Studium in Litauen

Studying in Lithuania: a brief overview

Lithuania, one of the three Baltic states, has a population of around 2.8 million, uses the euro and has been a member of the European Union since 2004. Having regained its independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Lithuania today stands out for its open economy and growing technology sector. The capital, Vilnius, and the second-largest city, Kaunas, are at the heart of education, with international airports and lively student populations. Its English-taught programme options and a budget that is reasonable compared with Western Europe make the country a viable option for students aiming for a European degree.

Education system

Lithuanian higher education is in line with the Bologna Process, and a significant proportion of programmes are taught in English. According to the durations stated in the source, a bachelor's degree takes 3–4 years, a master's 1.5–2 years and a doctorate 3–4 years. In medicine, there is a 6-year English-taught programme option. Technical universities are active in European projects and follow a project-based, practice-oriented model of education.

Universities in Vilnius

• Vilnius University: Founded in 1579, it is both the oldest and the largest university in the country. With its main campus in the Old Town and 14 faculties, the source shows it ranked 439th in the QS 2025 rankings; it offers programmes in business, law, medicine, psychology, IT and international relations.
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH): Founded in 1956, this institution with 10 faculties stands out in fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, civil engineering and architecture.
• ISM University of Management and Economics: A boutique private university focusing on finance, economics and business.

Universities in Kaunas

• Kaunas University of Technology (KTU): Founded in 1922; known for its software, artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, electronics and cybersecurity programmes. The source shows it in the 751-760 band of the QS rankings, and it is a member of ECIU and EUA.
• Vytautas Magnus University: Also founded in 1922, the institution provides education in the social sciences, law, business and psychology; it is in the 741-750 band of the QS rankings.
• Lithuanian University of Health Sciences: With its medicine, dentistry and pharmacy programmes, it is one of the institutions most often considered by students thinking of studying medicine in the Baltic region; the English-taught version of the medicine programme takes 6 years.

Tuition fees

The annual ranges in our partner sources are as follows: bachelor's €2,000 – €5,000, engineering €3,000 – €5,500, master's €2,500 – €6,000, medicine €8,000 – €12,000. The city pages show bachelor's fees of 2,500 – 5,500 EUR and medical fees of 8,000 – 13,000 EUR in Vilnius; in Kaunas, bachelor's fees of 2,500 – 5,000 EUR and medical fees of 9,000 – 13,000 EUR. As our sources do not contain a programme-by-programme fee table for Lithuania, programme fees need to be confirmed from each university's current list.

Cost of living

Monthly living costs across the country are shown in the range of €400 – €800. In Vilnius, a dormitory costs 120 – 250 EUR, rent 350 – 700 EUR and general expenses 500 – 850 EUR; in Kaunas, a dormitory costs 100 – 200 EUR, rent 300 – 600 EUR and general expenses 450 – 800 EUR. According to the source, Vilnius is more affordable than Prague and on a similar level to Poland; Kaunas is slightly more economical than Vilnius.

Which city suits whom?

With the broad range of programmes that comes with being the capital, a digitalised city life and a high proportion of English speakers, Vilnius appeals to those looking for an international environment. Described in the source as a small but international city, Vilnius offers a calm and safe way of life. Kaunas, on the other hand, is a strong alternative for students aiming for engineering, IT and medicine; its slightly lower living costs are an advantage for students who plan their budget carefully. Since the distance between the two cities is short, it is also possible to study in one and access events and job opportunities in the other.

Admission requirements

The application file includes a high school diploma, a transcript, an English proficiency certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL or an exemption, a statement of purpose and a passport. Some programmes may conduct online interviews with applicants. As our sources do not include an application calendar specific to Lithuania, you need to follow the dates in the official announcements of your target university; preparing early makes the document and visa processes easier.

Career and recognition

Students can work part-time during their studies; the IT and finance sectors in Vilnius and the automotive, electronics and IT sectors in Kaunas offer internship opportunities. The equivalence of the diploma in Turkey is assessed according to YÖK's current legislation; as summarised in the source, we recommend bearing in mind the ranking criteria in the 2024 regulation when making your choice.

If you are finding it hard to decide between Vilnius and Kaunas, you can get in touch with us to assess your goals together.