Ambitious research with real world impact: Studying Computer Science at the University Tartu

Lukas Andrijauskas never really planned to study abroad.

“I finished my bachelor's degree in Vilnius – and I love Vilnius,” Lukas says.

But when he had to do an internship as part of his programme – a combination of mathematics and computer science – Lukas began to look further afield.

And that was when Tartu came into his life.

“I knew some people in Estonia, and they suggested this amazing faculty in Tartu: the Delta Centre.”

So, he decided to give it a try.

Lukas reached out to Professor of Computer Science – and fellow Lithuanian – Raimundas Matulevičius to discuss potential opportunities. Matulevičius encouraged him to apply, and Lukas soon managed to secure the internship he’d been looking for.

The moment he arrived in Tartu, Lukas knew he’d made the right decision.

“I liked this place, I liked the culture and I liked the Delta Centre,” he recalls. “And that’s why I started my master's here.”

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Cutting edge technology

The snow is piled high outside when I meet Lukas on an early January morning at the Delta Centre that impressed him so much during his internship.

He admits to feeling pretty tired, though it’s nothing to do with Tartu’s vibrant social scene – at least not this time.

Lukas is preparing to present his thesis to a potential supervisor and was up half the night making last-minute changes to his work.

While he could have specialised in a topic connected to artificial intelligence, Lukas was keen to avoid jumping on the AI bandwagon. He instead chose to combine a childhood fascination with computer games with a focus on ways technology can be used to solve real-world problems.

“I’m basically making a digital replica of the Delta building,” he explains.

That replica will enable him to monitor and control different systems inside the building – including those related to carbon monoxide levels and electricity consumption.

He’s already begun exploring how to do all that using virtual reality (VR). “I’ve connected everything through the Wi-Fi and used a VR headset to control things externally,” he tells me.

While it may sound complicated, “in the end, it’s all just ones and zeros everywhere.” Lukas laughs. “If you can control one system, you can control the others too.”

Something for everyone

Away from his studies, Lukas has had no trouble adapting to Tartu life.

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“If you’re a student, it’s very easy to meet people,” he says, pointing to several online groups where people post events they’re organising in the city. From board games to barbecues, volleyball to volunteering – there’s something there for everyone.

He’s also had plenty of time to explore other parts of Estonia.

A trip to the “Onion Road” (Sibulatee) by the shores of Lake Peipus made a particularly strong impression. “It’s so huge, it looks like the sea,” Lukas says with a smile.

“They also had this lovely home café day there,” he adds – a unique Estonian tradition where locals open up their homes to serve coffee and cakes.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in Lithuania,” Lukas says, adding that he enjoyed it so much, he had to get involved himself. And so, soon enough, he too was making cakes at his local home café day – in Tartu’s colourful Karlova district.

“We made rainbow waffles, with some whipped cream and vanilla pancakes,” Lukas says.

“I loved it – it’s a really special kind of celebration.”

Approachable and supportive

Having studied in Lithuania and Estonia, Lukas is well placed to compare the academic environments in both countries.

“My university in Vilnius was really good,” he says. “But here, things feel even more active. It’s easier to find connections and opportunities.”

Lukas has also been impressed by the expectations at the University of Tartu. “The standards are high here,” he admits, “and I really like that.”

Still, in those moments when academic work has felt tough to keep on top of, Lukas has always found his professors approachable and understanding.

That’s especially important for him, as he balances his studies with a part-time job teaching mathematics at a local high school – something he really enjoys.

“If you just communicate with the professors about any problems, they are more than happy to help,” he says.

Serious academic standards

As he reflects on his time in Tartu so far, Lukas can only think of the positives.

He has no hesitation in advising any Lithuanians to follow in his footsteps. “Just wear double layers in winter, and manage your expectations with Estonian salads,” he laughs. “They sometimes add fish there when you don’t expect it.”

Culinary differences aside, Lukas clearly has a great deal of affection for the new life he has found in Tartu.

“It feels calm, and everything is close – Tartu is extremely walkable,” he says. “The bars are all in one area, and there’s always something going on.”

That combination of serious academic standards with a relaxed, student-friendly city has made all the difference.

“I could easily have not studied in Tartu,” Lukas says, as he heads off for that meeting with his potential supervisor. Something tells me he’s glad that he did.

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