Funding

Funding of adult education aims at the creation of high-quality and flexible learning opportunities for adults that take into account labour market needs. Adult education is divided into formal education and continuing education. 

Adult formal education provides adults with an opportunity to acquire:

• basic education and general upper secondary education in the form of non-stationary studies and as an external student;
• vocational education where several flexible types of vocational training and forms of study are applied;
• higher education.

Continuing education means the provision of purposeful and organised studies on the basis of a curriculum outside formal education. The costs of continuing education shall be covered by the person or authority interested therein. The Ministry of Education and Research may submit a request for the provision of state-commissioned continuing education to a manager of a continuing education institution or an association thereof. The formation of state-commissioned continuing education shall be based on the strategic development plans of the state and development plans for different areas, studies and forecasts of the need for labour and other information relating to the training needs. State-commissioned continuing education means the number of student places in continuing education financed from the state budget which are formed by continuing education curricula groups or courses.  

Starting from 2007, the state has financed adult training to a considerably larger extent, also involving European Social Fund instruments. Before that, the state primarily financed the training of the unemployed and of specific groups (e.g. teachers, administrators). Presently, the adult work-related training courses held in vocational educational institutions are financed from the European Social Fund. The Unemployment Insurance Fund continues to organise training courses that are aimed at helping unemployed people to start work. In 2009, the Unemployment Insurance Fund updated the financing schemes for training of the unemployed and started using new training vouchers along with the previous financing schemes. From Enterprise Estonia, it is possible to apply for support for training enterprise personnel. In addition to the above, many more specific courses take place, e.g. in the fields of environment, agriculture, etc. 

Fees Paid by Learners

Acquisition of both basic and general upper secondary education in the form of non-stationary studies and as an external student is free of charge. Similarly, no tuition is normally charged from a student for the studies in vocational education. In the framework of state-commissioned education, formal education free of charge is offered also for acquisition of vocational education in the form of non-stationary studies. Acquisition of higher education in the form of part-time studies is for a charge; in order to pursue studies for free, the student must apply for full-time study.

Continuing education training courses are usually for a charge. The costs of continuing education are covered by the learner or authority interested therein, e.g. his/her employer.  In the recent years, thanks to launching of European Social Fund’s aid in Estonia, many work-related training courses are notably less expensive or free of charge for learners or their employers. 

Financial Support for Adult Learners

Study allowances and study loans are granted to students who study part- or full-time.

Tax benefits

The state supports the financing of education by an employer and a learner also through tax benefits: formal education or work-related training financed by an employer is not regarded as a fringe benefit. Training expenses incurred by a private person, except for hobby education expenses and expenses of driver training for several driving licence categories, may be deducted from their taxable income only if the educational institution which provided the education holds an education licence or a notice of economic activities has been submitted about the educational institution.

Study leave

Adult learners have the right to receive study leave during the time of studying if they pursue studies at a continuing education institution which has been granted an education licence or about which a notice of economic activities has been submitted. In formal education or continuing education, learners are granted study leave for up to 30 calendar days per year; the average salary is received for 20 days. For graduation from formal education, there is a possibility to receive 15 additional days of study leave during which minimum salary is paid.