Universities in Lithuania

Lithuania's universities combine a long academic tradition with a large offer for international students. According to Study in Lithuania, the national information centre for foreign students, Lithuanian universities offer more than 500 study programmes taught in English. As an EU member, Lithuania follows the European Higher Education Area, so degrees use ECTS credits and the familiar bachelor-master-doctorate structure.

Higher education is offered by universities and by colleges (universities of applied sciences). Only universities award master's diplomas, and doctoral studies are run by universities, alone or together with research institutes. Our directory lists three universities in Lithuania: Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas and the Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy.

How Lithuanian universities work

Each year of full-time study is worth 60 ECTS credits. The main qualifications are:

• Bachelor's degree: 180 to 240 ECTS, with or without a professional qualification
• Master's degree: 90 to 120 ECTS, offered only at universities
• Integrated study programmes that combine the first and second cycles and lead to a master's diploma
• Third cycle: doctorate (PhD), residency in medicine or veterinary science, and doctoral studies in the arts

Students can study full-time or part-time, and several universities have a spring intake as well as the autumn start. Programmes are taught in Lithuanian or English; check the language of each programme on the university's site or on Study in Lithuania, which lists universities, colleges and institutes by city.

Admission for international students

There is no central application system for foreign students: each university sets its own requirements and runs its own application process. Recognition of your previous qualification is part of admission; at Vytautas Magnus University, for example, the academic recognition of foreign qualifications is carried out together with the application.

Plan early. Deadlines for the autumn semester at most universities are in June, and document recognition can take a month or longer. Language and other entry requirements vary by university and programme.

Visa and residence

EU citizens, including Spanish citizens, do not need a visa. Students from outside the EU, including Latin America, must apply for both a national visa (D) and a temporary residence permit (TRP) before they arrive. According to Vilnius University (checked October 2026), the TRP for study is issued for one to two years (up to three for doctoral students) and can be renewed; applicants must show at least €577 per month plus €1,153 for the return journey, and the general procedure takes up to two months.

Costs and scholarships

Tuition depends on the university, the programme and the level. According to Study in Lithuania, average fees start at €1,300 a year for bachelor's studies, €2,300 for master's studies and €8,400 for doctoral studies. Funding options include:

• State-funded places, open to EU citizens
• State scholarships for full-time master's studies for citizens of selected non-EU countries, with a monthly scholarship of €592 in 2026 plus the study cost
• State-funded PhD places, open to international students, including non-EU students
• Individual grants from universities

How to choose a university

• Language: confirm that your programme is taught in English, or plan for Lithuanian
• Type of institution: a university for academic degrees, master's and doctorates; a college for professional bachelor's programmes
• City: Vilnius, the capital, or smaller study cities such as Kaunas, Klaipėda or Šiauliai
• Intake: autumn or, at some universities, spring
• Funding: whether you qualify for a state-funded place or scholarship

The three universities in our directory differ in profile. Vilnius University traces its origins to 1 April 1579, when Stephen Báthory issued a letter of privilege to open the Vilnius Academy; it had 26,553 students on 1 October 2025, including 3,424 foreign students, and 90 programmes listed on Study in Lithuania. Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, established in 1922 and re-established in 1989, follows a liberal arts tradition with an emphasis on the humanities and social sciences. The Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy in northern Lithuania lists its programmes in Lithuanian, among them bachelor's degrees such as English philology and public relations or economics and investment, and offers student housing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study at a Lithuanian university in English?

Yes. Lithuanian universities offer more than 500 programmes taught in English, at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level.

How much does a degree in Lithuania cost?

According to Study in Lithuania, average fees start at €1,300 a year for a bachelor's degree, €2,300 for a master's and €8,400 for a PhD. EU citizens can apply for state-funded places.

When should I apply?

Deadlines for the autumn semester at most universities are in June. Apply early, especially if you need a visa, because recognition of documents can take a month or longer.

Do non-EU students need a visa?

Yes. Students from outside the EU need a national visa (D) and a temporary residence permit, both arranged before arrival.