Lithuania: Tuition fees & cost of living
by Adam Jones
Although still a somewhat well-kept secret, Lithuania’s popularity with international students is growing. And there are a few reasons why: The Baltic country offers a wide range of English-taught degrees, its universities offer high quality of education, and tuition fees as well as cost of living are relatively low – together with enchanting historical cities and plenty to do for outdoorsy types. Intrigued? Read on to find out more.
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On average, tuition fees in Lithuania are typically between €2,500 and €5,000 a year for Bachelor’s degrees and between €4,000 and €9,000 for Master’s degrees. However, depending on the institution and the degree chosen they can vary considerably. For example, a master’s degree in medicine or dentistry can cost €14,000 a year. Courses in those disciplines usually come with a higher price tag, while others, such as communication or linguistics, are usually a bit cheaper.
Fees don’t differ significantly for EU and non-EU students – in many cases, they are actually the same.
Here is a round-up of the fees charged at some universities in Lithuania:
| University | Tuition fees for Bachelors per year | Tuition fees for Masters per year |
|---|---|---|
| Vilnius University | €3,200, ranging from €2,600 to 3,900 EUR | €5,000, up to €14,000 for medicine or dentistry |
| Vilnius Gediminas Technical University | €3,500, ranging from €2,700 to €4,700 | ca. €4,500 |
| Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) | ca. €3,000, up to €4,800 for Architecture | ca. €5,000 |
| Vytautas Magnus University | €3,500, ranging from €2,600 to €7,600 | €5,000, ranging from €4,000 to €9,000 |
| Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | ca. €5,000 | €8,000, ranging from €5,500 to €13,000 |
| Mykolas Romeris University | ca. €4,500 | ca. €4,000 |
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Yes, there are application fees at Lithuanian universities. As in many other countries, universities charge a fee to process student applications.
Most of the time, the application fee will be around €100. However, not all students will have to pay an application fee. EU/EEA undergraduate students who want to apply for a state-funded place (see below) will need to apply through the Lithuanian Higher Institutions Association for Organizing Joint Admission and they normally won’t pay an application fee. Students from the EU/EEA who don’t wish to apply for a state-funded place will apply to the individual university, but they still may not have to pay an application fee.
Once they are enrolled though, they may need to pay a registration fee, which will change according to the institution – at Kaunas University of Technology for example, it’s €50.
Non-EU/EEA students will need to apply to the individual university instead and pay an application fee.
The application fee usually needs to be paid when you are applying online, and it’s non-refundable.
Some students can study for free at universities in Lithuania:
Yes! The good news is, there are scholarships for international students in Lithuania – and they are open to both EU and non-EU students.
Some scholarships are awarded by the individual university. For example, Kaunas University of Technology has a scholarship programme awarding full or partial tuition waivers open to all international students.
And Vytautas Magnus University has a number of programmes that award full or partial fee waivers for both bachelor’s and master’s students. Some are for students enrolled in for full-time English-taught degrees, while others target specific nationalities.
Other scholarships are awarded by organisations such as the Education Exchanges Support Foundation, with different calls for applications covering different types of studies (including short-term) and nationalities.
Scholarships with Erasmus+ (for EU students and students from Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia or Türkiye) and Erasmus Mundus ( for joint master’s courses) are also an option.
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If you can’t apply for a state-funded place or you haven’t obtained a scholarship, then you will need to pay tuition fees. The timing of the payment can vary according to the institution, so it’s always wise to inquire about this as soon as you apply, so you can make a plan.
In some universities, you will have to pay a part of the fees in advance. At Vilnius University, students admitted via the University's Online System of Admission will need to pay the fee for the first year of studies within 15 days from the submission date of the invitation to study. At Kaunas University of Technology, you will have to pay an advance tuition fee for the first year before making a learning agreement.
There will be ways to spread the payment in some cases. Vilnius University, for example, allows students to postpone the payment of tuition fees and pay in instalments.
If you can’t start your studies, it may be possible to get the prepaid tuition fees refunded. A typical reason for a refund might be that your study visa got refused, or simply that you changed your mind about stuying in Lithuania. Inquire with your university what their process is and make sure that you formally terminate your study agreement in time.
At Lithuanian universities, applications typically open in January and close between May and June for the autumn intake. However, it’s important to check with your chosen university since deadlines might vary depending on the institution, the study level, your citizenship (and whether you need a visa).
Applications for bachelor’s degrees through the Lithuanian Higher Institutions Association for Organizing Joint Admission have a very specific deadline and they open in June. EU/EEA students applying for study-funded places will need to apply through the Association’s system. However, it’s wise to apply or even just inquire directly with the university first, so the international office can provide assistance.
There may be different deadlines for international students who need a visa to study in Lithuania. For example, Vilnius University has a slightly earlier deadline for non-EU/EFTA students (1 June) compared to EU and local students (1 July).
Another piece of good news: the cost of living in Lithuania is very affordable compared to other European countries.
While your expenses will, of course, depend on your lifestyle, the average cost of living is about 20% lower than in the UK. Rent in Vilnius is 60% lower than in London, 38% lower than in Amsterdam and 34% lower than in Rome.
In very general terms, most international students will spend between €350 and €700 a month, but this will depend on a variety of factors.
There will be plenty of opportunities to find a dorm room for below €150 a month, but if you prefer a room in a student residence, the price may go up to over €300.
Remember to request and use your student ID. A monthly pass with a student ID will only cost you about €5.80 in Vilnius and in Kaunas, and you will have access to many other discounts.
For food, expect to spend between 150 and 300 a month, and keep in mind that a quick lunch out may set you back at least €4-5, so cook at home and bring a packed lunch. Maybe it’s time to try and make some nice Lithuanian dishes and snacks – another good way to get to know your host country a little better!
International students can work while studying at university in Lithuania.
Lithuania has a generous policy for work rights for international students. During their studies, both EU and non-EU students can work full time (up to 40 hours a week). Non-EU students will have to get their work permit first.
After graduation, non-EU students can stay for up to 15 months to find a job. There are no residency and work restrictions for EU graduates.
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