Study in Lithuania

There are two types of Higher Education Institutions in Lithuania:

Universities: They are similar to universities in other countries, and offer Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees. In addition to conducting academic programs, they also conduct fundamental research in a wide range of disciplines. There are 18 Universities in Lithuania, most of which are public institutions, funded by the Government. Three of the Universities are private institutions, one of which is a branch of a European Institution of Higher Education. The oldest is Vilnius University, which has a history that goes back nearly 450 years.

Colleges: They are similar to vocational institutions of higher education in other countries. They provide practical training and education leading to the award of vocational Bachelor’s degrees in several technical fields. These degrees usually last for four years. There are 20 Colleges in Lithuania, of which 19 are funded by the Government. They provide training in fields like Forestry, Design, Technical Services, and Applied Sciences. They have partnerships with well known companies in related areas to ensure that students receive job placements immediately after they graduate.

Lithuanian Universities primarily focus on long-term degrees. However, they also offer short-term certificate courses with an average length of 3 to 6 months. These are primarily targeted at busy professionals who wish to upgrade their skills quickly. As such, the most popular subjects for short-term certificates and part-time diplomas are digital marketing, data science, information technology, and workplace safety. Several universities run short-term language programs during the summer, when tourist traffic to Lithuania is highest.

There are two types of undergraduate degrees awarded by Lithuanian Universities: academic and professional Bachelor's programs. Universities offer academic Bachelor's degrees; these are similar to undergraduate programs in other countries. They are designed to be completed in three years or six semesters, after achieving 180 ECTS credits of study. The first two years have foundation courses in the broad field of study chosen, with the third year having specialized courses and intensive project work, culminating in the creation of a Bachelor's Thesis.

Colleges in Lithuania offer professional Bachelor's degrees. These can take 3 or 4 years to complete, and differ from academic Bachelor's degrees by having more practical training sessions and collaborative project work. Students typically complete internships between every year of study, and placement rates for graduates are close to 100%.

Master's programs are the postgraduate components of the tertiary education system in Lithuania. They last either 1 or 2 years (depending on the previous number of higher education years of the candidate), and involve advanced studies and research in one particular discipline, culminating in a guided postgraduate thesis defense. Lithuania has several highly respected graduate programs that are recognized across the European Union.

In order to successfully apply for a Master's program in Lithuania, international candidates typically need to submit proof of successful completion of an undergraduate degree at a University in their home country. However, in exceptional cases, a professional qualification combined with extensive professional experience can also be used to successfully apply.

PhD programs occupy the third cycle of tertiary education in Lithuania. Applicants to doctoral degree programs must ordinarily have a Master’s degree, though Bachelor’s (Honors) students who have impressive work experience can also apply. They normally last between 3 and 5 years depending on the agreement between the student and the supervisor. After a semester spent on coursework and training in basic research techniques, students spend several years on original research work under a faculty guide, often attached to a laboratory. The program ends with a Thesis Defense before a panel of external examiners.

At the same level as Doctoral Programs, there are Residencies in Art Schools; they last between 1 and 3 years, and involve long term work on one or more pieces of art.