Estonia: a new four-year applied upper secondary VET programme

The new programme type is designed to make applied upper secondary VET a strong and appealing alternative to general education. Based on labour market forecasts, four-year applied programmes are being piloted in areas like construction, food technology, ICT, and sustainable business management. They place more focus on building general competences, so that graduates can enter the job market, pass state exams, and continue to higher education if they choose.

The reform gives students more flexibility and choice. Instead of committing to a specific occupation right away, they enter a field-based programme and choose their specialisation later. In the first semester, all students take an introductory module that builds skills for lifelong learning and civic participation, and the overall programme balances vocational training with general education.

The new applied upper secondary VET curricula are structured as follows:

• 125 ECTS of core subjects, with at least 25 ECTS devoted to practical training;
• 80 ECTS of general education subjects;
• 35 ECTS of elective subjects.

In total, students complete 240 ECTS over four years.

By 2035, the goal is for at least 40% of basic school graduates to choose the new VET programme.

VET remains free of charge for learners entering directly after completing basic education. Tuition fees may apply to adults who have already obtained an equivalent or higher qualification free of charge, or who have repeatedly interrupted their studies. As an exception, until 2030, learners up to the age of 26 will not be charged tuition if they enrol in the same level of VET for a second time or if they have previously completed a tuition-free higher education programme.