The University of Tartu (UT) (est. 1632) is the largest higher education and research center in Estonia with more than 13000 students and 1800 members of academic staff. While being Estonia’s national university, UT in actively involved in a broad international network. To support and develop the professional competence of its students and academic staff, the university has entered into bilateral cooperation agreements with 72 partner institutions in 26 countries.

UT is Estonia’s leading center of research and training. Research at UT focuses on subjects as diverse as medicine and philosophy, law and computer science. More than half of the PhD theses written in Estonia are defended in UT, with about 120 defended annually. More than half of the country’s research publications are authored by UT researchers and scholars. The university coordinates and conducts research projects in nearly every large field of research.

The University of Tartu currently belongs to the top 1.2% of the world’s best universities by ranking 301st in the QS World University Rankings 2018 and within the 301–350 range in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2018. UT is placed 3rd in the QS University Rankings for Emerging Europe and Central Asia (QS EECA University Rankings 2018). According to the ISI Web of Science, UT belongs to the top 1% of the world’s most-cited universities and research institutions.