Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) for international students

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU, Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas — VDU) is a public university based in Kaunas with a distinctive liberal arts (artes liberales) ethos, a large slate of English-taught programmes and a strong international and exchange focus. This guide covers what VMU offers international students, how to apply, what it costs and — crucially — what you should confirm on the official site before relying on any figure.

VMU at a glance

Feature	Detail (verify on official site)
Type	Public university, founded 1922 (re-established 1989)
Main location	Kaunas (with a Vilnius presence — see below)
Ethos	Liberal arts / artes liberales — major + minor, flexible study path
Language	Lithuanian and a wide range of English-taught degrees
International focus	Students from 80+ countries; strong Erasmus/exchange network
Apply via	DreamApply (online)

Where VMU is — Kaunas, with a Vilnius presence

VMU's main campus sits in central Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city, which is generally cheaper to live in than Vilnius. The university is spread across several buildings in and around the city centre, plus the Agriculture Academy in nearby Akademija (Kaunas district).

VMU also has a presence in Vilnius through its Education Academy — the former Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, which merged into VMU in 2018. So if you are looking at a teacher-training or education programme, it may be delivered in Vilnius rather than Kaunas.

The liberal arts (artes liberales) model

VMU markets itself as the Lithuanian home of comprehensive liberal arts education. In practice this usually means more flexibility than a typical specialised degree:

• You can often major in one field and minor in another.
• You can build a more individual timetable and take electives outside your core subject.
• The Institute of Foreign Languages offers a wide menu of language courses (the university highlights around 30 foreign languages), which suits exchange-minded students.

If you want a narrow, vocational degree, check that a given VMU programme matches that — the liberal arts framing is a genuine selling point but it is not how every single programme is structured.

English-taught programmes

VMU offers a substantial number of full-time Bachelor's and Master's degrees taught entirely in English, across fields such as business and economics, informatics, natural sciences and biotechnology, humanities and languages, social sciences, political science and diplomacy, law, and arts and music. There are also Lithuanian-taught degrees and PhD options.

To see the live catalogue and entry requirements, browse the Admission to Degree Studies page and the programme list it links to.

Entry requirements

Exact requirements vary by programme and by your country of education, but typically you will need:

• A recognised secondary-school qualification (for Bachelor's) or a relevant Bachelor's degree (for Master's), with transcripts.
• Proof of English proficiency — commonly around B2 (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge or equivalent), unless you were taught in English.
• A motivation letter and CV, a passport copy and a photo.
• Some programmes set a minimum grade average and may have additional, subject-specific requirements.

Documents not issued in English usually need an official translation, and your prior qualification may need recognition. For recognition of foreign qualifications in Lithuania, the official authority is SKVC — check there if you are unsure whether your diploma will be accepted.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online via DreamApply. The broad steps are:

1. Choose your programme(s) and check their specific entry requirements and language of instruction.
2. Prepare documents — diploma and transcripts, English proof, motivation letter, CV, passport, photo, plus any official translations.
3. Apply online through DreamApply and pay the application fee.
4. Wait for assessment and an admission decision.
5. Accept your offer and pay the first tuition instalment as instructed.
6. Arrange your visa / residence permit (non-EU applicants) and accommodation.

The application fee is listed as €150 (non-refundable, with some exemptions, e.g. for Ukrainian citizens) — confirm the current amount and any exemptions on the official admission page.

Tuition and fees

Tuition at VMU depends heavily on the field of study and degree level, and differs slightly between EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA applicants. For the 2025/26–2026/27 intakes, VMU's official tuition page indicated annual fees roughly from approximately €2,500 to over €10,000 per year for English-taught degrees, with per-ECTS rates of about €54–€177.

On top of tuition, budget for living costs. A realistic monthly figure for a student is €350–€700unverified, and Kaunas generally runs a little cheaper than Vilnius — see our cost-of-living guides for a breakdown.

Scholarships and tuition-fee waivers

VMU advertises several tuition-fee waivers for international students on English-taught degrees. Recent examples have included:

• Partial waivers (e.g. 25–90%) for Bachelor's applicants from designated priority countries / target groups, for the whole study period.
• A standard waiver for Master's applicants on English-taught programmes (no separate application needed in some intakes).
• A waiver for former VMU exchange students who return for a full degree.
• Various talent, motivation and faculty-specific scholarships (for example in arts and music).

The exact percentages, eligible countries and deadlines change between intakes, and some are competitive. Treat the above as illustrative and confirm the current offer on the official scholarships page. For wider funding options, see our scholarships guide.

International life and exchange

VMU has a long-standing international and exchange orientation: students from over 80 countries, a broad Erasmus+ network, partner universities worldwide and incoming/outgoing exchange programmes coordinated by its international office. The wide language offering and the liberal arts structure make it relatively easy to combine your degree with study-abroad periods. Incoming exchange and Erasmus students apply through the international office rather than the degree-admission route — check the for-students international pages for the exchange process.

Visa, residence permit and arrival

Non-EU students will normally need a national (D) visa or temporary residence permit to study in Lithuania, which requires proof of admission, proof of funds and health insurance, among other documents. These are immigration matters handled by the Lithuanian authorities, not the university — the official source is the Migration Department. VMU's admission team provides guidance, but always cross-check requirements and current fees with the Migration Department and our visa and money guides.

Degree recognition and practising a regulated profession

A VMU degree is a Lithuanian (and therefore EU-recognised) qualification. That is excellent for further study or for jobs that simply require "a degree".

Before you apply — a short checklist

• Confirm the language of instruction and the delivery city (Kaunas or Vilnius) for your programme.
• Get the exact tuition for your programme from the official tuition page.
• Check the current deadline — earlier for non-EU applicants.
• See whether you qualify for a fee waiver and note its deadline.
• Plan your visa/residence permit, funds and insurance early.
• If you aim to practise a regulated profession abroad, check the destination country's licensing rules first.

When in doubt, the authoritative source is VMU itself — start at vdu.lt and the admission page, and verify anything money- or deadline-related there rather than relying on summaries.