Choosing a university is a responsible and difficult step. To make a conscious decision, it is necessary to assess the criteria for finding a university and program. They may vary depending on your learning goals, but there are five main points that we recommend paying attention to.
Choice of specialty. This is the first thing you should start with. You can learn about how to make a choice here. Lithuanian educational institutions offer many programs in law, business, information technology, social sciences, engineering, and medicine.
Pay attention to the rankings of universities in your field of study. For example, bachelorsportal, QS or THE offer up-to-date statistics. Read the reviews from graduates — they are usually posted on the pages of the same rating systems, or on the websites of universities. Check out the list of in-demand professions in Lithuania — they make it easier to obtain a residence permit and employment.
Language of instruction. First, decide on how long you are planning to stay in the country. If only for the period of study, then English is enough for you — there are more than 500 English-language programs in Lithuania. However, there are very few of these programs at universities — no more than 50 in the whole country. Generally, you will not face any problems communicating with the locals, because the majority of Lithuanians speak English. That being said, it will be difficult to find a job without knowing the local language.
Requirements. These may differ depending on the program. For some, a high school diploma and language certificates are enough; for others, you need to write a motivation letter or pass an interview. You can get acquainted with the conditions of admission on the websites of universities, or on the Study LT platform. On average, your GPA should be above a 7.0 (on a Lithuanian 10-point scale). You can calculate your GPA using the calculator on the Lithuanian Unified Admissions System website.
Duration of training. Generally, undergraduate students study for 3-4 years. But if you are planning to complete a master's degree in the future, you may be interested in integrated programs. Such programs last 5-6 years, but upon completion you will receive both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.
Other criteria. Find out about placements and costs of hostels on the websites of universities. Check out the curriculum in the chosen field, find out if the university has internships and student exchange programs. Get to know the three major cities of Lithuania: Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda. The main universities of the country are concentrated in these cities.
Admission assistance
UniPage specialists will help you choose a university based on your interests, strengths and weaknesses, academic experience, and budget. We will save you time and effort. You do not have to understand ratings, requirements, and documents.
We advise on admission to Lithuania, the Czech Republic, the USA, the UK, and many other countries. We supervise the entire admission process: selecting a university according to your criteria, filling out applications, and receiving an invitation letter.
You can apply to programs after 11th grade. Basic requirements include:
Knowledge of the language. To study in English-language programs, you will need an IELTS (with scores from 5.0) or TOEFL (from 45) certificate. In Lithuanian — knowledge of the language at the B1-B2 level of the CEFR. To assess your language proficiency, you can take a test at a college/university.
GPA. The country uses a 10-point scale, and the minimum passing score at Lithuanian universities is a 7 out of 10. Learn how to transfer your grades to another system in this article.
Motivational letter.Not every educational institution requires one, but sometimes even colleges request them. This is a 300-word essay that reveals your goal of entering the university, interest in your chosen specialty, and accomplishments.
Recommendations. These are often requested for master's and doctorate programs. This is a short letter from your teacher, employer, or an expert in the field you are applying for, where he describes your qualities and actually "encourages" your enrollment.
Resume. These are required for doctoral programs and have a strict structure. You should list your skills, scientific publications, and work experience.
Interview. As a rule, these are conducted with a representative of the admissions office in the same language that you have chosen to study, often conducted online.
Diploma legalization
In order for your certificate or diploma to have legal force in Lithuania, you must pass the recognition procedure at the Education Quality Assessment Center (SKVC). Without this, some universities will not allow you to study. However, there are some universities, such as the European Humanities University, that have the right to independently recognize applicants' documents. Specify information about legalization on the website or admissions office of your chosen university.
We advise you to undergo the legalization procedure as early as possible, given that the process can take up to three months.
Certificate/diploma in English, Lithuanian, or Russian
Transcript with grades
High school final exam results
Сonfirmation of the purpose of application issued by a Lithuanian educational institution
How to apply for a bachelor's degree
If you are an EU citizen or have Lithuanian roots, you can apply through the LAMA BPO unified admission system. It has 16 universities and 19 colleges. The advantage is that the application is submitted immediately to all of your selected universities, for no more than 9 programs. You just need to pay the state fee. All other candidates apply directly to the university.
Applications must be submitted on the university website. But before doing so, you must go through the procedure for recognizing a certificate/diploma: at the university itself, if it has the right to independently conduct the procedure, or at the Education Quality Assessment Center (SKVC). Then, choose up to three programs, submit documents, and pay the registration fee of 65-119 USD.
In Lithuania, there are integrated programs that allow you to combine bachelor’s and master’s studies. The application procedure is not much different from that of a bachelor’s program, but the requirements for them are obviously higher. Often, students are required to write a motivation letter or go through an interview. Because the admissions committee takes these components very seriously, prepare for them in advance.
Admission deadlines
Application deadlines vary from university to university. Most stop accepting them in June, July, and November. Below are the deadlines for admission to major Lithuanian universities. Always double check these dates on the official website of the university.
You can also receive a higher education in Lithuania at a college. The advantage lies in lower language requirements and tuition fees — from 2,200 USD/year. As a result, you will receive a professional bachelor's degree, which, by law, is equivalent to an academic one. But in order to continue your studies in a master’s program, you will need to take an additional course at the university. The admission process is not much different, but many educational institutions require a motivation letter.
How to enter a master's program
A few months before the start of admission, you should go through the procedure for recognizing a diploma at the Center for Assessing the Quality of Education (SKVC). Your scores will be assessed according to the Lithuanian system and a certificate of compliance with academic disciplines will be issued. After that, submit your documents on the university website.
If you are going to study in Lithuanian, you need to take a language proficiency test at the university, which is often conducted online. You also have the option to enroll in an English-language program. For master’s studies, there are more such options than at other levels. To study in English, you must provide an IELTS or TOEFL certificate.
To study at a doctorate program at a Lithuanian university, your master's degree must be recognized in the country and be in the same (or related) field that you are applying for.
Applications can only be made through the university website. You will need to provide all the required documents, recommendations, and a receipt of the registration fee payment.
Once your application is approved, you may be scheduled for an interview. Only after successfully passing the interview, the university will send an acceptance letter, which will need to be signed and returned by mail.
IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL ≥85 for English-language programs
List of research proposals/works
Scholarships in Lithuania
Scholarships will help to save on study costs, but unfortunately there are many offered in Lithuania. You can find more information on Study LTin the scholarshipssection or on university websites. We discuss the most interesting ones below[1].
The Student Exchange Support Fund
This is a program for foreigners from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Moldova, and Ukraine. Only 70 seats are available. Successful candidates will receive monthly payments of 431 USD.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree or at least 210 ECTS of integrated studies in a Lithuanian higher education institution
Official letter of admission or pre-admission to a full-time master's program at a Lithuanian higher education institution
Proficiency in Lithuanian, English, or another language in which the study program is conducted (minimum B2)
The State Research Foundation
There are two types of financial assistance: scholarships and social benefits. To receive them, you need to be a foreigner with Lithuanian roots (even a distant Lithuanian relative is enough) and be a university/college student.
As a rule, the amount of social payments is from 219 USD to 344 USD per month. Fellows also receive a one-time payment of 13,307 USD for one semester.
Full or partial coverage of tuition fees for candidates with outstanding abilities. Foreigners of any background can apply for this scholarship. Students with high academic performance and motivation are awarded.
Tuition discount for master’s and doctorate students who have previously completed their studies at KTU.
Scholarship for talented students. Awarded to the most active students who have achieved outstanding results in their research, scientific, or artistic projects. They also take part in extracurricular activities in the field of business, innovation, and social activities that contribute to the promotion of the university.
The EHU Scholarship
TheEuropean Humanities University (EHU) is a Belarusian university located in Vilnius. It offers a wide range of scholarships from 133 USD per month to one-time grants of 2,155 USD, awarded based on academic achievement.
EHU also has an emergency fund for students who cannot study at Belarusian universities for political reasons.
Vilnius University Scholarships
Vilnius University is ranked 400th in the list of the best universities in the world and first in Lithuania according to QS[2]. Scholarships range from significant one-time grants and partial discounts to full tuition coverage.
Most often, these scholarships are available to the most successful students, with few exceptions. For example, the Foreign Student Scholarship is a scholarship for foreign students. The amount of payments is from 43 USD/month to 129 USD/month.
Student visa to Lithuania
After the official enrollment, the university will issue an invitation document, on the basis of which you will receive a national category Dvisa for one year. The term of consideration is approximately 15 days after filling out the application. You will have to pay a fee of 129 USD for the service.
Proof of financial solvency (346 USD per month/4,150 USD per year)
Invitation letter from the university
Passport (plus photocopy)
One color photo
Health insurance valid in the EU — to get it, contact one of the companies from the LDA (Lithuanian Insurers Association) list (the insurance sum must not be less than 6,241 USD)
After a year of studying, you will be issued a temporary residence permit for one year. While studying, you can renew it annually. You can apply for one at the Lithuanian Migration Department by submitting an electronic application through the MIGRIS system.
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