News

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 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.

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.

Reedel, 31. novembril valiti Maarja Ojamaa Tartu Ülikooli senati poolt uueks kultuurisemiootika professoriks.

On 31 October, the senate of the University of Tartu decided to award the University of Tartu Grand Medal to former rector, Professor emeritus Jaak Aaviksoo, Professor Marlon Gerardo Dumas Menjivar, Professor Kalle Kirsimäe, and Professor Ivo Leito. The recipients of the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation, Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu” have also been selected.

The University of Tartu and Tallinn Health University of Applied Sciences have strengthened cooperation in intersectoral doctoral studies to support academic succession at the professional higher education institution and enhance its research capacity. In September, the first intersectoral doctoral researcher began their studies in the collaboration between the two institutions.

A new special issue of the journal Sign Systems Studies, volume 53 (1/2), has been published. The issue is dedicated to the French philosophers Deleuze, Guattari, and semiotics. The issue was compiled and edited by Ott Puumeister, Research Fellow in Semiotics.

The University of Tartu has a Student Union (UTSU) of nearly 140 members, which has been steadfastly standing for students’ rights and solving their concerns for years. Full of initiative, student representatives have brought numerous ideas to life within the university and drawn attention to various institutional shortcomings.

During the Peeter Tulviste memorial week held from 27 October to 2 November, a memorial conference takes place in the university assembly hall, and the exhibition “Bibliophile Peeter Tulviste” opens at the university library.

University of Tartu semioticians Andreas Ventsel and Mari-Liis Madisson, along with Junior Research Fellow in Information Resilience Diana Poudel, have developed tools for enhancing critical digital literacy in cooperation with international partners. The practical materials are designed for use in higher education, schools, companies and organisations to support navigating the digital landscape and countering the spread of disinformation.

Until 31 October, nominations can be submitted for the “Contribution to Estonian National Identity” award.

The new collection shows how emotions and affects shape political identities, amplify polarisation in times of crisis, and often turn public debate into emotional confrontation. „Power of Emotions. On the Affective Constitution of Political Struggle“ is edited by Andreas Ventsel, Professor of Political and Sociosemiotics at the University of Tartu, and Peeter Selg, Professor of Governance and Political Analysis at Tallinn University.

All in all, there are 16,052 students at the university.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers numerous optional courses for the autumn semester, available to both our students and all other students at the University of Tartu.

This year, 10,808 people applied for first and second-level studies at the University of Tartu, submitting 14,863 applications.

In Arvo Pärt’s jubilee year, the lectures from his year as a University of Tartu professor of liberal arts have become accessible to an international audience, as English subtitles have been added to the recordings of the lecture series.

We hope the graduation ceremony created many joyful moments you would like to share with your loved ones or even the world. To help you express this wonderful feeling, feel free to use the photos from the ceremony.

We hope the graduation ceremony created many joyful moments you would like to share with your loved ones or even the world. To help you express this wonderful feeling, feel free to use the photos from the ceremony.

On 16 June, the council of the University of Tartu approved the new strategic plan, which sets the direction for the university’s activities for the next ten years.