Study law in Lithuania
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change — confirm anything important with the official source linked below and your university's international office.
You can study law in Lithuania in English: Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) offers an English-taught LL.B and Vilnius University (VU) an English-taught LL.M, both at modest EU tuition levels. The key thing to understand before you enrol is that a law degree and a licence to practise law are two different things — the degree alone does not make you a lawyer in any particular country.
A law degree is not a licence to practise
A Lithuanian law degree is recognised across the EU as an academic qualification, but practising a regulated legal profession — advocate, attorney, barrister, solicitor, notary — is controlled separately by each country. To practise, you must satisfy that jurisdiction's own bar admission, qualifying exams and registration rules. Studying here does not give you automatic practice rights in Lithuania, your home country, or anywhere else. Always check the specific bar or law society where you intend to work.
Where to study law in English
Two universities run the main English-taught law programmes:
| University | Programme | Level | Language | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), Vilnius | Law and Global Security | LL.B (bachelor) | English | 3.5 years |
| Vilnius University (VU), Faculty of Law | International and European Law | LL.M (master) | English | 1.5 years (90 ECTS) |
MRU also offers several English-taught master's / LL.M options in law, including International Law, a LegalTech LL.M, a Mediation LL.M, and a joint/double-degree European Union Law and Governance programme. The exact list changes between intakes — confirm the current offer on the MRU law programmes page and the VU Faculty of Law site.
Check the language of instruction every time
Not every law programme — or every module within one — is taught in English. Before applying, confirm the language of instruction on the specific programme page on the official university site. Lithuanian-language law degrees are the norm; the English-taught ones are a smaller, named set.
MRU — Law and Global Security (LL.B)
This is the main English-taught undergraduate law route. It is an LL.B taught over 3.5 years, weighted towards international and foundational law rather than the detail of Lithuanian national law, and it includes a substantial internship in the final stretch. It suits students who want an English-medium legal education with an international/security focus rather than training to be a Lithuanian advocate.
VU — International and European Law (LL.M)
Vilnius University's Faculty of Law runs its English-taught law programme at master's level. The LL.M runs 1.5 years (3 semesters, 90 ECTS) with three tracks:
- International Law and Human Rights
- Tech Law
- Business Law
It is aimed at people who already hold a bachelor's in law (or an equivalent jurist qualification) and want to specialise in EU and international law.
Tuition — confirm before you rely on it
Tuition and deadlines change every intake
Fees and application deadlines are set fresh for each intake. Treat the figures below as approximate, for the 2026/27 intake, and confirm the current amount on the official admissions page before budgeting or applying. Do not assume a figure quoted by a third-party aggregator is current or correct.
As a rough guide for the 2026/27 intake (same rate for EU and non-EU students at both universities):
| Programme | Approx. tuition / year | Confirm at |
|---|---|---|
| MRU — Law and Global Security (LL.B) | from ~EUR 3,250 | MRU fees |
| MRU — LegalTech / Mediation LL.M | from ~EUR 3,500 | MRU fees |
| MRU — International Law / EU Law & Governance LL.M | from ~EUR 4,700 | MRU fees |
| VU — International and European Law (LL.M) | ~EUR 4,300 | VU Faculty of Law |
Expect a separate application fee as well (for example, MRU lists around EUR 100 for non-EU and EUR 50 for EU applicants / alumni — confirm on the fees page). Some applicants qualify for state scholarships (for example via studyin.lt) — eligibility is nationality-dependent, so check whether your country is on the current list.
On top of tuition, budget for living costs. A realistic monthly figure for a student is €350–€700unverified; see our cost of living for students guide for the breakdown.
Entry requirements
Requirements differ by level, but the common pieces are:
- English proficiency — around B2. MRU's LL.B accepts roughly IELTS 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE or Duolingo equivalents. VU's LL.M asks for about B2 (IELTS 5.5+, TOEFL iBT 65+). Applicants who completed prior studies in English may be exempt — check each programme page.
- Prior qualification. For the LL.B you need a school-leaving qualification that gives access to higher education. For the LL.M you need a bachelor's in law (or an equivalent jurist qualification).
- Recognition of your qualification. Your foreign diploma usually needs to be recognised — most often the university handles this during admission, with SKVC as the national authority. See our diploma recognition & apostille guide, and the official SKVC recognition page.
Apply through the right portal
VU's English-taught programmes are applied for online via the central admission site (apply.vu.lt); MRU uses its own portal (apply.mruni.eu). Confirm current deadlines on each — for non-EU/visa-required applicants these can fall as early as 1 May, with later windows (e.g. 1 July) for applicants who do not need a visa or have embassy access.
If you are an Erasmus or exchange student rather than a full-degree student, the timeline and paperwork are different — see Erasmus learning agreement (OLA) and transcript of records & recognition.
Practising law after your degree — read this carefully
This is the single most important point for prospective law students, and the most commonly misunderstood.
A Lithuanian law degree is a genuine, EU-recognised academic qualification. But being qualified academically is not the same as being licensed to practise. Every country regulates its legal professions independently, and admission almost always requires more than a degree — typically a national exam, a traineeship, and registration with a bar or law society.
In Lithuania
To become a practising advocate (advokatas) you must meet the requirements set by the Lithuanian Bar Association (Lietuvos advokatūra) — including the relevant legal qualification, professional experience/traineeship, and the bar examination. The Bar also handles the registration of EU-state lawyers who want to practise here. A foreign-language degree does not bypass these steps, and command of Lithuanian is in practice essential for most domestic legal work. Check the current rules on the Lithuanian Bar Association site.
In another EU country
An EU-recognised degree helps, but you still qualify under that country's rules — for example, sitting its aptitude test or bar exam, completing a traineeship, and registering with its bar. EU mobility directives for lawyers apply once you are already admitted in one member state, not on the basis of the degree alone.
Outside the EU
Practising in a non-EU country means satisfying that country's licensing system from the start. Examples:
- United States — passing a state bar exam (foreign-educated candidates often need an LL.M from a US law school and a state-by-state eligibility review).
- United Kingdom — qualifying as a solicitor via the SQE (and SRA requirements) or as a barrister via the Bar route; the degree alone does not confer rights of practice.
- Your home country — assume you will need its own board/bar qualification unless its authorities tell you otherwise in writing.
Confirm with the destination bar before you enrol
If your goal is to practise in a specific country, contact that country's bar or law society before you choose a programme and confirm exactly what they will accept. Do not assume a Lithuanian LL.B or LL.M, on its own, grants any right to practise — anywhere.
Careers
A law degree from Lithuania opens more than the courtroom. Beyond the regulated advocate/attorney track (which needs the licensing above), graduates commonly move into:
- In-house legal and compliance roles in companies, banks and fintechs.
- EU and international institutions, NGOs and policy work — a natural fit for the international/EU-law focus of these programmes.
- Legal-tech and data/privacy roles, which the LegalTech and Tech Law tracks target directly.
- Academia and research, or further study (PhD).
- Public administration, diplomacy and security policy.
Many of these careers value the law degree as a strong analytical qualification without requiring bar admission. If you do want to litigate or hold a protected legal title, plan the licensing route for your target country early.
For the bigger picture on studying here, see is studying in Lithuania worth it?. If you plan to stay and work after graduating, see post-graduation job search & permit.
Frequently asked
Can I study law in Lithuania entirely in English?+
Yes — at degree level you can. MRU runs an English-taught LL.B (Law and Global Security), and Vilnius University runs an English-taught LL.M (International and European Law). Always confirm the language of instruction on the specific programme page, because not every law course is taught in English.
Does a Lithuanian law degree let me practise as a lawyer abroad?+
No, not by itself. The degree is EU-recognised as a qualification, but practising a regulated legal profession — advocate, attorney, barrister, solicitor — requires meeting the licensing and bar-admission rules of the specific country where you want to practise. Check that country's bar or law society.
How much does an English-taught law programme cost?+
As a rough guide for the 2026/27 intake, MRU's LL.B is from approximately EUR 3,250 per year and its LL.M programmes from roughly EUR 3,500–4,700 per year; VU's LL.M is around EUR 4,300 per year. Tuition changes every intake — confirm the current figure on the official admissions page before you rely on it.
What English level do I need?+
Both universities expect about B2. MRU's LL.B accepts IELTS 5.5–6.5 (or equivalent) and VU's LL.M asks for roughly IELTS 5.5+ / TOEFL iBT 65+. Applicants who already studied in English may be exempt — check the programme page.
Can I do a bachelor's in law in English in Lithuania?+
MRU offers an English-taught bachelor (Law and Global Security, an LL.B). At Vilnius University the main English-taught law programme is at master's (LL.M) level. Confirm the current English-taught offer directly with each faculty, as programmes change between intakes.