Kõrgharidusprogramm

Kõrgharidusprogramm refers to a formally organized curriculum offered by a higher education institution that leads to an academic degree, such as bachelor's, master's, or doctoral levels. The term is used in the Estonian higher education system to describe the specific set of courses, learning activities, and assessments that constitute a degree program in a given field.

A program is designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and competences required for professional qualification or for pursuing further research. It typically includes a mix of mandatory and elective courses, seminars, practical training, and a final project or thesis. The curriculum is structured to achieve stated learning outcomes and to align with national and international higher education standards.

Credits and duration are standardized in many European programs using the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). In general, bachelor’s programs amount to about 180–240 ECTS (roughly 3–4 years), master’s programs to about 60–120 ECTS (1–2 years), and doctoral studies emphasize research training and may take several years to complete.

Quality assurance and accreditation are integral to Kõrgharidusprogramm. Programs are evaluated and accredited by national authorities to ensure they meet minimum standards for content, staffing, facilities, and graduate outcomes. In Estonia, the Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education (EKKA) oversees such evaluations and aligns programs with European higher education norms.

International aspects include degree recognition within the European Higher Education Area, the use of ECTS for credit transfer, and opportunities for student mobility and double degrees. Kõrgharidusprogramm thus represents the core framework through which higher education institutions deliver specialized instruction, assess learning, and confer academic qualifications.