Topic: research

The Juri Lotman Fund announces its scholarship contest for graduate students from the University of Tartu whose research continues the tradition of Lotman and his school in semiotics and Slavic philology. Application deadline is 30 January 2026, and the grantees of the scholarships will be announced on 28 February 2026.

On 28 November 2025 at 12:15, Kaspar Kolk will defend his doctoral thesis "Trükitud raamatu esimene aastasada Eestis: raamatud, raamatukogud ja lugejad 15. sajandi teisest poolest 16. sajandi keskpaigani" ("The First Century of the Printed Book in Estonia: Books, Libraries and Readers from the Second Half of the 15th Century to the Middle of the 16th Century") for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Classical Philology.

On 24 November 2025 at 12:15, Helen Roostma will defend her doctoral thesis„Affective Hauntings, Absolute Reality: Space, Time, Experience and the Haunted House Narrative“ for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English Language and Literature.

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.

A three-week German language course at a German university, master’s studies, or research – all of this is possible with scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)!

On October 8, 2025, the candidates for the Professorship of the Semiotics of Culture at the University of Tartu – Maarja Ojamaa, Sara Bédard-Goulet, and Mari-Liis Madisson – delivered their venia legendi lectures. The public lectures can be re-watched via UTTV links available under each lecture title.

In connection with an upcoming exhibition on Voltaire at the University of Tartu’s Museum of Art, and in collaboration with the Voltaire Foundation, University of Oxford, international conference "Voltaire in the Baltic World: Circulations, Receptions, Legacies" will be held on 5-6 March 2026 at the University of Tartu, Estonia. The conference is held in partnership with the Voltaire Foundation, University of Oxford.