Applying for a Master’s degree in Lithuania (2025)
High-quality studies with globally recognised degrees - surrounded by a unique culture that cherishes traditions
by Mantas Volungevicius, , modified
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| 12 | universities offer Masters in Lithuania in English |
| 147 | Masters are available |
Located in Europe’s North-East, Lithuania is fast becoming an exciting destination for international Master students: A large number Masters in English, high-quality teaching and research, competitive tuition fees and low cost of living in a modern country all make Lithuania a choice worth considering. Learn more:
You can find nearly 200 Master’s programmes in Lithuania that are completely taught in English.
To get a Masters in Lithuania, tuition fees are commonly between €4,000 and €8,000 per year (and more if it’s Medicine or Dentistry).
However, in practice, European students can often study completely tuition-free (more precisely: citizens of EU/EEA countries). The Lithuanian government offers a large number of scholarships to Lithuanian citizens, but because of EU law, these are also available to students who are nationals of other countries in the EU/EEA. Universities do not advertise this very aggressively because in theory, places are limited, but in reality, these grants are available for most European applicants.
Students from other, non-EU/EEA countries will have to pay fees, but may have access to other scholarships or fee waivers. (For more details, read our guide on tuition fees in Lithuania.)
In Lithuania, you apply to the universities directly. Most of them use an application system called DreamApply which is fairly easy to navigate. (You won’t necessarily see that name show up - but you will notice that they look very similar and follow a similar application process.) If you choose to apply to two separate universities who both use it, you will be able to log in with the same credentials, but may have to re-upload documents.
To apply for a Master in Lithuania, you typically need these documents:
They should all be provided in English - if the originals are in another language, you may have to get them translated.
Application deadlines differ between universities and potentially between programmes, but to start your studies in the autumn semester, most deadlines are in May or June.
Some universities also offer a number of their Masters for a spring intake which would mean starting your studies in February. Applications then typically open in September or October and close between November and December. This also makes Lithuania an interesting option if, elsewhere, late applications are not an option.
However, it is strongly recommended to submit your application as early as possible. Especially if you are a non-EU student and therefore need a visa: Since Lithuania does not have embassies in every country, the visa process including document recognition can be time-consuming.
Lithuanian universities typically charge non-refundable application fees between €100 and €150. If you are from the EU, you will most likely be asked to pay it via bank transfer; for non-European applicants, there may be other payment processes that the university will provide.
The Lithuanian government and the universities offer numerous for international students. Most of these are merit-based and some are targeted at nationals of specific countries. Some cover the full fee, some are partial tuition fee waivers.
Do your research early because the timelines vary a lot: Vilnius Tech, for example, decides based on submitted degree applications - for which you will have to apply in April. Vytautas Magnus University, on the other hand, accepts scholarship applications between August and September.
Students who are citizens of an EU country do not need a student visa - all other nationals have to apply for a visa to study in Lithuania before they enter the country.
The first step is to apply for a National Visa. With it, you can enter Lithuania and stay for up to 90 days. Then during this period, and as soon as possible, you need to apply for your Temporary Residence Permit as a student.
To apply for the visa, you’ll need to visit the Lithuanian embassy. Lithuania has in ca. 100 countries; in some regions, there are only few embassies or consulates (such as Africa, Latin America or South-East Asia). If there isn’t one in your country you may have to travel. As that will cost you more time and money, be sure to check early on which embassy is the best choice.
Lithuanian universities often provide accommodation options for their international students on or close to campus. Commonly, rooms are shared with someone else, with communal kitchens and shared bathrooms. These student dormitories are quite affordable and a great way to make friends.
For a more comfortable alternative, you can also look for private accommodation off-campus. You’ll find that compared to most other European countries, apartments in Vilnius, Kaunas and other towns are relatively cheap.
Ask your university early in the process, especially if you are interested in the available student dormitories: Capacity can be limited!
All set? Then it’s time to prepare your trip! From most places in Europe and the rest of the world, Lithuania is best reached via plane. You’ll most likely fly to Vilnius, possibly Kaunas, and both are fine regardless of where you plan to study. If you start your degree in the autumn semester, note that Lithuania can get cool early in the season. Bring a good jacket if you have one or plan to buy one soon after arrival.
Most Masters programmes in Lithuania lead to an MSc or MA degree and last for 2 full years (120 ECTS credit points).
Master tuition fees in Lithuania can be around 4,000 to 8,000 per year, depending on university and programme.
Ready to study in Lithuania?
