Intersectoral Programme for IT Master’s Students for partners

Organisations can join the programme by submitting a description of the position for which they expect students to apply. When preparing the position description, we recommend using the dedicated guideline.

If you wish to participate in the 2026/2027 academic year, please submit your position description by 6 February 2026 to the programme manager, Mari-Anne Suurpere ([email protected]), in Word or Google Docs format.

The programme is open to second-year (final-year) master’s students from four curricula: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science (Estonian-language curriculum), and the Conversion Master in IT (Estonian-language curriculum).

Students from these curricula are equipped with the knowledge and skills to tackle a wide range of IT-related challenges, including:

• software engineering (from requirements’ analysis to QA);
• algorithms and programming;
• distributed systems and IoT;
• machine learning and artificial intelligence;
• data science and databases;
• business analysis and IT management.

By the time collaboration begins, students have completed all core courses and most of their specialisation courses. If a partner feels that an applying student requires additional knowledge in a specific domain, the student can take corresponding elective courses during the programme.

The participation fee is €1700 (+ VAT) per month, a significant amount of which is paid to the student as a scholarship.

When preparing the position description, think about what kind of student profile best fits your needs. You can use the position guideline for support, and the programme manager is also there to help you.

The key aspects to define are:

• the potential topic of the master’s thesis;
• who will serve as the student’s supervisor within your organisation;
• what assignments the student will be working on;
• the language of collaboration (Estonian and/or English).

Once an agreement is reached with a student, a three-way contract will be signed between the student, the partner, and the university. A confidentiality agreement can also be signed if needed. To protect trade secrets, the master’s thesis can be declared restricted, in which case a closed defence will be held and the thesis will not be published for five years. At the author’s request, this restriction can be extended in five-year periods.

What are the expectations for the supervisor appointed by the partner?

The supervisor appointed by the partner:

• is responsible for helping the student settle in;
• assigns tasks to the student and provides feedback on results;
• co-supervises the master’s thesis together with the university supervisor, focusing on the company’s perspective;
• provides feedback to the programme manager..

What is the role of the academic supervisor?

The academic supervisor advises the student on questions that may arise during the programme and co-supervises the master’s thesis together with the partner’s supervisor. This includes helping to define the research topic, supporting the student in understanding the company’s needs, and ensuring that the thesis meets the university’s academic requirements.

What happens if no suitable candidate is found?

If no suitable candidate is found among the applicants, there is no obligation to sign a contract or participate in the programme. The position can be reopened in the following academic year.

What happens after the programme ends?

At the end of the programme, the student has defended their master’s thesis and graduated from the university. If desired, the organisation may continue working with the student, but there is no obligation to do so.