100 Years of the University of Tartu

A stylised rendering of the university's main building. Above it the inscription "RAHVÜSÜLIKOOL" (National University) and the numeral "100" set between dots. The issuing country "EESTI" and year "2019" appear to the left and right below the building's flanking wings respectively. Below that, the institution's Latin name "UNIVERSITAS TARTUENSIS" and the founding year of the first Estonian-language university, "1632".

The University of Tartu is one of the oldest and most important higher education institutions in Northern Europe. It was founded in 1632 by the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf, initially as the Academia Gustaviana, before rising, after a chequered history under Russian administration and repeated closures in the 19th century, to become an intellectual centre of the Baltic region. Particularly during the era of national awakening movements, Tartu - also known by its German name, Dorpat - was an important place for the development of Estonian language, literature and identity. Poets, linguists and philosophers who taught and studied there shaped the region's cultural self-image far beyond the city limits.

With the founding of the Republic of Estonia in 1918, the University of Tartu took on its character as the national university, Estonian Rahvusülikool. It became the first higher education institution where Estonian was introduced as the complete language of instruction and scholarship - a crucial step in consolidating the young state. Since then, the university has played a leading role in Estonian research, education and civil society, and today maintains its standing as the country's leading research institution. To mark the 100th anniversary of this new beginning as the Estonian national university, Estonia issued a 2-euro commemorative coin in 2019.