On 1 December 1919, the opening ceremony of Estonia’s national university was held in the assembly hall of the university’s main building. Since then, Estonian has been the language of instruction at the university. The University of Tartu laid the foundations for Estonian-language higher education and created a community of national intellectuals who have a significant role in the development of the Estonian state, society and culture.

On 1 December at 12:00, the anniversary ceremony takes place in the assembly hall. The university’s doctorates and honorary doctorates are conferred, the “Contribution to Estonian National Identity” award is presented and the recipient of the scholarship for the expatriate visiting professor is announced. UT Honorary Doctor Professor Svante Pääbo delivers an academic lecture “About Neandertals, and how they live on in many of us”.