People who completed their education abroad or through international programs can apply for state-funded study places or scholarships in Lithuania, if they belong to one of these groups:

– citizens of Lithuania, the European Union (EU), or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, and their family members;

– non-EU/EFTA citizens and stateless persons who have a permanent residence permit in Lithuania;

– people of Lithuanian origin living abroad;

– foreign citizens and stateless persons who have the right to live in Lithuania (permanently or temporarily), have completed secondary education under the Lithuanian system, and are studying in short-cycle, bachelor’s, or integrated study programmes.

If you do not meet these requirements, you can still apply to study in Lithuania, but you will need to pay for your studies. In this case, you should contact the university or college you are interested in directly. They will provide information about visas, residence permits, studies, and other questions for international students.

University contacts
College contacts

What should I do before the application deadline?

– Apply to the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) or an authorized higher education institution to have your foreign secondary education recognized (this is not required for some qualifications, such as the European Baccalaureate or certain diplomas from Latvia and Estonia obtained from 2019);

– register in the LAMA BPO online application system;

– upload required documents to your account so your subjects and grades can be evaluated and converted into the Lithuanian grading system (this is not needed for International Baccalaureate graduates or applicants to arts programmes with entrance exams only);

– choose the study programmes you want to apply for;

– pass a Lithuanian language test if your studies will be in Lithuanian and you cannot prove your language skills with official documents;

– take any required entrance exams for your chosen study programmes;

– upload additional documents before the deadline if you are of Lithuanian origin and want to receive an extra point;

– if you receive an offer, sign a study agreement with the higher education institution.

For courses starting in 2026 your application should be with us at LAMA BPO information system. If your completed application – including all your personal details and your academic reference – is submitted by the deadline, it is guaranteed to be considered.

Key dates and deadlines

If you completed your secondary education abroad or through an international programme (such as Cambridge International, American International School, or International French Lyceum), you need to apply for diploma recognition. You can do this through the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) or an authorized higher education institution.

If you completed the European Baccalaureate, your diploma will be recognized automatically, so you do not need to apply for recognition.

If you completed the International Baccalaureate, you need to apply for recognition through SKVC or an authorized higher education institution.

You do not need recognition if you obtained one of the following qualifications:
– in Latvia (from 2019): Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību or Diploms par profesionālo vidējo izglītību;
– in Estonia (from 2019): Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus or Kutsekeskhariduse lõputunnistus.

If you completed your secondary education outside Lithuania or through an international programme (such as Cambridge International, American International School, or International French Lyceum), you need to submit documents so your subjects and grades can be evaluated and converted into the Lithuanian grading system. Please upload copies of the following documents*:

– academic recognition decision for your secondary education (issued by SKVC or an authorized higher education institution);

– secondary education diploma;

– diploma supplement or transcript (if subjects and grades are not included in the diploma);

– results of any state exams or entrance exams (if not included in the diploma supplement);

– a document proving your eligibility for state-funded studies (such as an ID document, permanent or temporary residence permit in Lithuania, document confirming Lithuanian origin status, or proof of EU/EFTA citizenship or family member status).

*All documents must be submitted as copies of the original. If documents are not in Lithuanian, English, German, or French, official translations into one of these languages are required. The translation must be attached to a notarized or officially certified copy of the document and confirmed with the translator’s signature and agency stamp.

Documents issued in countries outside the EU, EFTA, USA, Belarus, Russia, Moldova, or Ukraine may require legalization or an Apostille certificate (more information is available from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tel. +370 5 236 2444).

Applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme do not need to converted study subjects or grades conversion.

They only need to upload a copy of their International Baccalaureate diploma with grades in their applicant account BPIS part “Secondary school” and choose “Certificate of maturity”. Students who are graduating this year from the IB programme must upload a school-issued Summary of Results with a stamp and signature.

If the study programme is taught in Lithuanian, applicants must prove their Lithuanian language skills at B2 or C1 level (depending on the chosen programme).

An applicant is considered to have at least B2 level if they can provide an official document confirming one of the following:

– completed primary, secondary, or higher education in Lithuanian;
– completed foreign or international education programmes in Lithuania where Lithuanian language was taught;
– completed secondary education abroad in a school where Lithuanian was the language of instruction or where Lithuanian was taught.

If an applicant cannot provide documents proving the required Lithuanian language level (or C1 level for certain programmes such as languages, communication, journalism, translation, theatre, or film), they must take a Lithuanian language test.

The Lithuanian language test checks whether the applicant can study in Lithuanian. It includes listening, reading, writing, speaking, and language use tasks.

To register for the test, applicants must contact the Department of Lithuanian Studies at the Faculty of Philology, Vilnius University (Universiteto St. 5, Vilnius). More information is available by phone (+370 5) 268 7214, (+370 5) 268 7215 or at http://www.lsk.flf.vu.lt.
More details about the test: https://www.flf.vu.lt/lsk/testavimas/stojamoji-iskaita

The Lithuanian language test is held on:
– 26 June 2026 at 9:00;
– 17 July 2026 at 9:00;
– 4 August 2026 at 9:00.

You do not need to prove Lithuanian language skills if you have passed the Lithuanian language and literature state exam, or a Lithuanian language exam within an international education programme, or an official Lithuanian language proficiency exam recognized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.

Lithuanians living abroad and diaspora may receive one extra admission point when applying to Lithuanian higher education institutions.

Applicants who have lived abroad for at least 3 years and obtained their secondary education there or have lived abroad for at least 3 years and returned to Lithuania to study from no earlier than grade 8 (grades 8–12 / gymnasium years I–IV) and obtained their secondary education in Lithuania.

An additional point is also awarded to graduates of Lithuanian schools abroad, such as:
– European School of Brussels II (École Européenne de Bruxelles II) (Belgium);
– Maskvos Jurgio Baltrušaičio lietuvių etninės kultūros bendrojo lavinimo vidurinė mokykla Nr. 1247 (Школа № 1247 имени Юргиса Балтрушайтиса) (Russian Federation);
– Pelesos privati bendrojo lavinimo vidurinė mokykla lietuvių mokomąja kalba (Пелясская средняя школа с обучением на литовском языке) (Republic of Belarus);
– Punsk Kovo 11-osios bendrojo lavinimo licėjus (Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. 11 Marca) (Poland);
– Rygos lietuvių vidurinė mokykla (Rīgas Lietuviešu vidusskola) (Republic of Latvia);
– Rimdžiūnų vidurinė mokykla lietuvių dėstomąja kalba (Рымдюнская средняя школа с литовским языком обучения) (Republic of Belarus)
– Vasario 16-osios gimnazija (Privates Litauisches Gymnasium) (Federal Republic of Germany).

Applicants must indicate the completed school in their application under the section “Other achievements and criteria”, selecting “For Foreigners, Lithuanian Diaspora and Holders of Foreign Qualifications”. The additional point is granted after confirmation of academic recognition issued by SKVC or an authorized higher education institution.

To receive the extra point as a Lithuanian living abroad, applicants must under the section “Other achievements and criteria”, selecting “For Foreigners, Lithuanian Diaspora and Holders of Foreign Qualifications” choose “I am a Lithuanian who has lived abroad for at least three years” or “I am a Lithuanian who lived abroad for at least three years before I came to Lithuania and entered general education in Year 8 or later (Year 1-4 of the gymnasium)” and upload a document confirming at least 3 years of residence or studies abroad, issued by a competent authority (school, municipality, embassy, etc.), along with an official translation (Lithuanian, English, German, or French). Continuous residence of at least 3 years must be clearly shown (for example, by school records from different years). If the applicant returned to Lithuania to study from grade 8–12 (gymnasium I–IV), a certificate from the Lithuanian school must also be provided confirming the grade of admission.