Higher Education Institutions

There are two types of higher education institutions in Lithuania: universities and colleges. In universities („akademijoje" (academy), „seminarijoje" (seminary), „aukštojoje mokykloje" (higher education institution)) the university type studies dominate. In colleges non-university studies dominate.

Lithuanian higher education institutions are either state or non-state. Non-state higher education institutions can pursue their activities according to a licence issued by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.

Studies at Higher Education Institutions

Qualification of higher education can only be acquired in higher education institutions. Studies at higher education institutions are either higher education non-university or higher education university type.

Non-university studies are undergraduate (professional), one-cycle, aimed at acquiring only the professional qualification, testified by the Higher Education Diploma.

University studies are organised in three cycles: first cycle - undergraduate (Bachelor or professional), second cycle - graduate (Master's or specialised professional) and third cycle - post-graduate (doctoral, residency or postgraduate art).

Upon the completion of undergraduate university studies, Bachelor Diploma is awarded, testifying Bachelor's degree or Bachelor's degree and professional qualification. After completing undergraduate professional study programme the Higher Education Diploma is awarded, testifying professional qualification.

Integrated studies are aimed to acquire qualification of the second cycle, when studies of the first and second cycles are combined. Upon the completion of integrated studies the Master's qualification or Master's qualification and professional qualification, testified by Master's Diploma, is acquired. Sometimes only professional qualification is awarded testified by the Higher Education Diploma.

Upon the completion of graduate Master's studies, Master's Diploma is awarded, testifying Master's qualification or Master's and professional qualification.

Specialised professional second cycle studies are aimed at acquiring professional qualification in a specific study field, testified by the Higher Education Diploma

Postgraduate art studies are the third cycle studies designed for the training of higher education institution art teachers and specialisation of artists.

Residency is the third cycle studies designed exclusively for training of specialists in the specific study fields (Medicine, Odontology, and Veterinary Medicine) in order to follow their individually chosen careers.

In Lithuania the national system of quality assurance in higher education operates. The quality of study programmes as well as educational and scientific activities of higher education institutions are periodically assessed by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education. The first and second cycle studies are conducted in accordance with the study programmes registered by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.

Lithuania uses its national credit system based on student workload with an average of 1600 working hours per academic year. One credit corresponds to 40 notional hours of student work (in classes, laboratories, independent work etc.), or to one working week.

There are three modes of studies: full-time daytime, part-time evening and part-time extra-mural.

Admission to Higher Education Institutions

In order to apply to an undergraduate programme at a higher education institution of Lithuania, Maturity Certificate or comparable qualification is required. To be admitted to the second cycle university programmes individuals should hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification (usually in the respective field). In order to enter the third cycle university studies, an applicant should have either Master's or corresponding degree in the selected study field. Admission to all cycle studies usually takes place on a competitive basis according to the admission rules set up by the institution of higher education agreed with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.