Estonia education ministry seeks earlier conscription dates
Wednesday 21st October 2026 on 06:15 in
Estonia
Estonia’s Ministry of Education and Research wants the 2028 conscription intakes to begin earlier than currently planned, saying the proposed dates could disrupt university studies. ERR reported that the ministry recommends starting winter service in the fourth week of January and summer service in the first week of August.
A draft regulation sets the winter intake for February, in the seventh week, and the summer intake for August, in the 33rd week. Education Minister Kristina Kallas said the schedules could make it difficult for students returning from 12 months of military or alternative service to resume their studies with their classmates.
By early February, spring-semester classes have generally begun at universities, often in the final days of January. An August intake, meanwhile, coincides with admissions, the finalisation of student lists and preparations for the start of the academic year.
Kallas said the proposed dates could force students to delay starting or continuing their studies. An earlier winter intake would allow students to complete the autumn semester before service and return at the start of the spring semester. Moving the summer intake to early August would reduce disruption to university admissions and the start of the academic year, she said.
The Ministry of Defence has already moved the 2028 intake dates one week earlier than in its original plan. Spokesperson Ines Edur said the schedule was a compromise that took into account universities’ proposals, the Defence Forces’ training and readiness needs, vocational education and labour-market needs.
Edur said the ministry would assess the implementation of the new 12-month training cycle and its effects on young people’s education when setting the 2029 intake dates. She added that aligning service with study requires flexibility from educational institutions as well as changes to intake dates, including opportunities for students to plan their studies before service and continue without delay after it.