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

Estonian Doctoral School for Humanities and Arts supports short-term international mobility for doctoral research. Participation in an international research-related conference abroad, with either an oral or poster presentation, is supported.

Short-term mobility lasts up to 30 calendar days (including travel time to and from the destination of the secondment). A doctoral researcher is eligible for a doctoral school mobility grant once a calendar year. The maximum amount per grant can be up to 2,000 euros. Funding is available for trips from both Estonia and abroad.

Application deadlines for the year 2026 are 28.02.2026 and 31.05.2026.

Doctoral researchers of the University of Tartu Faculty of Arts and Humanities can apply for the grant if their supervisor is not the holder of a research grant and the doctoral researcher 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 researchers who have no other possibilities for travel support are preferred.

Doctoral researchers 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.

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 expenses 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 euros500–1,999 km
360 euros2,000–2,999 km
530 euros3,000–3,999 km
820 euros4,000–7,999 km
1,500 euros 8,000 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 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. Also, conference' fees' VAT is not compensated.

The maximum amount of the grant is 2,000 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 researcher at the University of Tartu Faculty of Arts and Humanities;
  • 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 researcher is not included in the grant as a research staff member.
  • A signed activity report must be submitted to the senior specialist ([email protected]) of the Doctoral Centre of Humanities on the Doctoral School form;
  • a business travel report must be completed by the junior research fellow;
  • a doctoral researcher 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 business travel 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 business travel or cost report.

A sentence must be added to the activity report or business travel report: "The business travel/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 researcher 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
Lii Lang
MA (Translation)
Dean's Office, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Centre of Doctoral Studies
Senior Specialist for Doctoral Studies and Projects
+372 737 5346
Jakobi 2–119

Mobility grants for doctoral researchers