Lithuanian State Scholarships for Master’s Degree Studies. Are you interested in advancing your education with a master’s degree? Lithuania is offering an exciting opportunity for citizens of select countries to pursue full-time master’s or integrated studies at Lithuanian higher education institutions. Applications for the Lithuanian state scholarships for the academic year 2024 are now open!
Overview
The Education Exchanges Support Foundation is offering scholarships for full-time master’s degrees or integrated studies (a maximum of the last two years of the integrated studies) at Lithuanian higher education institutions. A total of 100 grants will be awarded, providing monthly scholarships and covering study costs. This opportunity is available to citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Moldova, South Korea, Ukraine, and foreigners of Lithuanian origin from non-EU and non-EFTA countries.
Available Grants
The scholarships are divided as follows:
- Belarus: 10 grants
- Ukraine: 20 grants
- Foreign citizens of Lithuanian origin from non-EU and non-EFTA countries: 5 grants
The monthly scholarship amount is 550 EUR, and the grant covering study costs is limited to the national standard study price.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the scholarships, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a citizen of one of the designated countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Moldova, South Korea, Ukraine) or a foreigner of Lithuanian origin from non-EU and non-EFTA countries.
- Citizens of Belarus must have a valid residence permit in Lithuania.
- Have proficiency in Lithuanian, English, or the language of the study program.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree by the end of the 2023/2024 academic year or be in the appropriate year of integrated studies at a Lithuanian higher education institution.
- Possess an official letter of acceptance or pre-acceptance for full-time master’s degree studies from a Lithuanian higher education institution.
- Candidates cannot receive funding more than once.
- If part of an international joint degree program, funding is only granted for the portion of studies held in Lithuania.
- Those who already hold a master’s degree are not eligible.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates must apply through the online application system, providing scanned documents in English or Lithuanian. First-time applicants need to register in the system.
- Recommendation letter: Include one recommendation letter issued within six months of the application deadline.
- Acceptance or pre-acceptance letter: Provide a copy of the acceptance or pre-acceptance letter from a Lithuanian higher education institution, including study program and language proficiency confirmation.
- For Belarus citizens: Submit a copy of a valid residence permit in Lithuania.
- For foreigners of Lithuanian origin: Provide a certificate or other document proving Lithuanian origin.
Selection Criteria and Financial Conditions
The Lithuanian State Scholarships provide a fantastic opportunity for students from select countries to pursue full-time master’s degree studies or integrated studies at Lithuanian higher education institutions. Let’s explore the selection process and financial conditions of this prestigious scholarship.
Selection of Candidates
The selection process for the scholarship is rigorous and thorough, with assessments conducted by experts. The decision to grant a scholarship is based on two main aspects:
- Applicant’s Motivation (50%):
- Relevant experience and achievements related to the chosen study program in Lithuania.
- Clear rationale for choosing the study program and higher education institution in Lithuania.
- Anticipated benefits for future career and personal development.
- Suitability of the applicant to receive the Lithuanian state scholarship.
- Academic Performance (50%):
- For candidates applying for full-time master’s degree studies: Bachelor degree academic achievements.
- For current master’s degree students: Bachelor degree achievements and first-year master’s program results.
- For integrated study program students: Academic results from passed courses and modules in the integrated study program.
Priorities
Certain priorities add extra points to the competition score:
- Language Priority: Candidates planning to or already studying their master’s degree in the Lithuanian language receive 2 extra points.
- Education Background Priority: Candidates who completed a bachelor’s degree at a Lithuanian higher education institution or are currently studying an integrated program at a Lithuanian institution receive 2 extra points.
- Field of Study Priority: Candidates studying Informatics, Life Sciences, and Engineering receive an additional 15 points.
Financial Conditions
To receive the scholarship and the grant covering study costs, students must study physically in Lithuania—remote studies are not eligible. Other important financial conditions include:
- The grant aligns with the national standard study price; if the study cost exceeds this amount, the student is responsible for covering the difference.
- Scholarships reach students on a monthly basis throughout the study period, including during holiday periods.
- The student’s Lithuanian higher education institution receives the total scholarship amount and grant twice a year (by 1 November for the autumn semester and by 1 April for the spring semester).
- Students receiving funding must learn the Lithuanian language during the first academic year and achieve an A1 level or take an A1 level 6-credit course.
Termination of Financial Support
The scholarship and grant covering study costs may be terminated if the student:
- Discontinues their full-time master’s degree or integrated studies.
- Fails to start or finish their studies on time.
- Completes their degree more than six days earlier than stated.
- Has academic debts or takes an academic leave.
- Faces circumstances affecting the awarding of the scholarship and/or grant.
- Fails to meet the Lithuanian language requirement.
- Violates another call for application requirements.
Important Notes and Links
- Separate Procedures: The application for the State Scholarship is a separate procedure from applying for admission to master’s degree programs.
- Online Applications: Submit all documents only through the online application system; submissions via other means will not be considered.
- Deadline: All application documents must be submitted by the set deadline—no changes can be made after the deadline.
Important Dates for Lithuanian State Scholarships 2024
If you’re considering applying for a Lithuanian State Scholarship for full-time master’s degree or integrated studies in 2024, take note of the important dates and deadlines below.
Key Dates:
- 6 May 2024: Deadline for Scholarship Applications
- Make sure to submit your application through the online system before 4:00:00 p.m. Vilnius European time. The application system will close precisely at that time, so plan your submission accordingly.
- 1 July 2024: Notification of Final Results
- Eligible applicants will receive notification about the final decision on their scholarship applications.
Contact Information:
- Email: For any questions or concerns, you can reach out to the scholarship support team at master.scholarships@smpf.lt
