News

This year, traditional graduation ceremonies bringing together hundreds of people are not held at the University of Tartu, but ceremonies take place online. The university also makes a gift to the graduates: they now have their own tree and a bench in Tartu city centre. Also, the university main building and the sculpture on the Town Hall Square will be decorated.

Theoretical Philosophy
June 11 at 10:00, MS Teams

David Eduardo Torres Alvarez
Playing with Monsters: Character Operators in Natural Language
Supervisors Patrick Shirreff, Juhani Yli-Vakkuri, reviewer Indrek Lõbus

History of Philosophy
June 11 at 14:00, MS Teams

14:00 Olena Kushyna
The Timeline of Mortality
Supervisor Jaanus Sooväli, reviewer Siobhan Kattago

In autumn, the current Professor of Liberal Arts of the University of Tartu Kärt Summatavet will hand the position over to Olga and Priit Pärn, who are both internationally recognised filmmakers. This is the first time there will be two professors of liberal arts at the University of Tartu at the same time – so far, there has been only one per academic year.

MA Thesis Defenses in Philosophy

Practical Philosophy
May 29 at 13:00, MS Teams meeting (to get the link: Ruth Jürjo, ruth.jurjo@ut.ee)

Sariyya Abdullayeva
Educating for Autonomy: Is It Just a Pipe Dream?
Supervisors: Margit Sutrop and Francesco Orsi, reviewer Kadri Simm

BA Thesis Defenses in Philosophy

Admissions to the University of Tartu take place based on the schedule announced in winter. According to current plans, admission requirements will remain largely unchanged.

The application period to Estonian-taught master’s programmes runs until 1 July. From 18 June to 1 July, applications are accepted to bachelor’s, professional higher education and integrated curricula, and from 1 May to 15 June, to doctoral programmes.

Teaching and studies at the university continue in online environments until the end of semester. To minimise the movement of students, we ask that all exams and pass/fail assessments be conducted online.

If online classes are not enough for students to pass the course, face-to-face sessions are planned. In planning face-to-face learning, the following should be kept in mind:

On Tuesday, 5 May at 13:00, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk talked in a live webcast about when and how the university could resume regular teaching and studies, and what lies ahead of us before the end of the academic year.

Among other issues, she discussed everything related to graduations; for example, graduation ceremonies, exams and theses.

Watch the video with English subtitles:

Six tenants of UT residence hall confirmed to have coronavirus. In connection with this we publish the address of the Rector of the University of Tartu in both text and video.

Today we have received alarming news both for the University of Tartu and the entire Estonia. Students of the University of Tartu, who are tenants of the residence hall in Raatuse street, have been infected with coronavirus.

The University of Tartu will not hold graduation ceremonies this summer because these events usually attract crowds of people and close contact is impossible to avoid.

Graduates receive their diplomas in their institute/unit in the second half of June. Detailed information on the time and place will be sent to all graduates and posted on the university’s website. If necessary, you can authorise another person to collect your diploma, or have the diploma sent to you by mail.

Dear students and members of the teaching staff,

On 15 April, several media channels wrote about the court case between a UT alumnus and a member of the teaching staff over an insulting comment in the confidential course feedback questionnaire.

Understandably, this has shaken the trust in the feedback system and pointed to problems we want to avoid in the future. On the other hand, it is clear that the university cannot develop without substantial feedback.

All courses in which online teaching can be organised will continue in this format until the end of the semester. If coronavirus recedes, we hope we can resume classroom teaching for small groups, similarly to schools, in the second half of May. This concerns practical classes and, if necessary, exams – i.e. activities that are difficult or impossible to perform over the computer.

The Centre for Ethics at the University of Tartu together with the ethics committees of Estonia's two largest hospitals, the North Estonia Medical Centre and the Tartu University Hospital, developed 12 recommendations for distribution of limited health care resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Teams Live Event on 31 March at 14, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk spoke about teaching and studies during the emergency situation and answered the questions posted by UT staff members and students. 

From 2 April to 4 May, all doctoral students of the UT are invited to share their opinion on their studies to help the university plan changes in doctoral studies.

The University of Tartu is planning major changes in doctoral studies in the coming years. The vision for the development of doctoral studies has been prepared. The requirements for doctoral theses are being updated. Besides, the university has supplemented the doctoral students’ income by the performance stipend.

On Tuesday there was a b…

Although the University of Tartu Library is closed due to the emergency situation, users can again request books via the e-catalogue ESTER starting today, 25 March. The requested books can be picked up from smart lockers in the lobby of the library.

On Friday, 20 March, at 14:00 there will be a video broadcast on the university website, where the rector and members of the Rector’s Office of the University of Tartu give an overview of the reorganisation of work at the university during the emergency situation, and answer questions sent by university members. 

In the broadcast, Rector Toomas Asser, Academic Secretary Tõnis Karki and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk will speak about the new organisation of work.

From Monday, 16 March, all UT buildings are closed for visitors and students. The buildings are not alarmed and staff members can enter using their university ID card.

Visitors and students are not allowed in the buildings. If visitors need to get in, an employee must personally meet them.

Receptionists and information secretaries in the buildings will continue work as usual, cloakrooms are closed.

Aune Valk, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Tartu, confirms that life at the university goes on despite the emergency situation and high-quality teaching and research activities continue. The university is ready to provide individual solutions to difficulties students may face.

next week Department of Philosophy hosts an international conference "Disagreements: from Theory to Practice" (11th to 13th of March, 2020).

Keynote speakers are::