Doctoral programmes

22.02.2023

The information on this page is relevant from the 2022/2023 academic year. If you are interested in study programmes before 2022/2023, please visit the Study Information System.

Study Information System

Here you can find an overview of the doctoral programmes at the University of Tartu. The University of Tartu offers eight doctoral programmes (further divided into specialities), all of which fall under one of 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

Center for Doctoral Studies in Science and Technology

Doctoral studies will qualify you for a career in an academic institution as a lecturer or researcher. Alternatively, you will be well equipped to start a career outside of academia as a leading specialist. The focus of doctoral studies are the doctoral thesis and research related activities. The doctoral student is able to make individual and purposeful choices in his or her individual plan in collaboration with the supervisor(s). You are encouraged to choose academic activities, course work and training to maximise the benefit to your research project.

During your studies, you will acquire the necessary skill and knowledge to conduct research independently, a scientific understanding of the world, and competence in pedagogy as well as leadership. A PhD degree holder is an independent researcher who is capable of framing, analysing and solving problems using academic expertise, either alone or in a team.

If you are interested in applying to a doctoral programme, please visit the homepage of the respective study programme (see the links below).

Centre for Doctoral Studies in Humanities

The Centre for Doctoral Studies in Humanities is a part of the Faculty of Humanities. The faculty’s doctoral programme combines 22 specialities, 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 College of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Around 200 doctoral students are enrolled at the faculty, about 30% of whom are international students.

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 specialities offer the chance to apply for a doctoral research position with your own topic.

Programme and specialities offered by the centre

Doctoral programme in Humanities

Specialities in the Institute of Cultural Research

Comparative Literature
Estonian Literature
Ethnology
Folkloristics
Theatre Studies

Specialities in the Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics

Finno-Ugric Studies
Linguistics

Specialities 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

Specialities in the Institute of History and Archaeology

Archaeology
Art History
History

Specialities in the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics

Philosophy
Semiotics and Culture Studies

Specialities in the School of Theology and Religious Studies

Religious Studies
Theology

Centre for Doctoral Studies in Social Sciences

The Faculty of Social Sciences offers two doctoral programmes: Social Sciences and Educational Sciences.
The programmes combine specialities 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 students are enrolled at the faculty, 25% of whom are international students.

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 society and doctoral students play an integral role in achieving that goal.

Programmes and specialities offered by the centre

Doctoral programme in Educational Sciences

Educational Science
Science Education

Doctoral programme in Social Sciences

Business Administration
Economics
Law
Media and Communication
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology

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 specialities are coordinated by the Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy.

UT medical researchers are acknowledged leaders in their field—thanks to them UT is among the 1% of the world’s most influential research institutions in the field of clinical medicine. Around 230 doctoral students are enrolled at the faculty’s doctoral programs.

Programme and specialities offered by the centre

Doctoral programme in Medicine and Sport

Exercise and Sport Sciences
Medicine
Neurosciences
Pharmacy

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. Around 500 doctoral students are enrolled at the faculty, about 36% of whom are international students.

The institutes that coordinate the specialities 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 speciality from the Educational Sciences programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences falls under the centre’s responsibility.