Study on Cheapest Tuition in Lithuania: Application Process and Cost of Living

This beautiful country is located in the north of Europe on the Baltic Sea offers a unique mix of multicultural influences, with a nice blend of past and modern, and vibrant cosmopolitan student cities. Lithuania houses some of the fastest-growing economies in the EU, Lithuania also has cheap living costs compared to several other Western European countries, and its citizens are generally considered some of the most bilingual and well-educated in Europe. It’s also *relatively* mild, despite its northern location, and an ideal choice for nature-lovers, with a lush mix of forests, gently rolling hills, rivers, streams and lakes.On top of that, tuition fees are cheap and low for international students.

Admission Requirements

Before going on to study in Lithuania, ensure your qualifications will be accepted for your level of study. You’ll need to have a school leaving certificate (or equivalent) if applying for first cycle (bachelor’s) degrees, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent for second cycle (master’s) programs and a master’s degree if applying for a third cycle (PhD) program respectively. As an international student, your application documents have to be carefully evaluated and recognized by the Lithuanian Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (CQAHE), and that means you are expected to submit original copies of your diploma and academic transcript.

One important thing you should consider is the language you’ll study in. Well more than 380 English-taught courses are available on the program search tool provided by the Study in Lithuania website, that is 99 university bachelor’s degrees, 139 master’s degrees and 16 doctoral courses. If you want to study in English and are not a native speaker, you will need to take a proficiency test such as IELTS or TOEFL. Likewise, if you’re studying in Lithuanian, you’ll need to pass a proficiency test in the language.

How to Apply to Universities in Lithuania

Lithuanian nationals, people of Lithuanian origin and students from the EU/EEA are able to apply through the Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions (LAMA BPO) for state-funded places at universities in Lithuania, and has to be done between 1 June and 23 July every year.

If you come from a country outside of the EU/EEA, you are expected o apply directly to your chosen university, and submit all the required documents:

Completed application form
Certificate of education (which has been recognized by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education)
CV and letter of motivation
Copy of your passport, certified by a Commissioner of Oaths
Photographs of yourself as well
A receipt proving that the application and tuition fees have been paid
Bank documents proving that you are able to cover your tuition fees and living costs while studying in Lithuania

Tuition fees

Tuition fees in Lithuania differ across universities, courses and programs. Average tuition rates are as follows:

€1,000-5,300 (~US$1,060-5,620) for bachelor’s degrees
€2,200-6,500 (~US$2,330-6,890) for master’s degrees
€7,100-8,500 (~US$7,520-9,000) for PhDs

Living Expenses

Lithuania is quite a cheap place to live in, with Vilnius University putting the costs at €489 (~US$520) per month, or €5,868 (~US$6,240) per year including accommodation, which in student dormitories can be as little as €70 (~US$74) per month.Your mandatory Lithuanian student identity card (LSIC) will not only afford you access to the university library, but will allow you to save cash at local theaters, cinemas and restaurants. The international student identity card (ISIC) is not necessarily compulsroy but will allow you access to even more discounts.

Lithaunian Student Visa

Please note that students from the EU do not require a student visa. Those from selected non-EU countries such as New Zealand, Australia, the US and Canada (full list here) do not require a visa to enter Lithuania, but are expected to apply for one once they arrive. EU students do not need a residence permit, but must register with the Lithuanian Migration Departmentand declare their place of residence at a local district authority (Seniūnija) within seven days of arrival.

If you need a Lithuanian student visa, you’ll need to apply for the National visa (D), which can be single or multiple-entry. All non-EU students also need to apply for a temporary residence permit.You can apply for these at your local Lithuanian embassy for a €60 (~US$64) fee, and will need the following documents:

Passport valid for at least three months longer than your expected length of stay in Lithuania
Completed application form
One recent color photo
A document proving that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay and fund your journey home at the end of your studies
A document confirming that you’ve purchased health insurance

The documents required for a residence permit are the same. You are expected to show proof that you’ve been accepted to a university in Lithuania, as well as a document showing your place of residence during your program. Your Lithuanian student visa is issued in 15 days.

All students are able to work in Lithuania for up to 20 hours per week beginning from their second year of studies, but non-EU students will require a work permit (unless hired during a training period or intending to work in the field of scientific/social research). After graduating, non-EU students can apply for a six-month temporary residence permit in order to stay in the country and seek employment.