Tartu Unique Environment

Modern study environment in an historic atmosphere: While current-day students enjoy modern and very well-equipped lecture halls, laboratories, and classrooms, a lot of the university buildings go back centuries, creating a unique and harmonious blend of old and new. The University History Museum resides in a 13th century cathedral. The University Main Building, built in 1804-1809, is a comfortable workplace for the university administration, but it is also an historic monument and a dominant landmark on the town landscape.

Special academic spirit engulfs the city of Tartu since 1632: Ever since the establishment of

Academia Gustaviana, Tartu has become an international hub for academicians, scientists, and students from all over Northern Europe. Throughout the centuries the university halls in Tartu have been the breeding grounds for Estonian intelligentsia, research and a well from which leaders of the 19th-century Estonian national awakening would spring. Citizens of Tartu strongly believe that everyone who arrives in Tartu is taken over by what they call the “spirit of Tartu”.

Unique university town with a young population: Tartu has a population of only 100,000 people, and a fifth of its citizens are students of higher education. Besides the University of Tartu www.ut.ee, Tartu is also home to the Estonian Academy of Life Sciences www.eau.ee , the Baltic Defence College http://www.bdcol.ee  and several other education institutions. When coupled together with high school students and children, at least 30% of town’s population is comprised of young people.

Tartu is the intellectual capital of Estonia: With so many higher education institutions in town, and the university’s status as the national centre of science and research, Tartu inevitably attracts a lot of talent and innovation from Estonia and abroad. Tartu and the University of Tartu serve as a base to the Tartu Science Park, http://www.teaduspark.ee,  Ahhaa Science Centre www.ahhaa.ee and many research institutes http://www.ut.ee/en/research, http://www.kliinikum.ee Tartu hosts a conference of some kind almost every day of the year.

Tartu is a historic, picturesque and child friendly town: The first historic mention of Tartu dates back to 1030, so the city has a lot of history to explore. Citizens and visitors to Tartu enjoy access to almost 40 museums and galleries and a dozen concert halls. Tartu has many parks, walking and biking paths and is graced with the Emajõgi River, which flows through the city centre. In 2004 UNICEF awarded Tartu the title of “Child Friendly City.

Estonia – cool country with a warm heart: Estonia is the smallest and most northern of the three Baltic countries and due to its favourable location has often been regarded as a bridge between East and West. It is known as a country of 1500 islands and 1000 lakes. It is one of the very unique countries of Europe, with 50% of its territory covered with forests, bogs and wetlands. Estonian summers may be cool for some, but there is surely enough light: at midsummer the sun rises at 03:40 and sets at 22:57.

This country will positively surprise you: A lot of visitors indeed are positively surprised by the transformation that has taken place since Estonia regained its independence in 1991, after the famous “Singing Revolution”. It is a modern European society, with innovative solutions penetrating everyday life. It is the birthplace of Skype, and our e-government, e-parking and e-lections have created a reputation for E-stonia. Free wireless Internet is available to all visitors arriving at Tallinn’s international airport. You may even find it in very surprising places like the Tartu Town Hall Square!