News

On 3 December, the fraternity Revelia celebrates its 105th anniversary. On this occasion, the university’s main building is lit in green in the evening.

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

On 1 December, at the ceremony of the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university, scholarships were awarded to bring mathematician Juhan Aru and oncogeneticist Jüri Reimand to work at the University of Tartu as expatriate Estonian visiting professors.

Today, on 1 December, the University of Tartu celebrates the 106th anniversary of the founding of the Estonian-language university. At the anniversary ceremony of Estonia’s national university, this year’s recipient of the “Contribution to Estonian National Identity” award was announced – Professor emerita Ene-Margit Tiit.

Speech by Rector of the University of Tartu, Professor Toomas Asser at the ceremony marking the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university on 1 December 2025.

On 1 December, the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university, 142 doctoral degrees were conferred.

On 28 November, the council of the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Tartu elected Jaak Vilo as the next head of the institute. His term begins on 1 January 2026.

On 27 November, the University of Tartu announced its teaching excellence ambassadors, who set an example for the entire university community. The title is given to recognise 20 academic staff members who develop their teaching based on evidence and support an open teaching culture that values learning.

On 26 November, the Vironia fraternity celebrates its 125th anniversary. On this occasion, the university’s main building is illuminated in violet, black and white.

From 26 November to 2 December, donations are invited to the University of Tartu Seventh Pillar Fund, which offers scholarships for young researchers and outstanding students.

Today, on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the main building is lit up in orange. On the initiative of the President Kaljulaid Foundation, buildings in Estonian cities are illuminated in shades of orange to draw attention to the issue of domestic abuse and call everyone to notice, care and take action.

As part of a European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant project, archaeologist Mari Tõrv from the University of Tartu will study how hunter-gatherers across the Northern hemisphere achieved significant population growth and social complexity long before agriculture and cattle farming became the dominating way of life. Tõrv’s research team will contribute to the project with material analysis from the Baltic region.

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 21 November, the University of Tartu senate decided to make nominations for the national research awards of the Republic of Estonia.

The Academies of Sciences of the Baltic states and the National Commissions for UNESCO have chosen researchers to receive the Baltic Women in Science fellowships. One of them is Kerttu Rozenvalde.

The text is based on the presentation at the University of Tartu development conference “A university for us, Estonia and the world”.

This week, barriers will be installed around the ruins of the Tartu Cathedral to prevent movement in the immediate vicinity of the ruins. The condition of the cathedral ruins has gradually deteriorated over the years, and it may not be safe to be under or near the walls of the ruins.

The analytics company Clarivate revealed its 2025 list of Highly Cited Researchers, which includes four researchers affiliated with the University of Tartu.