to research and academic activities within TalTech’s Schools, including:
- Engineering
- Information Technologies
- Science
- Business and Governance
- Maritime studies
You are expected to contact professors whose academic focus matches your internship topic.
Thesis writing at TalTech
In addition to internships, TalTech also offers international students the possibility to complete their thesis under the supervision of a TalTech academic staff member.
Thesis writing at TalTech is suitable for students whose home university allows thesis supervision to take place at a partner institution and who require official academic supervision and documentation for their degree.
This option is suitable for you if you:
- are enrolled at a university outside Estonia;
- are writing a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctor's thesis as part of your degree programme;
- need an external supervisor from TalTech;
- are prepared to work independently under academic supervision;
- understand that supervision is based on academic cooperation, not employment.
Thesis supervision is not automatically assigned. A thesis can only be supervised if a TalTech professor agrees to take on the role.
Before applying, please note the following:
- A TalTech supervisor must be found before you can submit an application.
- Thesis supervision is offered on an individual basis and depends on the supervisor’s availability.
- The thesis topic must match the research field and expertise of the supervising professor.
- TalTech does not cover costs related to accommodation, travel, insurance or living expenses.
- Thesis writing students must submit an official application and be registered as visiting students.
- Non-EU students must allow additional time for residence-related procedures.
- The thesis must comply with both TalTech and your home university’s academic requirements.
- The final responsibility for thesis acceptance and grading lies with the home university, unless otherwise agreed.
- The supervision agreement must be clearly documented in advance (Learning Agreement for thesis).
- Students are expected to follow academic integrity standards, including plagiarism / AI usage rules and proper referencing.
How to apply for individual supervising?
You can search for the supervisor through our webpage https://www.taltech.ee/en/ > About the University > Schools/Departments > Choose a School > Departments. You can find the contact list under every department.
When you have found a contact, who works in the field that you would like to do your internship or thesis in, please send the potential supervisor the following documents:
- motivation letter
- transcript of records
- proposed exchange dates
- work-plan
The professor should send you a written conformation (e-mail or PDF document) as proof of acceptance. Please forward that to [email protected] for the next steps.
Home University has to send the nomination. TalTech uses an online mobility platform SoleMove.
Following information regarding your student(s) is required in SoleMove:
- Full name(s)
- Birth date
- Gender
- Current E-mail Address
- Traineeship exact dates
- Study field
- Study period
You have to send online application and then you will be enrolled as visiting student. On the application, please upload:
- a copy of your passport or any other identification document
- English language certificate (minimum English knowledge level must be B2; short form tests are not allowed)
- The learning agreement signed by you, your home university and your TalTech side supervisor
- Academic transcript
- Motivation letter
English language tests, that we accept are the following:
- The minimum overall score of the TOEFL (72 iBT).
- Requested IELTS score: 5,5 or above
- TOEIC test score: 785 or above
- FCE (Cambridge First Certificate in English): A, B
- Pearson test 51
- High School Diploma, shown language level B2 at least
- Home university Certificate, indicating your English B2 level: reading, listening, writing, speaking. The true Certificate has to be issued before the application deadline.
- DAAD Language Certificate
As the last step the Mobility Center will register you as a visiting student for the whole duration of your stay. This means that you can get access to the TalTech computers, study rooms, library and more.
If you need help with any visa applications then please write to [email protected]. We can send you an official acceptance letter and visa invitation letter only after the previous steps have been compleated.
