Academic Information

Academic Calendar

Academic Year of 2024/2025

Autumn Semester

	Exchange students	Full-time students
Orientation Days	September 2–5, 2024	First Week of September for the First Year Students
Lecture Period	September 4, 2024–December 23, 2024	September 5, 2023–December 23, 2023
Making Changes to the Study Plan in the VU Information System	September 2–16, 2024
Christmas Holidays	December 24, 2024–January 1, 2025
Period for Examinations and Final Assessments	January 2–26, 2025
Winter holidays	January 27, 2025–February 4, 2025
Exam re-take session	February 4–18, 2025

Spring Semester

	Exchange Students	Full-Time Students
Orientation days	January 31, 2024 – February 4, 2024	–
Lecture period	February 5, 2024 – May 31, 2024	February 5, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Making changes to the Study Plan in the VU Information System	February 5–16, 2024
Easter Holidays	April 1–7, 2024
Period for Examinations and Final Assessments	June 1–30, 2024
Summer holidays	July 1, 2024–August 31, 2024
Exam re-take session	September 2–15, 2024

Public national holidays

November 1, 2024 (Friday)	All Saints' Day
November 2, 2024 (Saturday)	All Souls Day
February 16, 2025 (Sunday)	Day of Restoration of Lithuania's State
March 11, 2025 (Tuesday)	Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania
April 20–21, 2025 (Sunday–Monday)	Easter
May 1, 2025 (Thursday)	International Labour Day
June 24, 2025 (Tuesday)	Joninės (Midsummer) Day

Study Process

General University Studies (GUS) and Optional Courses

General University Studies (GUS) – general education in all the first cycle (bachelor's) and integral study programmes of Vilnius University.

Optional Courses. At the end of the semester, registration for the next semester's Optional Courses/modules takes place in VU information system. The deadline for registration for Optional Courses (modules) for the spring semester is December 15, and for the autumn semester, May 15. Students of the first semester of study must register for Optional Courses (modules) during the first two weeks of the semester. It is possible to deregister from an optional course and choose another one during the first two weeks of the semester in which it is offered.

Optional Courses are presented in study plans of study programs.

Individual Study Plan and Individual Studies at VU LSC

Individual study plan:
Individual Studies at VU LSC

Individual study plan:

An individual study plan is created after the motivated personal request of the student. The student submits a request for an individual study plan through the eStudentas (VU IS) electronic system. Applications for an individual study plan are submitted during the first two weeks of the semester.
An individual study plan is possible only for the advanced and study debt-free student.
An individual study plan is created for the on-going semester.
An individual study plan is not possible for the first semester of the first study year.
As the case of exception, when a student of the first year of studies plans to change study programme after the winter session, due to significant differences in study plans and in order to avoid debts of more than 15 credits, an individual plan may be created with the approval of the study programme chairperson.
An individual study plan can be created only at the same level of studies, and change in no more than 30 per cent of study subjects is possible.
An individual study plan with the change of the optional courses is created in coordination with the chairperson of the study committee and after her/his approval.
An individual study plan with the change of the compulsory courses is created after the approval by the study programme committee.
Upon receiving the approval of the chair of the study program or the committee on the individual study plan, the application is approved by the Deputy Director for Studies of the Life Sciences Center.

Requirements for the First Class

During the first lecture of the study subject, the lecturer has to familiarize the students with the description of the study subject, indicating the methods, procedure, assessment criteria and accounting requirements for student's achievement assessment. The assessment methods, procedure, assessment criteria and accounting requirements presented during the first lecture cannot be changed during the semester. Students have to be informed about the changes due to unforeseen circumstances (changed resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or Vilnius University, personal affairs of the lecturer, fundamental changes in the organization of the study process) as early as possible.

During the first class, the lecturer answers the questions asked by the students related to the subject, discusses the methods of communication with the students, and preliminarily discusses the dates for accounting .

It is recommended to publish the subject assessment strategy (accounting requirements, assessment methods) in the subject’s virtual course in the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE = Lith. VMA) (in the VLE system). It is also recommended to publish the work plan, timetable, and accounting times in the virtual environment.

During the first class, the lecturer discusses the division of students into groups with the students. Students are assigned to groups by the senior of the students of the year who has divided the students evenly into all the planned groups. The lecturer himself can distribute students (according to surnames in alphabetical order) into groups of equal number of students.

During the first laboratory work, lecturers inform students about the order and safe behaviour in the laboratory, conduct a safety briefing and have students sign the work safety log.

Student Participation in Classes, Illnesses, Excuses

A student who is unable to come to the interim accounting at a time indicated in the timetable due to an illness or another important reason may account for it at another time agreed with the coordinating lecturer.

The student’s absence from compulsory accounting has to be supported by a document (in case of an illness, a medical certificate (form 027/a or 046/a, extracts from e-health indicating the time of illness (calls to doctors for consultation are not suitable), in other cases - an official document proving a valid reason for absence). A serious reason for absence at the VU LSC is an illness, representing Lithuania or VU in sports or cultural activities, loss of a close relative, participation at conferences, participation in military exercises.

If the student does not come to the final assessment (exam), the lecturer has to record the absence in the register; it will be cancelled and the assessment postponed after the student submits a document justifying the absence to the VU LSC Studies Division. A student for whom the final assessment of a subject has been postponed has the right to take the exam individually no later than in two weeks, counting from the end of the postponed term, at the time determined by the lecturer of the study subject.

According to point 28 of the VU Study Regulations, students with a disability or a temporary health disorder are subject to flexible forms of assessment of study achievements, adapting them to the individual needs and capabilities of the student arising from the disability or temporary health disorder and ensuring that the study achievements will be properly assessed.

According to the VU Study Regulations, every student has a right to be acquainted with the study achievements of his subject and to receive feedback on the evaluation of study achievement assessment tasks. A student who does not agree with the final assessment of the subject has a right to submit a well-founded written appeal to the VU LSC Committee on Dispute Resolution no later than in seven calendar days from the date of publication of the final assessment of the subject, and for interim accountings - no later than in three work days after the interim accountings.

In case of reaching a lower than threshold level of study achievements (less than 5 points) during the final assessment of the study achievements of the subject, the student can retake the final assessment of the study achievements of the subject once during the first two weeks of the new semester. If the subject is not passed during the re-take session, the student must repeat the course.

When taking an exam that has been postponed (due to a good reason), the student must contact the lecturer of the subject himself and discuss with the lecturer the time and place of retaking the exam (at a time convenient for the lecturer).

A student who repeats a course must come to the first classes of the subject, introduce himself to the lecturer and discuss with the lecturer the mandatory accountings and assessments accepted.

Psychologist's Consultation

Psychological consultations
Emergency psychological help

Psychological consultations

The purpose of psychological counseling is to help people identify, understand, and address personal or interpersonal difficulties related to psychological well-being or behavior. During psychological counseling, a psychologist can help to recognize and change negative or illogical thinking, form a positive attitude towards oneself and the outside world, overcome feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, feel responsible and in control, restore the ability to feel pleasure, find solutions to everyday problems and to use them in various areas of life, to overcome stress, post-traumatic experiences, to resolve interpersonal conflicts.

VU students can receive up to 4 free of charge individual sessions each year. The sessions are facilitated by experienced and qualified practitioners and can be conducted remotely or in-person. The duration of a session is 45–50 minutes. More information about the Vilnius university Well-Being Division services can be found here: https://www.vu.lt/en/studies/life-at-vu/psychological-support

Registration for consultations

To register for a consultation, please fill in the form. When a consultation becomes available the administrator will contact you regarding the date and time for your appointment.

Please note that if there is a high volume of requests, there may be a waiting list. This can result in waiting times of up to 6 weeks. If the offered consultation time is refused twice, you will automatically be placed at the back of the waiting list.

In-person consultations are provided at the psychological counselling offices located in Vilnius at VU Faculty of Philosophy (Universiteto str. 9/1), Faculty of Physics (Saulėtekio al. 9), Faculty of Medicine (M. K. Čiurlionio g. 21), Institute of International Relations and Political Science (Vokiečių g. 10) as well as in Kaunas at VU Kaunas Faculty (Muitinės g. 8).

Emergency psychological help

Vilnius university community psychologists offer urgent free of charge psychological help for students and employees if:

You are going through a psychological crisis – a tough period, such as losing a loved one, a traumatic experience, etc.
You have thoughts about suicide or harming yourself.
You have had severe psychological conditions, such as depression, psychotic episodes, etc., and you feel it may happen again shortly.

Don't be alone and ask for help; we will try to find solutions together.

Register for the consultation by writing an email to padek@vu.lt or by calling VU community psychologists directly by phone: +370 658 99392, +370 699 34818, +37069009131 or you can immediately register for a consultation. Consultations are available in Lithuanian, English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

If you are worried about a friend or colleague who needs help, don't hesitate to contact us; together, we will find ways to help them.

For Incoming Students

Congratulations on choosing to study and work at Vilnius University Life Sciences Center!

In this info-pack, you will find useful information to make your transition to Lithuania easier.

Resident permit

Resident permit

A Temporary Residence Permit is a document that provides a right for temporary residence in Lithuania to the bearer for the period specified in the Permit. If a student or an employee has a Temporary Residence Permit, he (she) may choose a place of residence, leave the country and come back. However, the student of employee should inform a Migration Service of any changes of his (her) place of residence. A Temporary Residence Permit shall be issued, when a student or employee is not a citizen of a European Union Member State.Usually, a Temporary Residence Permit in Lithuania is issued for a period of one year or two years.

You must first submit an application for an issue or renewal of a temporary residence permit electronically through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS).

For issue the said Permit, the following documents shall be submitted:

The application of the set form for issue a Temporary Residence Permit in Lithuania;
The valid travel document;
The valid visa, if the application is submitted after arrival of the student or employee to Lithuania;
A photo relevant to the age (40 x 60 mm) – 1;
The documents certifying the base for issuing a Temporary Residence Permit in Lithuania:
5.1. The documents certifying that the student has been admitted to studies at a higher education institution in Lithuania or that the employee has been accepted for a certain position;
5.2. A mediatory letter issued by the said higher education or work institution; (Note that the VU central administration office issuing said document is on vacation in August and may not reply during that month)
If the student is underage, - the consent of his (her) parents or one of them or the tutor or another legal representative for studies and residence in Lithuania.
The document certifying that you have sufficient means of subsistence and (or) get income for living in Lithuania on a regular basis (EUR 924 per month in 2024);
The document of the place of residence in Lithuania;
The health insurance.

At present, the first application for issue a Temporary Residence Permit in Lithuania is satisfied within 2-4 months. If a shorter period remains until the beginning of your studies/work, choose the national visa D and submit the application for these documents after arrival to Lithuania. The visa application is completed online through the system of the Migration Department (MIGRIS).

If a student/employee continues his (her) studies/work in Lithuania, the Temporary Residence Permit shall be renewed after the expiry.

On renewal of the Temporary Residence Permit, the student/employee shall submit a mediatory letter issued by the higher education/work institution to confirm that the person is not excluded from it. A student/employee shall apply for renewal of the Temporary Residence Permit no later than 2 months before the expiry of its validity period, but not earlier than 4 months before the expiry of its validity period.

More information on how to acquire a resident permit in Lithuania:

https://www.vu.lt/en/studies/master-studies/living-in-lithuania/visa-residence-permit#temporary-residence-permit-trp-for-degree-seeking-non-eu-efta-citizens
https://www.migracija.lt/esu-studentas1
https://ihvilnius.lt/services/migration-depart
https://www.renkuosilietuva.lt/en/registering-as-a-resident/
https://www.renkuosilietuva.lt/en/temporary-residence-permit/

Health insurance

Health insurance

Foreign nationals permanently residing in the Republic of Lithuania are eligible for the Compulsory Health Insurance (CHI). CHI is needed to access all public health services in Lithuania.

Rights of foreign students to participate in health insurance system:

Non-EU country nationals:

D visa holders

1. Have no right to participate in the CHI system;
2. Do not pay CHI contributions
3. Can get healthcare services funded by their private health insurer in accordance to the conditions established in the insurance policy.

Holders of a temporary residence permit

1. Have no right to participate in the CHI system
2. Do not pay CHI contributions
3. Can get healthcare services funded by their private health insurer in accordance to the conditions established in the insurance policy.
4. EXEPTOIN: if students legally work in Lithuania, they participate in the CHI system.

Holders of a permanent residence permit

1. Participate in the CHI system
2. Are covered by CHI by the means of the State
3. Can get free healthcare services

EU country nationals (+ NO, JK, LI, IS, CH)

EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) holders

1. Have a right to receive necessary healthcare services funded by the THIF on the basis of their EHIC;
2. Have no right to register to the list of Family doctor;
3. In case of emergency can get necessary healthcare services on the basis of the EHIC.

Holders of PD S1 (The S1 form is a document that you can obtain from your country of origin to qualify for state healthcare in Europe)

1. After registering this document in the territorial health insurance fund (THIF), have a right to receive all healthcare services on the same conditions as permanent residents of Lithuania: have a right to register to the family doctor, can receive subsidized pharmaceuticals and planed healthcare services upon the referral of family doctor.

EU country nationals (+ NO, LI, IS)

Cross-border healthcare (EU citizens have the right to access healthcare in any EU country and to be reimbursed for care abroad by their home country)

1. Have a right to receive planned healthcare services in any chosen healthcare institution (public or private);
2. Cover the expenses of healthcare services from his/her own resources and apply to the competent institution of their home country for reimbursement;

Important information for EHIC and S1 holders:

Free healthcare services are provided in the institutions having contracts with THIFs;
Referral from family doctor is obligatory in order to get planned specialized and in-patient healthcare services;
In case of emergency the referral is not needed.

Important information concerning cross-border healthcare:

If you want to receive cross-border healthcare, first contact your competent institution in the country where you are insured and ascertain what the requirements are in order to be reimbursed the cost as well as whether you need prior authorization for these services.

More information:

https://ligoniukasa.lrv.lt/en/
https://ihvilnius.lt/services/vlk

People from non-EU countries must take care of their own health insurance. For PhD students may be possible for the costs of health insurance to be covered from your doctoral funds. For this option, you should contact the administrator for doctoral studies. It is possible to do this after you have received the TRP.

Bank account

Bank account

These are the biggest and most popular banks in Lithuania:

Revolut (recommended for incoming foreign students and employees)

https://help.revolut.com/en-LT/help/profile-and-plan/getting-started-with-revolut/

Opening a Revolut account in Lithuania is free, regardless of your nationality. If you choose the Standard plan, there are no monthly fees, but some charges may apply for services like ATM withdrawals beyond certain limits (e.g., 2% fee after €200 in withdrawals) and currency conversions after a monthly threshold. Revolut also offers Premium and Metal plans with more perks, but these have monthly fees of around €10 and €17, respectively. Delivery fees may apply for the physical card.

Luminor

https://www.luminor.lt/en/private/become-customer

Bank account opening fee – 200 eur

Swedbank

https://www.swedbank.lt/private/d2d/accounts/becomeOurCustomer?language=ENG

Bank account opening fee – 200 eur

SEB

https://www.seb.lt/en/private/become-customer/become-customer

Bank account opening fee – 250 eur

Housing

Housing

For the information on renting or buying an apartment in Lithuania, you can check these links:

https://ihvilnius.lt/finding-a-place-to-live/renting-a-place-in-vilnius
https://www.renkuosilietuva.lt/en/housing/

There are also dormitories available for students of Vilnius University. Dormitories in Vilnius are situated in Saulėtekio, Olandų or Didlaukio streets. However, due to the limited capacity at the dormitories, the places won't be assigned to all the interested students. Usually, they are only assigned to undergraduate and master students but not to PhD students or incoming researchers.

https://www.vu.lt/en/studies/master-studies/living-in-lithuania/accommodation#student-dormitories-in-vilnius

Information on how to apply for a room:

https://www.vusa.lt/en/dormitories
https://www.bustas.vu.lt/en/

Learning Lithuanian language

Learning Lithuanian language

Lithuanian language classes are offered at the LSC if there is sufficient interest (at least 8 participants) to form a semester-long group. If during the current semester, there are not enough people interested in learning the language in LCS, the course can still be taken in the VU Faculty of Philology (the course fee can be covered by LSC if requested). To learn more about current availability and interest, reach out to the LSC representative for your career stage.

More information: https://www.flf.vu.lt/en/lsk/courses

Public transport

Public transport

Trafi – the main platform for using public transport and more. In the app you can easily buy tickets. This all-in-one app will also give you live traffic and public transport updates and info, helping you choose the fastest way to your destination every time. However, to use Trafi app Lithuanian telephone number is required.

For students, there is a 50 % student discount for short-term tickets and 80 % student discount for day/monthly tickets with LSIC or ISIC cards.

Other option to get public transport tickets is to buy them directly on the bus or tram with the contactless card. By tapping a contactless payment card on the validator, you will purchase a full-price 60 minute ticket for €0.90. The ticket will be activated automatically. More about this option:

https://judu.lt/en/contactless-payment-on-public-transport/

More information on public transport in Vilnius:

https://www.govilnius.lt/plan-your-trip/getting-around-vilnius-/public-transport
https://judu.lt/en/for-public-transport-passengers/routes-and-timetables/

Lithuanian Student Identity Card (LSIC) or International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

Lithuanian Student Identity Card (LSIC) or International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

Every full-time or exchange student of Vilnius University has right to get Lithuanian Student Identity Card (LSIC). If you want to get LSIC, you must register and order the card at https://lsp.lt/register. However, it might take up to a month for a LSIC card to be made and delivered after the order.

More information on LSIC:

https://www.vusa.lt/en/production-of-lsic
https://lsp.lt/en/how-to-order-lsic

An alternative to LSIC is an ISIC card (International Student Identity Card) which have many similar benefits and discounts. When ordering the card in person at the ISIC issuing points in Vilnius, the card can be made and acquired during the appointment.

More information on ISIC: https://www.isic.lt/en

Emergency number - 112

Relocation guide prepared by International House Vilnius:

We can help you!

E-Services. Where to Start

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Contacts of Study Department

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