Study

We have curriculums in Food and Catering (cooks, bakers, confectionaries, catering services etc.), Hotel Service, Beauty Service and Commercial Studies. Our focus is on providing education in levels 4 and 5 (European Qualification levels). There are approximately 700 students in our school. The study period varies from 1-3 years, depending on the speciality.

Educational department Curricula
1. Catering cook, butcher chef, pastry chef, vegan chef, cook assistant, senior waiter, waiter, waiter assistant
2. Accommodation service hotel service, hotel receptionist, hotel management
3. Beauty service spa therapyst, nail technician
4. Food production baker and pastry-cook, confectioner, baker assistant
5. Commercial  sales organizer, consultant of telemarketing, goods displayer
Comprehensive and General studies
Adult training different training courses for work-based learning that take place in the evenings
Administrative services

More information

1. Based on basic education (63%)

1.1 Based on basic education with vocational secondary school study 
  • hotel service (EstQF 4) – 3 years
  • cook (EstQF 4) – 3 years
  • baker and pastry-cook (EstQF 4) – 3 years
  • waiter (EstQF 4) – 3 years
1.2 Based on basic education, with vocational secondary school study 
  • nail technician (EstQF 4) – 1 year
  • consultant of telemarketing (EstQF 4) – 6 months

2. Based on secondary school vocational education (34%)

2.1 Based on secondary school vocational education or secondary education
  • butcher chef (EstQF 5) – 6 months
  • confectioner (EstQF 4) – 1 year
  • cook (EstQF 4) – 1-2 years
  • hotel management (EstQF 5) – 1 year
  • hotel receptionist (EstQF 4) – 1 year
  • pastry chef (EstQF 5) – 6 months
  • vegan chef (EstQF 5) – 6 months
  • spa therapyst (EstQF 4) – 1,5 years
2.2 After secondary school vocational education based on secondary education work-based study
  • sales organizer (EstQF 5) – 2 years
  • senior waiter (EstQF 5) – 1 year

3. Without basic education requirement vocational education (3%)

  • baker assistant (EstQF 3) – 1 year
  • goods displayer (EstQF 3) – 1 year

Additional education

  • Courses from 1 day until 3 months (paid or in cooperation with Unemployment Insurance Fund or ESF)
Studies in our school
  • are free (state school)
  • are from 6 months to 3 years
  • are ordinary – 5 days a week – 90% of students
  • 9% of students studies work based (1/3 of lessons only in school)
  • possibility of distance learning
  • curriculas in Estonian 55%, in Russian 45%
  • are integrated with real jobs
Distribution of lesson hours
  • 1 year = 1600 lessons = 40 study weeks
  • 26 hours student work = 1 credit point (EKAP)
  • 8 to 18 weeks practice (on-the-job learning) (from 40 weeks yearly)
  • from 26 lessons could be for example 2–26 lessons, 2–24 is individual work, could include some e-learning lessons or on-the-job learning
  • from all 120 weeks 30 weeks are comprehensive studies and 30 weeks comprehensive studies integrated with vocational training
Curriculum structure
  • Comprehensive study modules
  • Selected subjects
  • Modules consist of different study tasks that are assessed when the module is finished on basis on study output.
Volume of practice in the curriculum (for example, cook)
  • On basis of secondary school
  • In the 1st course: Assistant cook 8 EKAP, 208 hours + big company kitchen 13 EKAP, 338 hours
  • In the 2nd course practice in restaurant 13 EKAP + extra specializing 11 EKAP + basics of service + 4 EKAP and restaurant service 2 EKAP
  • Baker-confectioner practice time by employers 18 weeks per schoolyear
Changing the study system There are 4 terms in a school year: 9 study weeks and 1 assessment week – In the groups there are 20 students + assistant teacher Precise obeying the study rules – Grants – Teacher training Changes in the study system
  • Every class have a calender with all the study weeks, assessment weeks and student events
  • Tests are arranged before assessment weeks
  • During the assessment week all teachers are at school
  • Dates for deleting study debts are included into the timetable
  • Modules are assessed by integrated tasks performed during the assessment week
  • Practice is defended according to the timetable
  • Applications have improved – it is hard to plan

Tallin School of Service takes international students on the basis of secondary education to curriculas 100% Estonian or 100% Russian language.

To ensure that all submitted education documents are authentic and grant access to vocational education in Estonia, they are assessed by an Academic Recognition Information Centre https://archimedes.ee/enic/en Also you need to have Estonian language Level B2 certificate. Please do not send documents by post, unless it has been personally requested from you.

All students who are not Estonian citizens need to apply for a visa, temporary residence permit or register their place of residence in Estonia. As NON-EU citizen You need D-visa. All students from outside of the European Union should apply for long-stay D-visa in order to enter Estonia for studies. D-visa gives you the right to enter Estonia and stay here long enough to receive a residence permit. D-visa may be issued with a period of stay up to 365 days. You should apply for D-visa at the closest Estonian Embassy in your country or abroad https://vm.ee/en/estonian-representations-which-are-handling-visa-applications You can prefill the D-visa application form online here https://eelviisataotlus.vm.ee/ For more information and a list of documents, see the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website https://vm.ee/en/long-stay-d-visa Tallinn School of Service is not sending out invitations for visas.

Students are required to present a valid copy of the health insurance. This should be done within 2 months from the arrival or renewal of an insurance contract. The Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa) is provided only for those vocational education students who are permanent residents of Estonia. This means that international students must have a private health insurance policy or European health insurance card (EHIC). You are obliged to have an insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to your medical treatment as a result of illness or injury during your stay in Estonia will be met.

Applicant should have Estonian language certificate in level B2. More information  https://www.innove.ee/en/examinations-and-tests/estonian-language-proficiency-examinations/ Professional exam will be provided in Estonian and some parts of Russian curriculum too – therefore Estonian in level B2 is needed.

Our partners in employers organisations
  • Estonian Association of Hotels and Restaurants
  • Estonian Traders Association
  • Estonian Association of Bakers
  • Estonian Chefs Association
  • Estonian Association of Small and Medium Businesses
Cooperation with employers
  • working out the curricula
  • taking part in students’ admission
  • an annual round table to improve the organization of studies
  • practice guidance
  • taking part in examination boards while profession is being granted
  • taking part in competition juries
  • lectures on specific subjects, practice in specific fields
  • sponsors
Cooperation work between schools
  • Teko is member of European Association of Hotel and Tourism Schools
  • Competitions (almost all professions), Foodfest, EuroSkills (Noor Meister – Young Master), WorldSkills
  • Teachers’ organisations and their activities
  • Cooperation work for creating new curricula between vocational schools
Estonian Association for advancement of Vocational Education
  • Twice a year seminars with Ministry, all vocational schools, Innove, employers’ representatives;
  • Taking part in compiling and discussing draft bills;
  • Our representatives are in different organisations for supporting the development of vocational education.