Why should I study in Lithuania?

The country of its devil mythology, architecture and lake-rich landscape…

How to Study in Lithuania

Lithuania is located in Northeastern Europe and is the southernmost country of the Baltic States. Until 1990, it belonged to the Soviet Union. It is bordered by Latvia, Belarus, Poland, as well as by the Baltic Sea in the west.

Lithuania has about 2.8 million inhabitants, of which over half a million live in the capital Vilnius. Other major cities are Kaunas, Klaipeda, Palanga and Neringa Since 2004, Lithuania is a member of the European Union (EU).

Lithuania’s Higher Education System

The higher education institutions are of two types: universities and colleges (non-university higher education institutions. Some private institutions of higher education also offer university level education. However, many private academies often only offer undergraduate studies and are more practice-oriented.

In total there are 23 colleges (including 11 private) and 24 universities (including 8 private).

In conformity with the Bologna Process of the European Higher Education Area, university studies in Lithuania consist of three cycles: Colleges are awarding a professional Bachelor (Bakalauras), usually after three years. Usually Bachelor programmes at universities are four years, Post-graduate studies leading to a Masters degree (Magistras) last one and a half to two years or a degree qualifying.
Teacher training, engineering, or art studies can also be completed with a ‘Diploma’. The third cycle, the postgraduate programmes are available in different variants and take a maximum of four more years; after successful completion you receive a doctorate. 
The academic year is divided into two semesters. Usually, the winter semester lasts from September to January. The summer semester starts in February and ends in June. 
The universities follow the guidelines of the Bologna Declaration. The Bologna system uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
For more information about the entire education system in Lithuania, click here.

Lithuania’s Higher Education System in International Comparison

In the following section, we highlight the overall performance of Lithuanian universities on the institutional level per U-Multirank dimension. The below table shows the national breakdown of Lithuanian Institutions and how they stand across the spectrum of above average (receiving a score of ‘A’ (very good) or ‘B’ (good)), or below average (receiving a score of ‘D’ (below average) or ‘E’ (weak)). So, U-Multirank offers a clear overview on the strengths of Lithuania, and areas for improvement.

Comparing the performance of Lithuanian institutions with the global U-Multirank sample shows a strong performance of Lithuanian institutions in Regional Engagement (67 percent above average) and Teaching & Learning has just average values (62 percent above average).

National performance: Lithuania

Percent of all Universities 100% 80% 60% 40% < below Average above > 40% 60% 80% 100% Teaching & Learning 10.606060606060606% 60.60606060606061% Research 53.211009174311926% 32.11009174311926% Knowledge Transfer 73.07692307692308% 17.94871794871795% International Orientation 20.689655172413794% 63.793103448275865% Regional Engagement 14.893617021276595% 65.95744680851064%

How much does it cost to study in Lithuania?

In Lithuania tuition fees are charged. These are determined by the respective universities and according to the level of study and specific study programme.

Universities and colleges announce their tuition fees annually. For national and EU students the range on bachelor level is between 1,000 to 5,000 euros. Fees in Masters programmes range from 2,000 to 6,000 euros and doctorate programs range is between 7,000 to 8,000 euros.

But some courses are even more expensive: for example, an English-language study in medicine costs around 10,000 euros per year.
For non-EU students different tuition fees may apply.
On average the costs of living are estimated to be between 400 to 500 € per month.

Addition of information on fees and financial support

Source: Eurydice 
Reference year(s): 2020/2021

Fees

In this section we highlight the fees for studying in Lithuania. The fees are shown in the national currency and address all fee types: tuition, enrolment (part- or full-time, etc.), certification, or other administrative costs. Students that are exempt from fees are also described, as well as information on international student fees if they differ.

  • First- and second-cycle students are either 'state-funded' or 'self-financed' depending on their admission scores. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport determines the maximum amount of fees that it will cover for each study field and form of study (full-time/part-time). However, higher education institutions (HEIs) have the autonomy to set their own fee levels. Students studying in state-funded places do not pay fees. Annual full-time first-cycle fees covered by the state for state-funded students admitted to HEIs in 2020 range from EUR 1,505 to 15,234 and annual full-time second-cycle fees range from EUR 2,295 to 16,517.
  • Self-financing first- and second-cycle students who have completed the academic year with the best results may be reimbursed for their tuition fees. The number of students who receive this support may not exceed 10% of the number of graduates in the corresponding year.
  • HEIs can set different fees for international students, defined as citizens of non-EU and non-EEA countries.

Source: Eurydice - National Student Fees and Support Systems in European Higher Education – 2020/21.

Financial Support

In this section we highlight the financial support system implemented in Lithuania. The types of support covered in this section include: grants, loans, tax benefits for students' parents (or students themselves) and family allowances.  How these terms are defined, are outlined below:

  • Grants are provided in the national currency and are differentiated between merit-based and need-based (or universal, where applicable). All main public financial support that does not need to be paid back is included, with the exception of grants for study abroad (i.e. mobility grants). Information is also presented on the proportion of students (in the short, first and second cycle) who receive grants.
  • Loans: information focuses on the existence of a student publicly-subsidised loan system and the percentage of students that take out a loan. Information on the interest rate and modalities for the repayment of loans may also be provided.
  • Tax benefit is any tax relief that is granted to parents whose child is a higher education student or to students themselves. The information aims to cover the amount of the tax relief, how it can be claimed and who is eligible to apply.
  • Family allowances for students' parents: this part provides information on their amount and the eligible population.
  • There are three main types of grant available for both first- and second-cycle students:
  • Social grants of EUR 126.75 per month were awarded to 2.2% of all full- and part-time first- and second-cycle students (including integrated studies) of low socio-economic background, disabled students, and orphans under 25 in 2019/20 autumn semester. The grant period is up to 12 months. From 1 July 2020, the social grant is EUR 253.50 per month. In addition, 0.5% of all students (full-time and part-time first- and second-cycle, including integrated study programmes) received targeted benefits for students with disabilities (EUR 152 per month).
  • Incentive grants for academic achievement range from EUR 10 to 3,728 per year. The grant period varies from 1 to 12 months. Around 16% of full-time first- and second-cycle (including integrated studies) students received such a grant in 2019/20.
  • Study scholarships for high-performing self-financing students are provided for a few full-time first- and second-cycle students in public HEIs. The maximum grant amount is determined by the maximum fees that the Ministry agrees to cover for state-supported students. From January 2021, a new type of grant, ‘targeted scholarships’, will be introduced for students studying in priority study fields determined by the Government.
  • In 2019/20, around 6% of all students took out a state-supported loan. About 80% of loans were issued to cover tuition fee costs, and 20% to cover living expenses. The maximum amount to cover study fees per year is the annual study fee; the maximum amount for living expenses is EUR 1,950/year for domestic studies and EUR 2340/year for studies abroad. The total amount of all loans should not exceed EUR 15,015 excluding interest. The loan repayment must start one year after the end of studies. The term of loan repayment is 15 years.
  • Tax benefits: students' parents (or students) who pay tuition fees are eligible for an annual income tax refund if studies lead to a first degree in a particular study cycle. The income tax refund is determined by the annual income tax rate.
  • No family allowances for students' parents are in place. However, students under the age of 24 who live away from their parents and are unable to provide themselves with sufficient funds for living are entitled to social benefits.

How to get a Scholarship in Lithuania?

International students of all fields are eligible to apply for Lithuanian state scholarships to fund their studies. The Lithuanian State Scholarships Programme is designed for the advanced students, lecturers or researchers of foreign higher education and research institutions to enable them to study at higher education institutions of the Republic of Lithuania. In most cases, scholarships cover both: the tuition fees and living costs. The financial regulations depend on the home country of an applicant. 

Also most Lithuanian universities offer scholarships from their own funds to students who satisfy specified requirements. Interested students should apply to the chosen higher education institution to find out if funding is available for their studies.

For a stipend database regarding scholarships, please click here.

What are the entry requirements for Lithuanian Universities?

There are two application procedures depending on the basis of your citizenship:

Citizens of Lithuania, EU/EEA countries and those, who have a right of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania and would like to apply for a state-funded study place, will need to complete an application form of general admission. The application period for this is between the 1st of June and 23rd of July.

Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries and want to finance their studies independently with their own funds, should apply directly to the Lithuanian university or college that provides the selected programme.

It may also be possible that certain programmes require the pass of preliminary examinations.

With regards to the language requirements: all study programmes for foreign students in Lithuanian higher education institutions are offered in English. All institutions require proof of English language proficiency, most of them require the IELTS score.

Usually, the language of instruction is Lithuanian, so the language skills must be good enough at the beginning of the study Otherwise, it is necessary to register for a one to two-year study programme in which the Lithuanian language is taught from the ground up.

Do I need a Student Visa for Lithuania?

Citizens of the European Union do not need a Visa to study in Lithuania. Students who are not coming from the EU have to apply for a visa. In order to study in Lithuania, you need a “National Visa”, this allows entering the country and staying in it for a period longer than 90 days.

The “Temporary Residence Permit” is a document granting students the right to temporarily reside in the Republic of Lithuania for a period specified in the permit. You have to apply for both of them (at an embassy, diplomatic mission or consulate of the Republic of Lithuania) before you come to Lithuania.

Top Student Cities in Lithuania

How do Lithuanian universities fare in U-Multirank?

  1. In 2022, U-Multirank includes 14 higher education institutions from Lithuania, both universities (8) and universities of applied sciences (6).
  2. In a global perspective, Lithuanian institutions perform well in Teaching and Learning, their Regional Engagement, but also regarding their International Orientation.
  3. The Lithuanian institutions with the highest number of top positions (‘A’ scores) are Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (16), Vytautas Magnus University (11), and the Lituanian University of Health Services (9)

Here you can find the full 2022 country report on Lithuania.

 

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