Unable to find an academic position in Leningrad due to anti-Semitism (he was unable to apply for a PhD program), Lotman went to Estonia in 1950 and from 1954 began his work as a lecturer at the Department of Russian language and literature of Tartu University and later became head of the department.
Incapaz de lograr un posto académico en Leningrado debido ao antisemitismo (non puido entrar nun programa de doutoramento), Lotman foi a Estonia en 1950 e dende 1954 comezou o seu traballo como profesor universitario no Departamento de literatura e lingua rusa da Universidade de Tartu e máis tarde converteuse en xefe do departamento.