cooperation studies international
More information
Tiina Kattel
MA (Comparative Literature)
Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Department of Languages of the Asian Region
Head of Department
Lossi 3–412
Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Department of Languages of the Baltic Region
Head of Department, Teacher of Estonian and Lithuanian
Lossi 3–412
+372 516 0104

The Three Rectors' Scholarship

The amount of the scholarship is 2000 euros. The scholarship competition is open for full-time students (including short-term visiting students who, in the current academic year, are studying at the respective university in both the autumn and spring semesters) of any curricula at the University of Tartu, the University of Latvia and Vilnius University, who know one of the Baltic countries' languages at least at C1 level and the other two languages at least at A2 level.

In the autumn of 2017, the Three Rectors' Scholarship was established by the rectors of the University of Tartu, the University of Latvia and Vilnius University. The joint scholarship competition promotes the learning and teaching of the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian languages and cultures. The universities organise the scholarship competition in turn. In the academic year 2025/26, the scholarship will be awarded by Vilnius University.

2025/2026 academic year

The competition assesses candidates in three rounds, paying particular attention to oral and written expression. The final round features three top students from each university selected by the scholarship committee.

1. Local written competition

Each participant must submit three written essays: one in Estonian, one in Latvian, and one in Lithuanian. A participant may choose two different topics or write both essays on the same topic. Essays must be submitted by 31 January 2026 by sending them to the University of Tartu Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures at [email protected], with the subject line “Kolme rektori stipendium”.

The results of the first stage will be announced on 10 February 2026. Participants selected for the next stage will receive further details and conditions for that stage.

Topics

LT: Lietuva, Latvija, Estija: kiek svarbi mūsų bendrystė geopolitiniuose iššūkiuose?
LV: Lietuva, Latvija, Igaunija: cik svarīga ir mūsu vienotība ģeopolitiskajos izaicinājumos?
EST: Kas ja kui oluline on, et Leedu, Läti ja Eesti reageeriksid geopoliitilistele väljakutsetele ühtselt?

LT: Pirmajai latviškai ir estiškai knygai 500 metų: kuo mūsų kultūroms svarbus šis pirmosios knygos atskaitos taškas?
LV: Pirmajai latviešu un igauņu grāmatai – 500 gadu: cik mūsu kultūrām ir svarīgs šis pirmās grāmatas atskaites punkts?
EST: 500 aastat esimese läti- ja eestikeelse raamatu ilmumisest – mis tähendus on sellel meie kultuurile?

LT: Mano universiteto vaidmuo stiprinant Baltijos šalių bendrystę
LV: Manas universitātes loma, stiprinot Baltijas valstu vienotību
EST: Minu ülikooli roll Balti riikide ühtsuse tugevdamisel

Requirements

  • Volume up to three A4 pages
  • Font Times New Roman, size 12, line spacing 1,5

Topics

LT: Lietuvių, latvių ir estų kalbų mokymasis – mano didysis gyvenimo nuotykis.
LV: Lietuviešu, latviešu un igauņu valodas apguve – mans lielais piedzīvojums.
EST: Leedu, läti ja eesti keele õppimine – minu elu suur seiklus.

LT: Paskutinė mano lietuviškai / latviškai / estiškai perskaityta knyga.
LV: Pēdējā grāmata, kuru es izlasīju lietuviski / latviski / igauniski.
EST: Viimane leedu /läti /eesti raamat, mida ma lugesin.

LT: Įdomiausia Lietuvos / Latvijos / Estijos asmenybė.
LV: Interesantākā Lietuvas / Latvijas / Igaunijas personība.
EST: Kõige huvitavam isiksus Leedus / Läti /Leedus.

Requirements

  • Volume up to one A4 page
  • Font Times New Roman, size 12, line spacing 1,5

2. Local oral round

The local oral round takes place at the student’s home university. During this round, participants must introduce themselves in all three languages, discuss the given topics with the committee members, and answer questions.

3. Final stage

This year, the final round will take place at Vilnius University. The final round will be held on 10 March 2026, and the award ceremony will take place on 11 March 2026.

Three top students from each university, selected by the committee, will participate in the final round. The travel and accommodation costs of students who reach the final round will be covered.

Winners of the competition

Here you can find information about the winners and topics from previous years.

2024/2025

Arnita Agrita Umalas pälvis kolme rektori stipendiumi
Author: Toms Grīnbergs

The winner of the eighth Three Rectors’ Scholarship competition was Arnita Agrita Umalas, who was born and raised in Latvia but studies Estonian language and linguistics at the University of Tartu. In her master’s thesis, she focuses on the Livonian language. Read more here.

2023/2024

Henri Pokk
Henri Pokk. Author: Andres Tennus

At the university’s ceremony marking the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, Henri Pokk, a master’s student of the University of Tartu, was announced the winner of the three rectors’ scholarship competition, which was held for the seventh time. Read more here.

See the essay topics.

2022/2023

Elmar Gams
Author: Tartu Ülikool

In the final round of the competition held at Vilnius University in Lithuania on March 10, the commission chose Elmar Gams, a fourth-year doctoral student at the Institute of History and Archeology of the University of Tartu, as the winner. He participated in the competition for the second time. Read more here.

2021/2022

Kolme rektori stipendium
Author: Tartu Ülikool

Gabrielė Aputytė, who participated in the competition for the second time, was chosen as the winner of the final round of the competition held at the University of Latvia on April 28 in Riga. She is an undergraduate student in Lithuanian philology and Latvian at Vilnius University. Read more here.

See the essay topics.

2020/2021

kriss_kapenieks

In the final round of the competition held on Zoom on 14 May, the committee selected the winner: Krišs Kapenieks, who has a doctoral degree in history from the University of Latvia and continues his studies in the master’s programme in Baltic philology and works as a research fellow at the Latvian War Museum. He has a strong personal and professional relationship with the Lithuanian and Estonian language. Continue reading here.

See the essay topics.

2019/2020

saule kubiliute

Saulė Kubiliūtė, a student of Political Science and International Relations at the Vilnius University, was awarded the winner of 3 Rector's Scholarship on March 11, 2020 at the Vilnius University Church. See the essay topics.

2018/2019

lauris grins

The second winner of the 3 Rectors’ Scholarship is Lauris Grins (master’s studies, Literature and Theatre Research, UT). The final round of the contest took place on the 4th of March in Riga, University of Latvia. See the essay topics.

2017/2018

milda dailidenaite

The first 3 Rectors’ Scholarship contest took place in 2017/2018. The winner was Milda Dailidėnaitė who studied in the master’s program at that time (Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics, UT). She got her bachelor’s degree at Vilnius University. See the essay topics.

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