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Social Entrepreneurship MA program
at Tallinn University (Estonia)

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The Social Entrepreneurship programme is a progressive educational initiative of Tallinn University with the aim to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the social and health sector, environmental protection, urban development, rural development and community development.

Tallinn University opens a Social Entrepreneurship MA program for those:

 

  • Who are acting social entrepreneurs developing their businesses.

  • Who would like to develop a social enterprise in their home country and need training and support on their journey while also wanting to obtain an official Masters's degree.

  • Who would like to be an expert in social innovation by participating in international projects using the Project-Based-Learning method.

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This is not your regular academic program.

Our social entrepreneurship MA programme pays special attention to ICT-supported e-services, digital technology, governance and business solutions relying on the innovative context of Estonia and bringing this creative atmosphere closer to welfare programmes.

The programme is intended to be a creative hub, where students not only participate in an academic education but Tallinn University serves as a pre-incubator of new, creative initiatives that might be realized with the help of Estonian e-residency and a very supportive e-government system.

Associate Professor Zsolt Bugarszki offers you a consultation opportunity to discuss your project plan and answer all your questions regarding the online Social Entrepreneurship MA program.  

Zsolt Bugarszki, PhD. expert in social entrepreneurship. he has experience in leadership of development projects in the field of social innovation, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. He works as an Associate Professor at Tallinn University's Social Entrepreneurship MA program supporting social entrepreneurs and impact-oriented businesses. Currently located in Singapore.

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Zsolt Bugarszki, PhD

Contact 

Based on previous consultations we created a list of Frequently Asked Questions (continuously updated):

FAQ

What is Project-Based learning?

 

Project-based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach involving students working collaboratively to solve real-world problems or complete projects relevant to their interests and experiences. 

 

PBL emphasizes student-centred learning, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the development of communication, collaboration, and creativity.

 

We use this learning method at Tallinn University's Social Entrepreneurship MA program. Students apply for this program with a project plan, and once they get accepted and enrolled, they immediately start implementing this plan. 

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Here you can read more about this method: https://www.seincubation.com/post/project-based-learning

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How long is the program?


This is a two years long MA program that consists of 4 semesters. Autumn semesters start in September and end in January, while the Spring semester begins in February and ends in June. 

What does a diploma work look like in this program?


Students submit a 60-page (1800 characters per page) thesis at the end of the program. This so-called project thesis summarises their development journey proving their competence in social entrepreneurship.  

What kind of diploma will we obtain?


The Estonian Ministry of Education accredited Tallinn University's Social Entrepreneurship MA program as a higher education curriculum offering a Master's degree. This is a complete MA program with 120 ECTs. Students are eligible to continue their studies at PhD level or take positions in the labour market that require an MA level diploma. 

Can we participate in Erasmus exchange programs?


Yes. As students of Tallinn University, you can participate in the same EU programs as any other students. You can apply for funds covering your travel and accommodation expenses and spend 1 or 2 semesters at a partner University. 

What is the cost of the program?

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We offer three different ways to benefit from our program:

 

  1. Full (120 ECTS) MA program: €2116 per semester

  2. Micro degree program (30 ECTS): €1320 (Participants can join our main courses and they receive a micro degree from Tallinn University)

  3. Social Entrepreneurship Incubation program: €50 per month

(You get access to all of our e-learning materials, and you can participate in our online incubation program, but you do not get any degree) 

 

How does the program work from a student's perspective?

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  • You apply with a project plan (+ required papers about your BA diploma and English proficiency)

  • In September, after your enrollment, you get access to the digital infrastructure of Tallinn University. 

  • You start visiting our classes between 16:30 and 19:45 on weekdays (Estonian time - GMT+2). Lectures are mainly pre-recorded in the format of e-learning materials. The classes are more about discussion and collaborative project work. 

  • You start working on your project implementation from day 1. 

  • Project progress reports are uploaded to our e-learning platform(s) in the format of videos, photos and written reports. Course assignments are always connected to your project. You submit your business plan if the course is about business development methods. If the subject concerns research methodology, you conduct the market research of your project. In this way, every class directly supports your project development, and most of the learning process occurs during this real-life development. 

  • An internship is allowed to do online or physically in your home country. Also, you can participate in Erasmus exchange programmes. 

  • 90% of the classes occur in the first academic year. The second year is mainly about your project work and thesis writing. 

  • The program ends with a project thesis defence. You submit a 60-page Project Thesis summarizing the development work you have completed over the two years of the program. 

  • As a result of a successful defence, you obtain an MA diploma from Tallinn University and can spin-off off a validated social enterprise concept. 

What technology are you using in this MA program?

 

  • Being in Tallinn, we can leverage the advanced digital society of Estonia. The country and our University have over ten years of experience with online administration, governance and education. We have a zero printing policy using the Estonian digital infrastructure, and the entire administration and documentation are online. 

  • The admission process is entirely online. Application occurs via Dreamapply.com, and we conduct video interviews with every applicant who submitted the required documentation and paid the registration fee. 

  • Identification of applicants and enrolled students is occurring with the help of an award-winning Estonian startup Veriff. Their AI-based identification system will support us in verifying the identity of our online students not only during the admission process but throughout the entire program. 

  • We are using different e-learning platforms and materials. By default, Tallinn University relies on Moodle; we use the advanced version of Zoom for video calls. We use another online platform (www.seincubation.com) for project development and incubation. Our lecturers, mentors, and supervisors use various online tools (kahoot, aha slides, google drive, Miro, slack, whatsapp, zoom etc.). As technology emerges quickly in this field, we introduce the latest solutions as soon as possible. In the future, we will rely more on AI-based solutions, VR and augmented reality-based technology and the opportunities of the metaverse.  

  • Another significant technological opportunity is the digital infrastructure of the Estonian e-residency system. Although our students do not travel to Estonia for their studies, they will be encouraged to use the Estonian e-residency system that allows them to run (scale) their business in the EU market. 

What are the criteria for application?

 

  • Obtained BA diploma at a Higher Education institution. 

  • English proficiency. (Here, you can read about the accepted tests)

  • Submitted CV

  • Submitted project plan

  • Transferred admission fee

  • Submitted documents for identification.

  • Application is occurring through the Dreamapply platform. 

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Detailed information about the application procedure: https://sema.ee/application-procedure/

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