News

In the coming years, the University of Tartu will focus on developing practical solutions for promoting equal treatment to maintain and strengthen a safe learning and working environment for the entire university community. Planned activities include preventing sexual harassment and developing a system to handle such cases. An important basis for this work is the new gender equality plan for 2026–2030.

The University of Tartu is launching university-wide awareness activities to improve understanding of the principles of equal treatment and the support options available in cases of workplace bullying, unequal treatment and harassment. This forms part of the university’s ongoing work to create a safe and respectful learning and working environment.

At the ceremony marking the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the Professor Peeter Tulviste memorial fund prizes, the Ernst Jaakson memorial fund scholarship, and the Lennart Meri awards for research and for master’s thesis were presented.

Recently published books offer a fresh perspective on Orthodox Christianity, focusing not only on institutional church history but also on lived religion, solidarity, and participation.

University of Tartu students can submit applications to study abroad under the Erasmus+ programme in the 2026/2027 academic year until 9 March 2026.

Maaja Vadi, Professor of Management at the University of Tartu, has established the Maaja Vadi Family History Scholarship at the University of Tartu Foundation to support university staff and students in researching and recording their family history, genealogy or the activities of their predecessors, and sharing the results.

From 9 to 15 February, the Women in Science theme week was held at the University of Tartu to highlight the role of women and girls in science, break gender stereotypes and encourage women to pursue careers in science.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) results were published recently, in which the field of humanities and arts is once again the highest among university fields and the entire Baltic countries.

The Estonian Society for the Study of Religions, in cooperation with the University of Tartu, will host the IAHR Summer School "Study of Religion Without an Object? Global Perspectives" on 19–21 August 2026 in Tartu, Estonia. The workshop is an official event of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) and is partially funded by the IAHR.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers numerous optional courses for the spring semester, available to both our students and all other students at the University of Tartu.

All full-time students of the University of Tartu, the University of Latvia and Vilnius University may apply for the 2,000-euro scholarship if their proficiency in one of the Baltic countries’ languages is at least at C1 level and in the other two languages at least at A2 level. Visiting international students who study at one of the three universities in both semesters of this academic year may also apply.

We invite authors to submit paper abstracts for the conference “Crisis & Recovery: Ethics in Interdisciplinary Dialogue,” which will take place on 20–23 August 2026 at the University of Tartu.

On 27 November, the University of Tartu announced its teaching excellence ambassadors, who set an example for the entire university community. The title is given to recognise 20 academic staff members who develop their teaching based on evidence and support an open teaching culture that values learning.

University of Tartu Asia Centre Annual Conference: Asia Update. Transformations and Futures of the Middle East will be held in Tartu on 23-24 April, 2026.

On 31 October, the senate of the University of Tartu decided to award the University of Tartu Grand Medal to former rector, Professor emeritus Jaak Aaviksoo, Professor Marlon Gerardo Dumas Menjivar, Professor Kalle Kirsimäe, and Professor Ivo Leito. The recipients of the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation, Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu” have also been selected.

The 10th conference will take place on the 27th–28th of November at the University of Tartu Library.

6. oktoobril toimus Tartu Ülikooli senati saalis rahvusvaheline konverents „Õigeusk imperiaalses ja post-imperiaalses kontekstis”.

Interest in the European Research Council (ERC) programme has grown among University of Tartu researchers. In response, the Grant Writing Unit is organising an ERC Information Event on 4 November 2025, focused on individual ERC Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants.

The University of Tartu has a Student Union (UTSU) of nearly 140 members, which has been steadfastly standing for students’ rights and solving their concerns for years. Full of initiative, student representatives have brought numerous ideas to life within the university and drawn attention to various institutional shortcomings.

On 27 October from 13–18, the University of Tartu development conference “A university for us, Estonia and the world” took place at the assembly hall of the university's main building and online to initiate a discussion on topics important for society and the university. The discussion were be based on the new University of Tartu strategic plan approved in June.