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.
Pošto zbog antisemitizma nije mogao da nastavi sa akademskom karijerom u Lenjingradu (nije mogao da se prijavi na doktorski program), Lotman je otišao u Estoniju 1950. godine i od 1954. je počeo da radi kao predavač na Departmanu za ruski jezik i književnost na Univerzitetu u Tartuu i kasnije je poslao i direktor departmana.