Mobility grant of the Estonian Doctoral School for doctoral candidates of Humanities and Arts

Estonian Doctoral School for Humanities and Arts supports short-term international mobility for doctoral research. Primarily, it supports participation in research-related international conferences with an oral or poster presentation. If possible, applications for other study and research-related activities (seminars, courses, research in libraries, etc.) are accepted, but only if there is a hosting institution and a confirmation letter from the host.

Short-term mobility lasts up to 30 calendar days (including travel time to and from the destination of the secondment). A doctoral candidate is eligible for a doctoral school mobility grant once a calendar year. The maximum amount per grant can be up to 2000 euros. Funding is available for trips from both Estonia and abroad.

Application deadlines for the year 2025 are 28.02.2025, 31.05.2025, 31.08.2025.
The budget for the 2025 is 24 656 euros.

Doctoral candidates of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Tartu can apply for the grant if their supervisor is not the holder of a research grant and the doctoral candidate is not included in the grant as a research staff member, which allows them to cover costs related to participation in conferences or other study and research-related activities.

Those candidates who have no other possibilities for travel support are preferred.

Doctoral candidates from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities whose doctoral studies have not been suspended may apply for a grant.

Visits eligible for application:

  • participation in conferences with an oral presentation;
  • participation in conferences with a poster presentation;
  • research in libraries, archives, and research centres;
  • participation in training related to the research and events for graduate students (e.g. summer schools).

The grant consists of travel and subsistence allowances and, if necessary, participation fee support. The travel and subsistence allowance is calculated based on the unit prices used in the Kristjan Jaak programme.

The travel costs will be covered by a travel allowance, including all the costs related to the journey, local transport, travel insurance, etc. The distance will be calculated using the European Commission's online calculator.

Grant per round tripDistance from city to city
70 euros1–99 km
180 euros100–499 km
275 euros500–1999 km
360 euros2000–2999 km
530 euros3000–3999 km
820 euros4000–7999 km
1500 euros 8000 or more km

The subsistence allowance covers the accommodation and daily allowance and it will be paid only for the event duration and not for additional travelling days.

Grant per one nightDuration of mobility
120 euros1–14 days
80 euros15–30 days

The participation fee is covered based on expense documents. An expense document must be submitted, a document proving the amount of the participation fee, and if the participation fee has already been paid, a payment order must be provided as well.

The Estonian Doctoral School will not compensate costs of conferences´ social events, lunches/dinners, membership fees and excursions (except for excursions related to a doctoral student´s research topic) specifically mentioned in the attendance fee.

The maximum amount of the grant is 2000 euros per short-term mobility. If the calculation based on unit costs exceeds this amount, the maximum amount will be paid, and the remaining costs will have to be covered by another source or the doctoral candidate's resources. To cover ineligible costs, please contact the supervisor and/or the head of the department.

To apply for the mobility grant, the doctoral candidate must:

  • submit an application, via Working Environment of Academic Mobility (to log in, use your UT username);
  • submit a confirmation letter about the acceptance of the presentation if the aim is to participate in a conference with a presentation;
  • submit a confirmation of the host institution if the aim is to participate in a course, seminar, or other activities (e.g. registration confirmation, letter of invitation, etc.);
  • submit a confirmation about the amount of the participation fee in case of a request for reimbursement.

NB UT staff member! The application is also part of the travel order. Please enter the digital travel workflow through the Working Environment of Academic Mobility! The predictable costs must be visible in the travel order comments section. The financial source holder is Riho Altnurme, financial source NHVHV24187.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities doctoral studies council assesses the applications.

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • the applicant is a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Tartu;
  • the applicant has not received a mobility grant from a doctoral school in the current calendar year;
  • the application has been correctly prepared;
  • the purpose of the trip is clear, and the destination and the tasks are suitable. The link between the trip and the substantive needs and completion of the doctoral thesis is strong;
  • the duration and budget of the application are well thought out and reasonable;
  • the supervisor has approved the application;
  • the supervisor is not a research grant holder, and the doctoral candidate is not included in the grant as a research staff member.
  • A signed activity report must be submitted to the senior specialist (lii.lang@ut.ee) of the Doctoral Centre of Humanities on the Doctoral School form;
  • a secondment report must be completed by the junior research fellow;
  • a doctoral candidate without a university employment contract must submit an expense report;
  • documents certifying the payment of the participation fee (invoice, payment confirmation) must be attached to the secondment report or cost report,
  • the programme of the event, and an official letter of confirmation from the organiser stating the date and time of the event must be attached to the secondment or cost report.

A sentence must be added to the activity report or secondment report: "The secondment/study visit is in accordance with the University of Tartu project "Cooperation between universities to promote doctoral studies" (2021-2027.4.04.24-0003) and with goals and action plan of the project.”

If the doctoral student participates in the event with a presentation or poster presentation, these must comply with the notification requirements. In case of non-compliance with the notification requirements, mobility costs from the Estonian Doctoral School are not eligible. A logo must be placed on the opening page of the presentation or poster; see instructions for use, logo files (EST, ENG).

Project "Cooperation between universities to promote doctoral studies" (2021-2027.4.04.24-0003) is co-funded by the European Union.

Lii Lang
Dean's Office, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Centre of Doctoral Studies
Senior Specialist for Doctoral Studies and Projects
Jakobi 2–119
+372 737 5346
Lii Lang
Dean's Office, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Centre of Doctoral Studies
Senior Specialist for Doctoral Studies and Projects
Jakobi 2–119
+372 737 5346

Mobility grants for doctoral researchers

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