Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Lithuania

State-funded study places

The main form of financial support in Lithuania is not a scholarship in the traditional sense. It is a state-funded study place. Lithuanian and EU/EEA applicants compete for these places through the joint admission system, and the state covers tuition directly for as long as the student keeps their results above the required threshold each year. If your grades drop below the threshold, you move from the state-funded place to a self-funded, paying place instead.

State study loans

Students who do not hold a state-funded place, or who need extra support for living costs, apply for state-backed study loans. These loans are administered through Lithuania's State Studies Foundation , and typically cover tuition, partial living costs or both. Loan terms, interest rates and repayment schedules change from year to year, so check the current terms directly with the fund before you plan a budget around any figure you find elsewhere.

Social and incentive scholarships

Lithuania runs targeted social scholarships for students who come from low-income families, have a disability, or fall into another recognized vulnerable group. Separate incentive scholarships reward students with the strongest academic results each semester, on top of any state-funded place they already hold. Universities publish their own eligibility rules and application windows for both categories, usually through the student affairs or financial aid office.

University scholarships

Individual universities run their own scholarship funds beyond state programs, often aimed at incoming international students, students in specific fields such as engineering or the sciences, or students with strong entrance results. Check the scholarships or financial aid section of your target university's admissions pages directly, since funds, amounts and deadlines differ by institution and change yearly.

Erasmus+ and European mobility funding

If you already study at a university in another European country and want to spend a semester or year in Lithuania, Erasmus+ mobility grants cover part of your travel and living costs while you study at a partner Lithuanian institution. Apply through your home university's international office, not directly through the Lithuanian host institution, since your home university manages the Erasmus+ agreement and grant payment.

Working while you study

Part-time work supplements your budget alongside any scholarship or loan. EU and EEA students generally work in Lithuania on similar terms to Lithuanian nationals. Non-EU students on a Lithuanian residence permit typically work part-time alongside their studies, though exact hour limits depend on your specific permit type. Check the current rule with the Migration Department or your university's international office before you plan your budget around part-time income.

How to apply for financial aid

• Check whether your program offers state-funded places and what the competitive score threshold looks like

• Contact your target university's financial aid or student affairs office early, since some scholarships have separate deadlines from the main admission round

• Ask about need-based support if your household income is low. Lithuania's social scholarship system exists specifically for this situation

• If you already study in Europe, ask your home university's international office about Erasmus+ options for a semester in Lithuania before applying independently

Funding rules, amounts and deadlines change every academic year. Confirm current terms directly with the university or the state fund before you commit to a study plan around any expected amount.