Prindi see leht

Students' opinions

Laura Sophie Wiebe

Veterinary Medicine Short

2023

Our subject is not simple,

We actually study quite hard,

But what stays in my mind,

Is not always just smart.

Some things are useless

But I still adore

The creativity of nature,

After four years of study even more than before.

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Zachary Smith

3rd year veterinary student in EMÜ

  1. How did you get the idea of coming to study veterinary medicine in Estonia?
I decided to study here in a quite methodological way. The first decision I made was that I wanted to explore veterinary schools abroad; moving a few hours up the road for my local school didn’t seem very exciting. So I found a list of veterinary schools that teach in English, and started going through the list to determine which one might be a good fit. I was looking for a city that looked nice to live in as a student. I looked at factors like climate and geography. Accredidation from a major organization like the EAVAE or equivalent was important. And, of course, cost was a factor as well. The Estonian University of Life Sciences ended up on top in the ranking system I made, so I visited, and loved the idea of coming.
  1. What was your first impression on Estonia and Tartu?
The first place in Estonia I got to see was Tallinn. My country doesn’t have old towns like Tallinn, and it was like stepping into a fairy-tale for me when I visited it the first time. Tartu seemed like a much quieter place the first time I visited. It was a Tuesday or Wednesday morning during the summer, so I didn't get to see how it looks on a Friday when all the students are here having fun. But it was quite an easy decision to come to Estonia, because I fell in love when I visited the first time.
  1. What was the first impression of Estonians, whether and how has that changed over time?
I was a bit scared to spend time with Estonians, because the stereotype is that Estonians are quite closed off and hard to make friends with. To my pleasant surprise, however, I have not had any problems at all. Anytime I’ve been in a group with Estonians they have always taken care to ensure I understand what is going on and feel included. Almost all of the teachers are kind and helpful. Right from the beginning I have found Estonians to be welcoming towards me (and for some reason Estonians always seem surprised when I say this, too).
  1. What is the most positive thing in coming to study in Estonia?
For me, the best thing is getting to experience living in a European country for 6 years. I probably never would have gotten to do it otherwise!
  1. What could be better organised in teaching in Estonian University of Life Sciences?
The number of ECTS credits a course is supposed to correlate to the amount of hours of coursework you are expected to do in the course, but I have noticed that there seems to be hardly any connection at all.
Some classes that are 2 credits, for example, require more work than classes that are 4 credits. Two different 5 credit classes may require completely different amounts of studying to get the same grade. I have learned to basically ignore how many ECTS a class is. Fixing this would help students in prioritizing study time.
  1. What was been the biggest wow-experience in studying or living in Estonia?
Seeing my first Christmas market in Tallinn. Wow. We don’t have those where I’m from.

Mari Ruuhonen

4th year veterinary student in EMÜ

  1. How did you get the idea of coming to study veterinary medicine to Estonia?
I always wanted to go abroad and started finding out my options amongst European Universities and found Estonia and Eesti Maaulikool. I didn´t really know anyone who had studied here but the idea of Estonia felt exotic enough without being too far from home. I was familiar with Estonia and Estonian people before and had always liked Estonia.
  1. What was your first impression on Estonia and Tartu?
First time I visited Tartu was 2011 when we were here for a dog show with my friend. Little did I know what was about to happen three years later J First impression after reunion with my friend was that Tartu felt very European with its beautiful architecture and lively Raekoja plats and green Toomemägi. And not the mention all the young people living in the city. Thanks to our active Finnish student union, Suolet and the tutor students, I felt welcome and ready even before arriving.
  1. What was the first impression of Estonians, whether and how has that changed over time?
My first impression of Estonians was that they are way more positive than Finnish people. If something doesn´t go exactly as planned, they will not sob for a week but instead they say ‘ikka juhtub’ (things do happen) and life goes on. They felt like a warm welcoming small nation that takes pride in their achievements. Estonians are content with a lot less than the Finnish people, for example. I don´t think my impression of Estonian has changed much over time but I found out my life is much easier if I speak Estonian.
  1. What is most positive in coming to study in Estonia?
I love the city! Student life here is very lively and small University and group sizes ensure that every student is taken into consideration. Studying is also very practical, starting from the first year and Esta Nahkur´s anatomy classes. The school is clearly willing to develop and student feedback is taken into consideration. Especially this fall we have had awesome guest lecturers from all over Europe. Special thanks to young innovative teachers, who are finding new ways to teach and activate the students!
  1. What could be better organised in teaching in Estonian University of Life Sciences?
Cheating in the exams is definitely something that should not be tolerated. What also comes to my mind is that some courses should be changed towards more clinical approach. During the years we have had to memorize some data, which relevance is questionable :D
  1. What was been the biggest wow-experience in studying or living in Estonia?
I vividly remember my first anatomy class with the fresh samples and myself thinking am I really up for this. I remember the first blood sampling from a cow and a horse and how much my hands were shaking. But I think that most of the wow´s happen when you are not in Tartu, when you realize that you have learned something and you understand why the things are done the way they are done. Every fall I experience a wow when arriving back to Tartu. When you open the car door and take the first breath of Tartu air and you feel you have come to your second home again.

Karoliina Rissanen

5th year veterinary student in EMÜ

  1. How did you get the idea of coming to study veterinary medicine to Estonia?

My mother found out quite early in spring that there is a new international course and the study language is in English. I had already applied to Helsinki and Budapest at the time.
  1. What was your first impression on Estonia and Tartu?
When I moved to Tartu I had only been in Tallinn once (a short one-night trip with my grandmother). My knowledge about the Estonian culture was scarce. The first impression was good. The weather was nice, the people who worked at shops and restaurants were polite. At the University we were welcomed by the international office. They took us to a field trip and we had even a night out together!
  1. What was the first impression of Estonians, whether and how has that changed over time?
After a few months of living here I noticed how introvert Estonians are. Even though I come from Finland, where people are not extroverts either, it was a little bit of a culture shock. Also the study culture is very different. Here I noticed the lecturers really expect more activity and politeness from the students. This did not come across as a bad thing, but more as a cultural difference.
  1. What is most positive in coming to study in Estonia?
I am very happy to live in Tartu. The town is a big small town. It is compact with everything you need at a close distance. Also I am good friends with all my course-mates. Our class is small, only 20 students. We all help each other out and have fun together during and after school. As to the international course, I am most delighted about the possibility to travel. I have completed practical trainings in Germany, Scotland and Finland. And have future plans to travel more during my last few years here.
  1. What could be better organised in teaching in Estonian University of Life Sciences?
Some of the lecturers seem to change the lecture schedule as they want and might not give the students heads up in advance. It is difficult to schedule exams or other important dates with some lecturers. This makes it difficult to plan anything in one’s private life ahead. As international students, it would be great to be able to buy, for example, plane tickets early on, to get them with a cheaper price and to plan ahead when to meet with family and friends.
  1. What was been the biggest wow-experience in studying or living in Estonia?
I was taken aback on how modern Estonia is. Everything you can imagine is online! After spending a summer in Germany I really came to appreciate this.

Viorel Revenco

5th year veterinary student in EMÜ

  1. How did you get the idea of coming to study veterinary medicine to Estonia?
When I came as an exchange student to Estonian University of Life Science, Tartu, in 2015 I saw that the veterinary doctors are professionals who are devoted to the profession they have chosen. I understood that the profession of a veterinarian means passion and dedication, because you cannot really become a good doctor if you do not dedicate yourself to the job you have chosen and do not put your soul in the work you do. I feel certain that each case in veterinary practice must be approached in a specific way, according to the patient and its needs. Therefore, I was motivated to continue my studies in the Faculty Veterinary Medicine of the Estonian University of Life Science, Tartu.
  1. What was your first impression on Estonia and Tartu?
My first impression of Tartu, Estonia in 2015 was the same like today — many green spaces and a lot flowers on the streets of the city. Small and picturesque streets filled with curious tourists to take their pictures, downtown with little restaurants, the wild ducks and ships on the river and people sitting on green grass enjoying the rays of sun.
  1. What was the first impression of Estonians, whether and how has that changed over time?
I think that the people from Estonia are friendly, always happy to help you when required. I like people who care about animals, and I saw that many people from Estonia love their pets, and they are always worried about welfare of animals.
  1. What is most positive in coming to study in Estonia?
One of the most wonderful things is that I have the opportunity to socialize and interact with people from different cultures and countries, with whom I share the same passions of veterinary field.
  1. What could be better organised in teaching in Estonian University of Life Sciences?
I consider the education process of the faculty is well organized and structured, with a good and new generation of equipment, performing laboratories, qualified specialists to do a good job. I am convinced that faculty has the potential to enter the top of the most prestigious Faculties of Veterinary Medicine in the world.
  1. What was been the biggest wow-experience in studying or living in Estonia?
Definitely the most fascinating experience in Estonia, Tartu at the faculty Veterinary Medicine at Estonian University of Life Science was to see the cloning lab and cloning of an animal.