Lithuania offers international students access to historic universities, technical institutions, English-taught degrees, and comparatively affordable study options within the European Higher Education Area. When choosing an institution, applicants should compare academic strengths, program language, tuition fees, available scholarships, research opportunities, and possible pathways after graduation.
This guide introduces vie Lithuanian universities and features the real journeys scholarship recipients. Their experiences show how applicants connected professional and research backgrounds with specific programs, tailored personal statements and research proposals, contacted prospective supervisors, and demonstrated strengths beyond academic grades alone.
One recipient was the only Filipino selected for his Erasmus Mundus cohort and completed a joint master’s across Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Portugal. Another secured a three-year Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral fellowship at Kaunas University of Technology that provides a salary, research mobility funding, and secondment opportunities. Alongside these stories, you can compare the universities’ admissions information, tuition fees, scholarships, academic offerings, and international study options.
Top Universities in Lithuania for International Students
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| Vilnius University | Medicine, Life Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences |
| Vilnius Gediminas Technical University | Engineering, Technology, Architecture, and Aviation |
| Kaunas University of Technology | Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics |
| Mykolas Romeris University | Law, Business, and Psychology |
1. Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the first and largest university in Lithuania, founded in 1579, and one of the oldest higher education institutions in Central and Eastern Europe. Today, the university comprises 12 faculties, seven institutes, two university hospitals, and four interfaculty study and research centers. Students at VU also have access to the oldest library in Lithuania, the Botanical Garden, the Astronomical Observatory, and other academic and cultural resources.
Vilnius University is strongly connected with the historic city of Vilnius and also has branches in Kaunas and Å iauliai. As of October 1, 2025, the university had 26,553 students, including 3,424 foreign students. It is also ranked #=465 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, placing it among the top 500 universities in the world.
2. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, also called VILNIUS TECH, is one of Lithuania’s leading universities for engineering, technology, and university-business cooperation. It is a public technical university with 11 faculties: the Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute, the Faculty of Environmental Engineering, the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty of Electronics, the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, the Faculty of Creative Industries, the Lithuanian Maritime Academy, the Faculty of Mechanics, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the Faculty of Transport Engineering, and the Faculty of Business Management.
VILNIUS TECH has more than 8,600 students, more than 1,720 international students, and over 470 partner universities abroad. The university is ranked #791–800 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and reports that it is the national leader in Lithuania in the engineering discipline group.
3. Kaunas University of Technology
Kaunas University of Technology had its beginnings on February 16, 1922, when the University of Lithuania and its technical faculties were established. Its development continued through the first Lithuanian independent technical higher education school, later known as Kaunas Polytechnic Institute. Today, KTU is a public research university with nine faculties and eight institutes. Its academic areas include chemical technology, civil engineering and architecture, electrical and electronics engineering, informatics, mathematics and natural sciences, mechanical engineering and design, social sciences, arts and humanities, technologies and business, and economics and business.
KTU is ranked #=696 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The university also has cooperation agreements with more than 350 higher education institutions in 50 countries, supporting international exchange, study, and research opportunities.
One student’s journey: Megang Nkamga Junile Staures, a Cameroonian researcher pursuing a PhD in Mathematics at Kaunas University of Technology, targeted KTU after studying faculty profiles, recent publications, and research groups, and contacting potential supervisors to test research fit before applying. She tailored her personal statement and research proposal rather than using a generic application, and says her interdisciplinary background in mathematics, financial modelling, and data science, together with strong recommendations and a clearly defined research goal, helped her stand out. Her three-year PhD, running from May 2025 to May 2028, is supported by a fully funded Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Fellowship covering a doctoral salary, research mobility funding, and secondment opportunities. View More Kaunas University of Technology recipients →
4. Mykolas Romeris University
Mykolas Romeris University, commonly known as MRU, was established in 1990 as the first university founded in Lithuania following the restoration of the country’s independence. It adopted its current name in 2004 in honor of Mykolas Römeris, an influential Lithuanian legal scholar and a prominent figure in the development of constitutional law.
MRU is Lithuania’s largest university specializing in the social sciences and humanities. Its academic divisions cover law, public security, psychology, communication, education, business, public governance, and other related fields. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, including several programs taught entirely in English.
One student’s journey: Daryl James Valdez, a Filipino social worker, completed the two-year, 120-ECTS European Joint Master in Social Work with Children and Youth through a consortium coordinated by Mykolas Romeris University, studying in Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Portugal with a fully funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship. He believes his application stood out because of his social-work background, years of practice with children and youth, published research, and a 7.0 IELTS score; he was the only Filipino selected for his cohort. View More Mykolas Romeris University recipients →
FAQs about Studying in Lithuania
Is Lithuania a Good Place to Study for International Students?
Lithuania has universities and colleges that offer degree and non-degree study programs. Its higher education system is part of the European Higher Education Area, which helps make qualifications more comparable and recognizable across Europe.
Studying in Lithuania is relatively more affordable than in many popular study destinations such as the US or UK. Tuition fees are more affordable than in many Western European countries, with official Study in Europe guidance listing average tuition from €1,300 per year for bachelor’s studies, from €2,300 per year for master’s studies, and from €8,400 per year for doctoral studies. Living costs are estimated at around €500 to €800 per month, depending on the city and lifestyle.
Can International Students Work in Lithuania While Studying?
International students can work in Lithuania, but the rules depend on their citizenship, residence status, and level of study. EU students follow the same employment procedures as local students. For non-EU students, recent rules limit first- and second-year bachelor’s students to 20 hours of work per week, except during summer holidays and practical training periods. Students in later years, master’s students, doctoral candidates, residents, and graduates may generally work up to 40 hours per week. Non-EU students should hold the required visa or temporary residence permit and should always check the current Migration Department rules before accepting work.
Can International Students Stay in Lithuania After Graduation?
The easiest way for international graduates to stay in Lithuania is to find qualifying employment or apply for a post-study residence option. Citizens of European Union countries can work in Lithuania under the same general procedures as local residents.
Non-EU graduates who completed studies in Lithuania can apply for a temporary residence permit valid for 12 months for job search, employment, or self-employment. A temporary residence permit issued or renewed for the final year of studies also remains valid for three months after the expected end of studies, allowing graduates to continue their transition into the labor market.
Compared with larger European study destinations, Lithuania has a smaller higher education sector, but this should not discourage you from studying in the country. Lithuanian universities offer opportunities such as scholarships, internships, exchange programs, and international partnerships.
We hope that this article has encouraged you to study in Lithuania. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
