Tallinn University of Technology

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Industrial production has an enormous impact on the environment, and society’s awareness of such effects is constantly growing. The course offers an integrated approach towards current and long term strategic environmental issues, focusing on technologies and concepts in environmental planning and management for the sustainable development of industrial production systems. This programme provides interdisciplinary solutions in a market-based economy through the integrated management of water, wastewater, solid wastes, and air pollutants.

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Admissions

Students for this study programme are admitted based on the admission threshold. The motivation letter content is a basis for an online interview. Both the motivation letter and the online interview are evaluated on a 10-point grading scale. An applicant who receives at least 5 points in both sections is admitted.

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.

In order to apply, a candidate is required to upload a Test-taker Score Report of the GRE General Test to the DreamApply application system with the necessary threshold scores:

  • Verbal Reasoning at least 145
  • Quantitative Reasoning at least 150
  • Analytical Writing score at least 3.0

This is a prerequisite for qualifying and has to be fulfilled latest by the application deadline.

Candidates who have obtained a full Bachelor's degree in EU, EFTA or OECD member state are waived from the GRE requirement.

Please see more information about our GRE General Test requirement here, including the exact eligibility criteria for being exempted from this prerequisite and how to order the test result electronically to TalTech.

Please include the following:

  • What and where have you studied, how does your academic background fit to the degree programme you are applying for?

  • Why do you think you are the right person for this programme? Previous experience, interest in the special field. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

  • Describe your professional goals. How will the degree programme you are applying for support your professional profile?

  • Why do you apply for the chosen programme? Which of the courses offered in this programme are particularly beneficial in pursuing your professional goals?

  • Why do you want to study at the TalTech? How do you see your future after graduation?

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). Neglecting the rules of referencing and citation is considered plagiarism and will result in the disqualification of your application.

Grading scale: 0-10 points; positive scale: 5-10 points.

Topics covered during the interview:

  • Describe the key issues, problems in the field and your role in solving them.

  • What were the main criteria for selecting a specialty?

  • What you can give to our study programme?

  • What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses in acquiring a specialty, e.g. learning ability, language, teamwork, etc.?

  • What is your opinion about the need for environmental engineering and management specialist in your home country, anywhere else in the world?

Duration of the interview is 10-15 minutes.

Evaluation criteria:

Positive scale 5-10 points

  • The candidate has sufficient basic knowledge of the main issues, problems and causes of the environment, and offers suitable solutions.
  • The candidate has good reasoning skills and reasoned arguments about the possibility of economic sustainability and the preservation of a healthy environment.
  • The candidate understands the need to use best available techniques.
  • The candidate knows and is able to justify his or her opinion on the need and necessity of environmental specialists.
  • The candidate is aware of the main tasks of environmental specialists working in different sectors, fields. 

Negative scale 0-4,99 points

  • The candidate does not have sufficient basic knowledge of the main issues, problems and causes of the environment.
  • The candidate cannot discuss or reasonably argue about the sustainability of the economy and the possibility of maintaining a healthy environment.
  • The candidate does not understand the need to use best available techniques.
  • The candidate is not sufficiently able to justify his or her opinion on the need and necessity of environmental specialists.
  • The candidate does not have an overview of the main tasks of environmental specialists working in different sectors, fields.

Overview

The programme aims to provide students with needed skills to enable interdisciplinary approach when applying environmental technologies and using environmental management tools, based on the principles of sustainable development and environmental sustainability. The curriculum aims also to deepen knowledge and understanding of the major trends in environmental technologies, environmental protection and sustainable production, linking environmental problems with engineering and economic aspects.

Why this programme?

  • Students have the possibility to take part in research projects.

  • Selected examples of defended theses and their authors:

    • “Nitrogen and Phosphorus Budgeting – A comparative Account of Different Methodologies and Scales” Susmita Banerjee

    • “Analysis of Environmental Radiation Monitoring Results of Paldiski Former Nuclear Site and Tammiku Radioactive Waste Storage Facility” Liisa Mihkla

    • "Preliminary feasibility study of MSWI fly ash utilization" Hakan Berber

    • "Evaluation on Estonia's success in implementing the EU Directives for landfilling" Gero Schumacher

    • "Influence of Same Additives  on the Thermal Behavior of Ammonium Nitrate" Evelin Edro

    • "Biogas Potential of Crude Glycerol and its Suitability for Co-Digestion" Andra Paltser

Academic Staff

Dr. Karin Pachel is working as a professor of water engineering at TalTech, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture. She is the Head of Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group and Head of Study Program of Master’s curricula Environmental Engineering and Management. Karin Pachel has participated as a principle investigator/project manager in several national and EU founded projects. Her research area is wastewater treatment and urban wastewater systems, including stormwater runoff management, monitoring and monitoring technics. She has more than 20 scientific publications on her interest area. Dr Pachel is a member of the Estonian Centre for Standardisation Technical Committee EVS/TK48 Water and Wastewater Engineering, member of the Estonian Association of Water Supply and Wastewater Engineers Council and Water Sampling Personnel Evaluation Commission.

Dr. Arvo Iital is a professor of environmental system analysis at TalTech, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture. He has an experience of more than 25 years in monitoring of surface water quality, environmental assessment and environmental policy. He has more than 50 scientific publications and have been involved in numerous international and national R&D projects. Dr Iital has been a supervisor for more than 20 master and PhD theses. He is a member of several environmental and water associations. He is also an editorial board member and external reviewer of several research journals.

Dr. Viktoria Voronova is working as a senior lecturer of environmental management and engineering at TalTech, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture. She is a member of Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group. Her research area is environmental management, waste management and treatment techniques, life cycle assessment, air pollution and prevention. She has more than 20 defended master theses and supervising PhD students. Dr. Voronova actively participates in international and national R &D projects and has scientific publications on her interest area. She has provided quality assurance check for Estonian national GHG inventory report in waste sector.

CURRICULUM OUTLINE (120 ECTS)

  • General studies - cover environmental assessment, hydrochemistry, entrepreneurship, business planning, statistics, languages, etc.

  • Core studies - include courses about life cycle, environmental policy, environmental impact assessment and eco-design.

  • Special studies - consist of engineering courses about sludge, wastes, wastewater treatment, air pollution, environmental technologies, sustainable production and water management, internship, etc.

  • Free choice courses – students can choose from a wide variety of courses offered at the university.

  • Graduation thesis – an engineering project that allows applying theoretical knowledge to solve practical problems.

Future Career

The curriculum offers knowledge and skills in various fields of environmental technology (air protection, water management, waste handling) that enable graduates of Masters to:

  • advise, guide the company in introducing environmentally friendly and sustainable engineering solutions, increasing material, water- and energy efficiency and reducing emissions;

  • successfully work as an enterprise environmental councillor, an environmental specialist in local municipalities, water service companies, consultancy firms, public institutions (ministries, environmental boards, inspectorates, research and scientific institutions as well as applying for doctoral studies

What students say

Andre Zahharov

Alexela Group OÜ, Environmental Manager

Studying in TalTech has played a significant role in advancing my career. TalTech gave me both theoretical knowledge and some hands on experience which I believe is very important. It was a perfect setup for my needs and future plans where not only you obtain environmental engineering and management skills but also a much broader approach where you can get the basics of business, philosophy, project management etc. In my day to day work all the subjects I took play a significant role whether it is helping to solve technical questions or contributing into new business developments.

Susmita Banerjee

Lallemand Inc. Lallemand Bio-Ingredients, Quality Assurance Manager and Environmental Specialist

I believe for bringing a positive change one needs knowledge and the right tool to understand the issue/problem and the solution. I always feel there is a bigger requirement for a competent workforce who can bring innovation and improvements towards the environment, sustainability and green technology and I think Estonia is making one through TalTech. I am glad I choose TalTech to enrich me and prepared myself for a better future which is greener and more sustainable. I like the study structure, course design, teaching methods and various real-life case discussions, which gave me the hands-on experience to deal with environmental problems. A bigger role has been played by faculty members, who contributed actively to understand the root cause of the existing environmental problems. I think moving to Estonia and joining this course at TalTech, is one of the best decisions of my life.

Hakan Berber

Hakan Berber

I strongly suggest TalTech and the MSc programme in Environmental Engineering and Management for prospective students. My favourite courses were Air Pollution Prevention and Control (EKK0170) and Statistics (TES0020). Understanding the challenges of atmosphere protection along with the characteristics of main air pollutants is one of the key elements for the successful future Environmental Scientists to explore state-of-art engineering applications. With the dawn of the data-driven digital world, the next generation of Environmental Scientists will be in need to have competence in organizing and analysing large amounts of environmental data to answer the increasingly complex questions Environmental Scientists are facing.

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Merit Kaal

Merit Kaal

First, the programme gives an excellent overview of environmental engineering, for example, air and water pollution and prediction technologies, as well as the background of environmental regulations and laws that are crucial for working in this field. For example, for me as a consultant it was a really good mix because it helps to understand how the regulations and laws are functioning in order to help companies that are working in environmental engineering field. Next, the mix of Estonian and international students creates a dynamic class setting where you learn to deal with different work ethics and customs, sculpting you into a valuable and understanding team member for the future. What’s more, in every project students could choose a relevant topic from their own country. This made it interesting to listen to other presentations as it also broadens your horizon about environmental problems in the world. As last, TalTech is a technical university and technology plays a really important role in whole country. Therefore, I am sure that every Estonian can teach you at least one technological magic.

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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 School of Engineering

Student counsellor at School of Engineering can help you
with questions about the study programme.

Helena Teemets
(+372) 620 3695
helena.teemets@taltech.ee 

Programme manager

Karin Pachel
(+372) 620 2504
karin.pachel@taltech.ee

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