News

The European Space Agency and the University of Tartu have signed an agreement to develop the ESTCube-3 satellite. This is a major step forward in advancing Estonia’s space technology and cybersecurity, providing students and researchers with the opportunity to practise satellite control and operations. ESTCube-3 is planned for launch by early 2029.

Applications for the doctoral programme are open until January 31, 2026.

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

On 6–7 November, the Tartu Observatory of the University of Tartu hosted the kick-off meeting of the international research collaboration project E-Sailors (The Electric Solar Wind Sail Doctors).

The Tartu Observatory of the University of Tartu has made remarkable progress over the past three years in the study of exoplanets – planets outside our Solar System. In collaboration with University College London, Uppsala University, and the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the observatory’s researchers have acquired new expertise in modern spectroscopy and the use of machine learning, bringing Estonian science to the forefront of international research.

Estonian space education and space technology are entering a new phase. On 22 August, the University of Tartu (UT), Tallinn University of Technology and the Estonian Student Satellite Foundation signed an official cooperation agreement to initiate a joint space programme running for at least three years.

A new study finds that galaxy clusters — cosmic cities packed with thousands of galaxies — trace invisible highways of dark matter stretching up to a billion light years across the universe. Even more remarkable, the clusters point the way to their neighbors.

The Axiom Mission 4 was launched from Kennedy Space Center on 25 June at 9:31, delivering volcanic algae to the International Space Station (ISS) for an experiment for which key electronic components were developed at Tartu Observatory.

On Thursday, 5 June, a new board for the University of Tartu Student Union (UTSU) was elected during a meeting of the student parliament.

On 23 May 2025, Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas approved the results of the external evaluation of Estonian research and development. The University of Tartu was the only institution in Estonia to receive a positive evaluation in all six fields: natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agriculture and veterinary sciences, social sciences, and humanities and the arts.

Junior researcher at Tartu Observatory, Anni Kasikov, was given an extraordinary opportunity through the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) PhD programme – to spend a year in Chile and work at one of the world’s largest observatories.

All students, staff and alumni of the University of Tartu are invited to respond to a physical activity survey of the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club until 20 June.

The University of Tartu’s opening ceremony of the 2025/2026 academic year will take place on the corner of Lossi and Ülikooli streets at Pirogov square on Monday, 1 September at 10:00.

Ocean-colour researchers are taking a major step towards unifying the way we validate satellite observations of our seas.

Applications for the doctoral programme are open until May 15, 2025.

Most of the events taking place during the Tartu Student Days Spring Festival from 25 April to 3 May are organised by student organisations from Tartu’s higher education institutions.

Doctoral studies are a part of the career path, giving you the knowledge and future skills needed to become a top specialist or manager.

The university opens 182 student places in doctoral studies this spring. Everyone who desires to create new knowledge and pursue a career as a researcher, top specialist or manager is welcome to apply.

The University of Tartu invites international students interested in English-taught curricula to submit their applications in DreamApply.

Tartu Observatory will start developing advanced AI-enabled simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) solutions for planetary exploration.