News

The University of Tartu museums, with their rich collections, offer discovery and excitement for visitors of all ages. During the spring holidays, you are welcome to visit the university’s museum, art museum, botanical garden, natural history museum and the library. Read and find out which exciting exhibitions and events are taking place in Tartu during the holiday week.

The call for applications for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships is open until 9 September 2026. In April and May, the Estonian Research Council (ETAG) will host info sessions to help prospective applicants prepare their applications.

From 24 April, Eveliis Padar will start work at the university as an equality officer to support university members in cases of unequal treatment and to help handle them in a fair and professional manner.

The former head, Kristiina Tõnnisson, has taken up the position of chair of the management board of the Estonian Research Council, and the institute is now led by former deputy head Maili Vilson.

The university is launching a physical activity and wellbeing programme to support the mental and physical wellbeing of the university community and shape a learning and working environment that fosters physical activity.

The graduation ceremony of the Johan Skytte Institute for Political Studies will take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 11:00 in the assembly hall of the university's main building (Ülikooli 18, Tartu)

On 23 April at 14:30 Bogdan Romanov will defend his doctoral dissertation “Explaining trust in Internet voting: institutional, technological, and contextual determinants” for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Political Science).

Speaker application is open until April 1 for TEDxUniversity of Tartu.

The aim of recovery colleges is to support personal recovery among people experiencing mental health challenges, drawing on principles of co-production and adult learning.

Michał Novak studied quantitative economics at the University of Tartu through IMESS. Now in banking, he fondly recalls peaceful Botanical Garden walks and cooking pierogis for friends.

On 21 April at 18, all students and staff of higher education institutions in Tartu are invited to join a group cycle ride, “Rattaga saab!” (“Cycling works!”), starting from Town Hall Square.

The conference "Less Noise, More Dialogue! Agreements for Good Communication“, organised by the University of Tartu Centre for Ethics, the Institute of Social Studies and the think tank Praxis, brought together different stakeholders who influence public communication, including researchers, journalists, representatives of various organisations, members of civil society, schools and kindergartens.

On 30 March at 14:30, Sandra Hagelin will defend her doctoral dissertation “Speaking borders, speaking Europe: entangled borders in governmental discourse across the Baltic and Nordic spaces“ for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Political Science).

From the 2026/2027 academic year, many international master’s curricula at the University of Tartu will offer tuition waivers or reductions to students from the European Union. Students arriving from outside the European Union will have to pay tuition fees.

With wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Nagorno-Karabakh dominating contemporary international relations, the study of secessionist bids and the quest for statehood and recognition becomes paramount. It is essential that students of International Relations hold a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the concepts and practices of secessionism as well as the way in which these aspects impact international order. Questions regarding peace and violence in secessionist bids as well as the possible outcomes of secessionist wars continue to dominate both academic and policymaking debate, making this topic worthwhile for discussion and study.

On 17 March at 14:30, Logan Carmichael will defend her doctoral dissertation “Cybersecurity Governance Responses in the Estonian Digital Governance Model, 2007-2023“

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.

On 5 March at 17:00, the Ukrainian and Estonian string virtuosos Yevgeniy Kostrytskyy and Johanna Vahermägi give a free concert in the university assembly hall. All interested are welcome.