News

We invite all interested parties to attend the defence of semiotics theses on 20 January 2026, either in person at Jakobi 2–306 or in Zoom (ID: 955 3332 4547, Password: 594333).

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia has been a leader in providing refuge to the Ukrainian people. At the start of the war, Estonia accepted the most Ukrainians per capita of any country in the world, and it remains among the top three, behind Czechia and Poland. There are now approximately 60,000 Ukrainians in Estonia, representing about 4.4% of the population. Three-quarters of these Ukrainians have arrived since 2022. These individuals must negotiate how to maintain their cultural identity while integrating and building new lives abroad.

On Friday, 30 January, at 14:15, an English-language colloquium will take place at the University of Tartu Philosophicum (Jakobi 2–336), exploring how Stoic ideas and practices can be applied in contemporary psychotherapy to help people cope more effectively with difficulties.

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.

Applications are now open for the international master’s programmes in Semiotics and in Philosophy in Practice at the University of Tartu. Prospective students can apply until 15 March. Interested applicants are also warmly invited to our virtual open day on 15 January, where you can learn more about the programmes, admissions, and studying in Tartu.

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.

From 5 to 30 January, digital clutter will be cleaned up at the University of Tartu. The university invites everyone to spend at least 30 minutes every week tidying up their personal or unit’s digital space.

Are you considering applying to one of our international master's programmes in 2026? If so, join us online for the Virtual Open Day 2026 on 15 January at 12:00 (GMT+2) – no matter where in the world you are!

On 20 November 2025 was published the edited volume Transmedia in Translation and Transculturation, edited by Vasso Giannakopoulou (University of Cyprus) and Elin Sütiste (University of Tartu). The book was released by John Benjamins Publishing Company.

We wish our university community and friends a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

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.

With the annual awards, the university aims to recognise its employees’ and students’ outstanding achievements in teaching, doing research and serving society.

On Monday, December 8, from 14:15 to 15:45 in Lossi 36–214, cybersecurity and strategic communications expert Liisa Past will deliver a public lecture.

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.

Värske kogumik näitab, kuidas hirm on muutunud tänapäeva meediastunud ühiskonnas üheks keskseks jõuks, kujundades sõnumeid ja suunates avaliku elu arenguid. Raamatu „Through the Lens of Dread: Exploring the Meaning-Making of Fear in the Mediasphere“ („Läbi hirmu prisma: hirmu tähendusloome uurimine meediasfääris“) on toimetanud Merit Maran Tallinna Ülikoolist ja Juri Lotmani semiootikavaramust ning Mari-Liis Madisson ja Andreas Ventsel Tartu Ülikooli semiootika osakonnast.

On 2 December 2025, Paul Cobley — Honorary Doctor of the University of Tartu — delivered a public lecture titled “Thinking: close and distant” as part of the Juri Lotman Lecture Series. The lecture is now available to watch online.

On 21 November, Rector Toomas Asser handed over the university’s this year’s 123 honorary decorations. This marked the beginning of the traditional events of the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university.

On November 24, the early-career researchers' workshop, "Ethics and Emotions", will take place in Jakobi 2-114. The workshop brings together Susimetsa Philosopicum’s visiting scholars from the University of Geneva and the University of Lund, as well as local researchers from the University of Tartu. Everyone interested, including students, is most welcome!

Selgunud on tänavused Tartu Ülikooli teenetemärkide kavalerid. Filosoofia ja semiootika instituudist pälvisid Tartu Ülikooli aumärgi Siobhan Ann Kattago, poliitikafilosoofia kaasprofessor ja Ene-Reet Soovik, semiootika osakonna toimetaja.