There is no tuition fee for doctoral studies in Estonian Academy of Arts. As of 2026, the salary of a doctoral student – junior researcher is €2100/month (gross salary) and EKA PhD scholarship is €750/month (net).
For doctoral students enrolled from 2022/2023 or later, doctoral studies will follow three models:
The doctoral student starts working as a junior researcher and has the status of an employee and a student. The nominal duration of the doctoral program is four years and the normal workload is 1.0. The salary of a junior researcher is €2100/month euros (gross salary). The annex to the employment contract is an individual plan. As a result of the annual attestation of the doctoral student, the continuation of the employment contract is decided. The employment contract is terminated upon exmatriculation of the doctoral student. A junior researcher has the right to receive leave under an employment contract. The doctoral student-junior researcher does not have the opportunity for academic leave.
The doctoral student has been admitted to the study place and has the status of a student. EKA may offer a scholarship to a doctoral student (€750/month (net) in 2026).
The workload and action plan are approved on the basis of an individual plan. The nominal duration of the doctoral program is four years. The doctoral student may take breaks in his/her studies, but the nominal period may not exceed eight years. The doctoral student does not have the opportunity for academic leave.
A knowledge transfer doctoral student is an employee of an institution or company. A co-operation agreement has been concluded between EKA and the institution or company. A knowledge transfer doctoral student has the status of a doctoral student in EKA.
