Technological advancements, sustainability, and industrial digitalization are creating increasingly complex challenges. Basic knowledge is not enough to solve these challenges. You need a deeper understanding of systems, the ability to connect different fields, and the capacity to make decisions in uncertain situations.
Master’s degree provides the necessary direction and concrete solutions to address these challenges. Here are the main reasons why now is the right time to plan earning a master’s degree in the School of Engineering.
- Employer preference
From an employer's perspective, an employee with a master’s degree is a valuable investment who can help solve systemic problems and create innovative solutions. Employers value the analytical skills, ability to delve deeply into issues, and academic approach to complex tasks that people with master’s degrees possess. Earning a degree signals to employers your perseverance, ambition, and work ethics.
- Broader horizon and a professional network
A master’s program not only provides technical skills but also shapes the individual as a whole, broadening their views and offering new ways to approach topics. During your studies, you will develop a valuable network with both local and international leaders in the field, which is an excellent foundation for example starting your own business. A master’s program also serves as a bridge between academia and practice. Solving practical industry-based challenges creates connections with leading experts in the field and provides diverse experiences.
- Financial Security
One of the strongest arguments in favor of pursuing a master’s degree is the clear link between educational attainment and income. In the engineering field, the salary of master’s degree graduates is on average 1.65 times the Estonian average, depending on the specialty it reaches even more than double the Estonian average salary. Master’s students in the natural sciences and engineering are among the highest-paid experts in the job market!
- Leadership positions and greater responsibility
A master’s degree provides a significant advantage, particularly in leadership and top-level specialist positions. A higher level of education is often a precondition for positions of responsibility, which in turn is directly linked to higher salary. Additionally, employers prefer highly educated specialists to lead complex projects. There are some fields where a master’s degree is a prerequisite for leadership positions, and without it, certain career paths remain closed.
- Greater life satisfaction
Interestingly, people with higher education are, on average, more satisfied with their lives. This satisfaction likely stems from work that is motivating and matches their abilities, as well as the fair compensation received for it. A master’s degree offers fulfillment and self-realization even when a specific position does not directly require it, opening significantly broader opportunities for the future.
Flexible Study While Working
TalTech’s master’s programs are designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Lectures for many programs are held in the evenings, as intensive sessions, or on selected weekdays starting in the afternoon, allowing you to continue your education without sacrificing your career.
The School of Engineering offers a wide range of master’s programs, and your opportunities to advance your career are even broader. Whether you’re interested in maritime studies, industrial solutions, or materials you’ll find a program that fits your field and needs.
Engineering master's programmes taught in English
Technology of Wood, Plastics and Textiles
This program focuses on the development of materials and manufacturing technologies. Students learn to design products, select appropriate materials, and implement modern manufacturing and digitalization solutions. The program places a strong emphasis on practical work, laboratories, and collaboration with industry, providing solid preparation for real-world engineering work. This curriculum offers specialization in two fields: wood technology or plastics and textile technology.
This specialization is important because these industries make up a large part of Estonia’s manufacturing sector and are increasingly in need of highly qualified specialists. The curriculum is suitable for students interested in product development, material properties, and industrial innovation.
Marine Engineering
This program offered at Kuressaare College focuses on the design, construction, and development of ships and other marine structures throughout their entire lifecycle. Students gain in-depth knowledge of the design, materials, and technologies of floating structures and learn to account for hydrodynamics, stability, and the unique characteristics of the marine environment.
The program distinguishes itself with a strong focus on the sustainable blue economy, where energy efficiency and environmental protection play a key role. The curriculum is suitable for students with a background in mechanics, engineering, or maritime studies who are interested in technology and the sea, especially those who wish to work in the development of ships, marine infrastructure, or innovative marine technologies.
Industrial Engineering and Management
This master’s program focuses on the management, optimization, and development of production systems. The program teaches students to integrate technical and managerial knowledge with experience in international communication and valuable professional contacts for the future. This program is suitable for those who see themselves as future technical managers or process developers.
All engineering master's programmes
NEW! Strategic Design and Technology
This curriculum combines technology, design, and business thinking. Graduates will be able to use design thinking as a strategic tool — from defining problems and analyzing user needs to developing and implementing solutions. There is a strong emphasis on project-based learning, where interdisciplinary teams tackle real-world business challenges and create prototypes and concepts that combine physical and digital solutions.
The curriculum is particularly suited for students or professionals with a background in engineering, IT, design, or economics who wish to transition from development and implementation to roles in strategic management and innovation leadership.
Environmental Technologies and Strategies
As a graduate of this program, you will be able to solve today’s environmental problems through technology, analysis, and management. In both industry and the public sector, a systematic approach—ranging from process analysis and modeling to decision-making — is becoming increasingly important.
There is a growing need for specialists who can integrate technology and decision-making processes. The curriculum is suitable for students with a background in natural or engineering sciences and who are interested in reducing environmental impacts, conducting systematic analysis, and developing sustainable solutions in both private and public sectors.
Building and Infrastructure Engineering
The program focuses on the holistic design of the built environment — from design and construction to building management and energy efficiency. Students can specialize in eight areas: energy efficiency of buildings, indoor climate and technical systems, property maintenance, road and bridge construction, water and environmental engineering, construction geodesy, structural engineering, and construction management.
This program with eight focus areas is particularly suited for students with a background in construction or a related technical field who wish to contribute to the development of the built environment and advance to responsible design or management roles.
Energy Technology and Thermal Engineering
The curriculum focuses on increasing energy efficiency and creating a more sustainable living environment. This specialization is suitable for those who wish to engage in the development and optimization of energy solutions and gain in-depth knowledge of energy production, conversion, and efficient use.
In research laboratories, students can engage in research on topics such as hydrogen storage, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, and energy storage more broadly. Graduates of the program earn a Level 7 professional qualification as a thermal energy engineer, which qualifies them to work as a responsible specialist in the field.
Electrical Power Engineering
The program focuses on electrical power systems, energy generation and distribution, and their reliability. It also covers the integration of renewable energy and smart grids. The curriculum offers two specializations: Electrical Power Engineering, which focuses on the design, analysis, and optimal control of electrical systems, and Energy Systems, where the main emphasis is on distributed generation, smart grids, and the integration of modern energy solutions.
The program is suitable for anyone with a background in electrical power engineering, electrical engineering, or a related engineering field who is interested in large-scale systems and future energy solutions.
Industrial Ecology
At Tartu College, students learn how to make production and consumption as resource-efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. The curriculum covers the principles of the circular economy, the analysis of material and energy flows, and business models that generate as little waste as possible and redirect resources for reuse.
The curriculum is suitable for students with a background in engineering, natural sciences, or environmental sciences who are interested in the circular economy, optimizing resource use, and creating systemic solutions in industry or the public sector.
Sustainable Chemical Technologies
At Virumaa College in Kohtla-Järve, students learn how to develop materials and manufacturing processes in ways that reduce environmental impact and support the circular economy. The curriculum covers topics such as the conversion of plastics and wood into chemicals, the production of e-fuels and biofuels, hydrogen storage, and biogas technologies, integrating chemistry, engineering, and industrial applications into a cohesive whole.
The curriculum is suitable for students with a background in chemistry, materials science, or engineering who are interested in green technology, product development, and creating practical solutions in industry or research and development.
Logistics
How can we make complex systems work - from supply chains and the flow of goods to the movement of people and the organization of urban space? The logistics program provides a comprehensive understanding of logistics systems, their analysis, and management, using data-driven methods, optimization, and digital solutions. Sustainability is also a key focus, which involves balancing economic, environmental, and social impacts.
The curriculum offers specialization in two main fields: logistics and supply chain management, which focuses on the management of goods movement, warehousing, transportation, and inter-company cooperation; and mobility management, which focuses on transportation systems, traffic flows, and smart urban solutions.
Electrical Engineering and Mechatronics
The curriculum combines knowledge of electrical engineering, electronics, automation, and mechanics to develop smart devices and systems ranging from robotics and automated manufacturing to intelligent electronic solutions. The program focuses on the design, control, and integration of systems, with digital technologies and software playing a key role. The curriculum offers two majors. Electrical Engineering focuses on the development of electrical equipment, power electronics, and energy technology solutions. Mechatronics focuses on robotics, autonomous systems, and smart devices that integrate hardware and software into a single system.
This program is suitable for students with a background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics, or a related engineering field who are interested in the practical development of technology.
Sustainable Industry
At Virumaa College in Kohtla-Järve, students learn how to make industry smarter, more flexible, and more environmentally sustainable by combining the principles of digitalization, automation, and the circular economy. The program provides knowledge in industrial process development, robotics, data communication, and quality and business process management to enhance companies’ competitiveness in a rapidly changing economic environment.
The curriculum is designed for individuals with a background in engineering or IT who are interested in manufacturing development, smart technologies, and a systematic approach to the future of industry.
Product Development and Production Engineering
The program combines design, materials, manufacturing technologies, and digitalization—from concept and design to automated manufacturing processes. There is a strong emphasis on practical development work, where real-world engineering problems are solved using modern design and manufacturing software.
The curriculum offers the option to specialize in either product development—focusing on the design of products and equipment, user-friendliness, and environmental sustainability—or in manufacturing technology and robotics, where students study manufacturing processes, automation, robots, and smart manufacturing systems.
Green Energy Technologies
This specialization focuses on the development of renewable energy solutions by integrating technologies, materials, and energy systems into a cohesive whole. Students learn the operating principles of solar, wind, and hydrogen technologies, their applications, and the modeling and analysis of energy systems.
The curriculum includes two distinct majors, which also differ in terms of location: Green Energy Technologies (in Tallinn) focuses on specific technologies and their development (e.g., solar and wind energy, materials, and equipment); Green Energy Systems and Microgrids (at Virumaa College) focuses on the integration of various energy solutions, energy storage, and the design of smart energy systems.