New international students 2025. Photo: Tiia Tulp
BECOME A BUDDY STUDENT / APPLY DUE 01.05
The International Office invites all EKA students to apply for a buddy student position to help our new international degree and exchange students to feel welcome at EKA and in Estonia! If you are familiar with the stress and confusion brought on by new and exciting life changes and you wish to help new fellow students in their situation, then you might be the one we are looking for!
The buddy student position allows you to support and guide new international students before and during their studies at EKA. You will also organize events and field trips to help them experience life in Estonia and connect with each other in a fun and active way. All guidelines for best practices will be provided during the info session held beforehand, and a coordinator will support you throughout the entire period.
YOU GET TO:
-Help international students to settle into the student life at EKA
-Test your organizational skills, arrange different events and take part in all of this yourself
-Develop your communication and cultural sensitivity skills
-Gain new experiences, establish new contacts and get friends from all over the world
-Help to find answers to questions related to local everyday life and at the same time develop your problem solving skills
-Practice your foreign language skills
-Include the buddy-student experience in your CV
-Get EKA’s merch
-Earn 3 ECTS per academic year
-Receive a scholarship up to 500€ per semester
WHAT WE LOOK FOR:
-Willingness to contribute throughout the 2026/2027 study year (starting in August)
-Participation in all meetings and events organized by the International Office, including Transform4Europe events
-Initiative to organize events for new international students
-A positive and friendly attitude
-Readiness to support students whenever needed
-A student who is not on academic leave during the 2026/2027 academic year
FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORM HERE DUE MAY 1.
Once the deadline has passed all applications will be sent to the EKA’s committee who will make their selection by mid May. The selection will be based on the short explanation written in a student’s application and (if necessary) on feedback received from the speciality department.
The statute of the buddy student scholarship of the Estonian Academy of Arts has been approved pursuant to § 17(3) of the statutes of the Estonian Academy of Arts and § 4 of the rules for applying for, awarding, and disbursing scholarships and study grants.
More information about the course here: https://tahvel.edu.ee/#/subject/36990
(before clicking the link, please log into your Tahvel account)
Future buddy students must be ready to participate in meetings held on the following dates:
– May 12. An virtual info hour to introduce legislation, specific credits regulations for exchange students and everything else important related to EKA.
– August 10. The Estonian language and culture course for new international degree and exchange students begins, followed by EKA’s facility guidelines training and an introduction by EKA’s psychologist.
– August 15 and August 22. Buddy students will organize joint activites for the students participating in Estonian language and culture course
– August 29. An onboarding event and field trip for all the new international, exchange and buddy students
– October 16. Representing EKA at the Internationalisation Conference at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
– November 18–21. Representing EKA at the annual conference of international organizations, Career Development Roundtable (CDR)
In case of questions please turn to: incoming@artun.ee or +372 519 277 16