Possibilities to acquire higher education have also been created in the
private sector: in private universities, private institutions of
professional higher education and, as an exception, in one private
vocational school kutseõppeasutus .
Private
educational institutions must possess an education license in order to
have the right to provide instruction. An education license issued for
a specified term is issued and cancelled by a decree of the Minister of
Education and Research. The manager of the private school approves the
curriculum of the private school and the Ministry of Education and
Research registers it upon the issue of the education license. The
private school board shall make amendments to the curriculum and the
amendments shall be approved by the manager of the private school but
they must also be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Research
for registration.
The basis, conditions and procedures
established for the accreditation of public universities and state
institutions of professional higher education and their curricula are
applied to the accreditation of the curricula of private educational
institutions offering higher education. In case a positive
accreditation decision has been made regarding a curriculum, the
accreditation decision shall replace the education licence to the
extent of the accredited curriculum.
A private educational
institution may apply for state-commissioned education to these student
places that are formed according to accredited curricula. The state
budget will cover the costs of student places to the extent of the
state-commissioned education according to the principles and procedures
established by laws with regard to state institutions of professional
higher education and public universities. Graduates will be awarded
state certificates to certify education if they studied according to a
curriculum that had received a positive accreditation decision.
Regarding
study places formed by the educational institution, the size of tuition
fees is determined by the manager of the private school and it will not
be changed during an academic year. Between two academic years, the
tuition fees may be raised by up to 10% unless the contract between the
private school and the student provides otherwise.