studies research

Doctoral programmes and centres

The University of Tartu offers eight doctoral programmes, which are divided into fifty doctoral specialisations. The programmes are coordinated by four centres for doctoral studies:

Centre for Doctoral Studies in Humanities

Centre for Doctoral Studies in Social Sciences

Centre for Doctoral Studies in Medicine and Sport

Centre for Doctoral Studies in Science and Technology

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Centre for Doctoral Studies in Humanities
The Centre for Doctoral Studies in Humanities is a part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The faculty’s doctoral programme combines 22 specialisations, coordinated by the Institute of History and Archaeology, Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics, Institute of Cultural Research, School of Theology and Religious Studies, and Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures. More than 200 doctoral researchers are enrolled at the faculty, about 35% of whom are international researchers.

Doctoral research conducted at the faculty is extremely varied, ranging from zoosemiotics to archaeological chemistry. This diversity is supported by the structure of admission – all specialisations offer the chance to apply with your own topic.

Homepage of the Centre for Doctoral Studies in Humanities

Doctoral programme in Humanities

Information regarding the programme and application process

Specialisations in the Institute of Cultural Research

  • Comparative Literature
  • Estonian Literature
  • Ethnology
  • Folkloristics
  • Theatre Studies

Specialisations in the Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics

  • Finno-Ugric Studies
  • Linguistics

Specialisations in the Institute of Foreign Language and Cultures

  • Classical Philology
  • English Language and Literature
  • French Language and Literature
  • German Language and Literature
  • Russian Language and Literature
  • Scandinavian Languages and Literature
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Translation Studies

Specialisations in the Institute of History and Archaeology

  • Archaeology
  • Art History
  • History

Specialisations in the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics

  • Philosophy
  • Semiotics and Culture Studies

Specialisations in the School of Theology and Religious Studies

  • Religious Studies
  • Theology

Lii Lang
MA (Translation)
Dean's Office, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Centre of Doctoral Studies
Senior Specialist for Doctoral Studies and Projects
+372 737 5346
Jakobi 2–119
HV
Centre for Doctoral Studies in Social Sciences
The Faculty of Social Sciences offers two doctoral programmes: Social Sciences and Educational Sciences. The programmes combine specialisations coordinated by the Institute of Education, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, the School of Economics and Business Administration, the Institute of Psychology, the School of Law, and the Institute of Social Studies. Approximately 200 doctoral researchers are enrolled at the faculty, 20% of whom are international researchers.

Research at the faculty is focused on impactful societal questions, which are investigated with state-of-the-art methods. The aim of the faculty is to shape and interpret the future of society, and doctoral researchers play an integral role in achieving that goal.

Homepage of the Centre for Doctoral Studies in Social Sciences

Doctoral programme in Educational Sciences

Information regarding the programme and application process
  • Educational Science
  • Science Education


Doctoral programme in Social Sciences

Information regarding the programme and application process
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Law
  • Media and Communication
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Helena Saare
Faculty of Social Sciences
Dean's Office, Faculty of Social Sciences
Specialist for Research and Development
+372 737 5337
Lossi 36–127
skelett
Centre for Doctoral Studies in Medicine and Sport
The Faculty of Medicine offers one doctoral programme – the Doctoral Programme in Medicine and Sport. The programme’s four specialisations are coordinated by the Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy.

University of Tartu medical researchers are acknowledged leaders in their field — thanks to them, the university is among the 1% of the world’s most influential research institutions in the field of clinical medicine. Around 200 doctoral researchers are enrolled in the faculty’s doctoral programme.

Homepage of the Centre for Doctoral Studies in Medicine and Sport

Doctoral programme in Medicine and Sport

Information regarding the programme and application process
  • Exercise and Sport Sciences
  • Medicine
  • Neurosciences
  • Pharmacy

Rene Kärner
MA (Law)
Faculty of Medicine
Dean's Office, Faculty of Medicine
Head of Dean's Office
+372 737 5325
Ravila 19-1055
Pildil on illustratsioon satelliidist ESTCube-2 Maa kohal. Illustratsiooni autor on Taavi Torim.
Centre for Doctoral Studies in Science and Technology
The Centre for Doctoral Studies in Science and Technology is a part of the Faculty of Science and Technology, and coordinates four doctoral programmes. More than 500 doctoral researchers are enrolled at the faculty, about 44% of whom are international researchers.

The institutes that coordinate the specialisations are the Institute of Computer Science, the Institute of Physics, the Institute of Chemistry, the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tartu Observatory, the Institute of Technology, the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, and the Institute of Genomics. Additionally, the Science Education specialisation from the Educational Sciences programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences falls under the centre’s responsibility.

Homepage of the Centre for Doctoral Studies in Science and Technology

Doctoral programme in Chemical and Physical Sciences

Information regarding the programme and application process
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Space Research and Technology


Doctoral programme in Engineering and Technology

Information regarding the programme and application process
  • Computer Engineering
  • Environmental Technology
  • Materials Science
  • Molecular Biotechnology
  • Sustainable Energetics


Doctoral programme in Life and Earth Sciences

Information regarding the programme and application process
  • Biodiversity and Ecological Sustainability
  • Genomics
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • Molecular Biosciences


Doctoral programme in Mathematics and Computer Science

Information regarding the programme and application process
  • Computer Science
  • Mathematical Sciences


Kairi Terreping
MSc (Geology)
Faculty of Science and Technology
Dean's Office, Faculty of Science and Technology
Senior Specialist in Academic Affairs
+372 737 6521
Vanemuise 46-208