Understand Education Levels and School Options in Estonia

Preschool

A local early-childhood setting where development and school preparation meet.

Lasteaed, milles on lastehoiurühm või -rühmad

Lasteaed lastehoiurühmad

A formal kindergarten that also provides childcare groups within the same institution.

Lastehoid

Young-child care outside the home, distinct in law from formal kindergarten.

Preschool and basic school that operate as a single institution

Lasteaed-põhikool

A combined institution connecting early-childhood education with põhikool basic education.

Lasteaed ja üldhariduskool, mis tegutsevad ühe asutusena

Combined kindergarten schools

Kindergarten provision and general education within one institution

General education school

General education

An Estonian school category spanning basic education, upper-secondary education, or both.

Basic school

A local education choice covering grades 1 to 9 across primary and lower-secondary schooling.

Basic school and upper secondary school that operate as a single institution

Põhikool and gümnaasium

A single institution bringing basic and academic upper-secondary education together.

Gümnaasium, mille juures on põhikooli klasse

Gümnaasium with Basic Classes

Primarily upper-secondary, with some basic-school classes within the same school.

Upper secondary school

Gümnaasium

A local education choice after põhikool, generally covering grades 10 to 12.

Vocational educational institution

Kutseõppeasutus

Occupation-focused study brings practical training together with classroom learning.

Professional higher education institution

Rakenduskõrgkool

A professionally oriented setting where practical study meets specialist fields and related research

University

A locally grounded view of academic higher education and recognized degrees in Estonia.

Continuing education institution

Continuing education institutions

Non-degree learning for professional development, retraining and personal growth

Hobby school

Huvikool connects organised extracurricular education with personal interests and practical school-f

Muu huvikool

A distinct form of structured interest learning beyond music, art, sport and technical centres.

Spordikool

A structured interest-school setting for training in one or more sports.

Muusika- ja kunstikool

Progressive curriculum-based study alongside regular general education

Youth camp

Organized recreational and developmental programmes with a separate place in Estonia’s education##

Tehnika-, loodus-, loome- ja huvimaja või -keskus

Huvikeskus

Practical learning shaped by technology, nature, science, creativity and hobbies

Filiaal

A distinct-location unit that remains connected to its parent institution.