Rankings & Surveys
The University of Tartu is known for its high reputation of the quality of studies and research. Students choose our university, because they can count on the excellent reputation of the diploma they receive after they graduate. The University of Tartu is featured in many local and international TOP university rankings lists.
QS World University Rankings 2021
With the 2021 data, the UT is the 285th university in the QS World University Rankings. QS takes into account the survey among academic leaders and heads of institutions of higher education, proportion of students and lecturers, university as the employer, significance of academic publications, percentage of foreign lecturers and students. More than 60,000 scientists and academic opinion leaders and approximately 30,000 employees gave their expert opinion to the universities by answering the questionnaire.
According to QS Subject Rankings 2021, 17 subjects at the University of Tartu are among the world's best ones.
Broad subject area |
2021 Rank | 2020 Rank |
2019 Rank |
Arts & Humanities |
287 | 288 |
299 |
Life Sciences and Medicine |
304 | 352 | 373 |
Natural Sciences |
451-500 | 451-500 | 451-500 |
Social Sciences and Management |
357 | 357 | 336 |
Engineering and Technology | 501-520 | ||
Specific subject |
|||
English Language & Literature |
201-250 | 201-250 |
251-300 |
Linguistics |
201-250 | 201-250 |
151-200 |
Modern Languages |
251-300 | 251-300 |
251-300 |
Philosophy |
151-200 | 151-200 |
151-200 |
Computer Science & Information Systems |
351-400 | 351-400 |
351-400 |
Agriculture & Forestry |
201-250 | 151-200 |
151-200 |
Biological Sciences |
201-250 | 251-300 |
251-300 |
Geography |
151-200 | 151-200 | 151-200 |
Medicine |
301-350 | 351-400 |
351-400 |
Chemistry |
451-500 | 501-550 |
451-500 |
Physics & Astronomy |
401-450 | 451-500 |
551-600 |
Communication & Media Studies |
201-220 | 151-200 |
151-200 |
Law |
251-300 | ||
Politics and International Studies |
151-200 | 151-200 | 101-150 |
Sociology |
201-250 | 201-250 | |
Business & Management | 501-550 | 401-450 | |
Education & Training |
151-200 | 201-250 | 251-300 |
Economics & Econometrics | 451-500 |
QS EECA University Rankings 2021
According to the 2021 rankings, the University of Tartu is positioned the 2nd in the ranking list of emerging European and Central Asian study destinations. The universities are ranked based on 10 different indicators, such as academic and employer reputation and research impact of the university.
THE World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings provide the definitive list of the world's best universities, evaluated across teaching, research, international outlook, reputation and more. The overall THE World University Rankings, featuring 1,000 institutions, are accompanied by a series of subject-specific rankings to help students determine where to study. Currently, the University of Tartu is ranked between 251-300 world's best universities.
Broad subject area |
2021 Rank | 2020 Rank |
2019 Rank |
Clinical, Pre-Clinical and Health |
251-300 | 251-300 | 301-400 |
Life Sciences |
151-175 | 151-175 |
126-150 |
Physical Sciences |
301-400 | 301-400 |
401-500 |
Psychology | 201-250 | 201-250 |
301-400 |
Arts and Humanities |
301-400 | 251-300 | 251-300 |
Education |
301-400 | 301-400 | 301-400 |
Social Sciences |
301-400 | 301-400 | 251-300 |
Business and Economics |
201-250 | 201-250 | 251-300 |
Computer Science |
176-200 | 176-200 | 251-300 |
Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators (ESI)
According to Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators (ESI), one of the most highly esteemed databases of scientific journals, the University of Tartu has made it to the top 1% of the world’s most highly cited science institutions in eleven fields:
- Clinical Medicine
- Plant and Animal Science
- Chemistry
- Environment / Ecology
- Social Sciences (general)
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Biology and Biochemistry
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Neuroscience and Behavior
- Geosciences
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
The University of Tartu is the only university in Estonia that is featured in that many fields.
54 UT researchers belong to the TOP 1% of the most cited researchers in the world. Click here to view the statistics.
Best university website in the Baltics
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities is a ranking system for the world's universities based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of the web contents (number of web pages and files) and the visibility and impact of these web publications according to the number of external inlinks (site citations) they received. The University of Tartu's website has been ranked as the best one in the Baltics (420th position overall).
Best Admission Process
Studyportals, in collaboration with IELTS, Shorelight Education and US News Global Education, launched the first ever Global Student Satisfaction Awards in 2019. Entirely based on student reviews, the awards recognise the best educators globally and are the first of their kind to review universities based solely on student voices and experiences. The University of Tartu was awarded for outstanding achievements in student satisfaction and brought home the award for Best Admission Process.
Best Living Environment
Tartu was placed second in the category of living environments of cities with 75,000-150,000 residents in the final round of the International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom Awards). In the category of cities with the best living environment, the competition evaluated the valuing of public space, city history, culture and active lifestyles, as well as environmental protection, citizen involvement and sustainable planning and city management.
Highly Cited Researchers Report
Best reputation among Estonian universities
University image survey of TNS Emor in 2017 confirmed that the University of Tartu is the most reputable university in Estonia for the eigth year. Based on the survey, the basis of the reputation of the University of Tartu is believed to be the high level of education, value of the diploma in the labour market and the reliability of the university (education corresponds to expectations). It was brought out that the University of Tartu is innovative and contemporary because very many innovative solutions are created as the result of science, studying and creative work.
Top choice of Estonian graduates
Great reputation among current international degree students
A survey amongst our international students confirmed that 97% of them would recommend coming to study at the University of Tartu (2017).
98% of students feel that the university has met their expectations completely.
99% of the students feel safe whilst living in Estonia.
The most important factors in choosing the UT were:
- The specialisation of their interest.
- Education provided by the UT is of high quality.
- They received a full scholarship.
- UT is highly ranked in international university rankings.
- Living cost is very affordable.
- Tuition fees are quite affordable.
- UT staff is very helpful.
- Accommodation in dormitories is ensured.