News

Education Exchanges Support Foundation takes pleasure in offering the quota for the Lithuanian state scholarships for students, lecturers and researchers of higher education and research institutions.  Scholarships for short-term Lithuanian (Baltic) studies (duration of studies – one (up to 5 months) or two (up to 10 months) semesters per person) will be offered for the candidates of these countries. The overall scholarship quota is 80 months. 

The scholarships are not intended for full degree studies. Normally, an academic degree or diploma cannot be obtained during the period covered by the scholarship.

Studies must take place from September 2015 to June/July 2016. The autumn semester in higher education and research institutions in Lithuania normally lasts from September until January, and spring semester – from February until June.

PART 1. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• The candidate has to be a student (not in the final year), lecturer or researcher at higher education and research institution. 
• Candidates for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies scholarship must have an official letter of acceptance issued by the host higher education and research institution in Lithuania.
• Candidates applying for the Lithuanian (Baltic) study scholarships are required to aggregate 30 ECTS per one semester in the respected field, and also must fulfill other requirements for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies.
• Lithuanian state scholarships cannot be coupled with other grants, scholarships or other academic exchange programs.  

PART 2. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

• 1^st cycle (Bachelor), 2^nd cycle (Master) and 3^rd cycle (Doctorate) students approved for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies will receive a monthly stipend of 570 EUR. 
• Researchers and lecturers approved for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies will receive a monthly stipend of  950 EUR. 

NB. The stipend is intended to cover scholarship holder’s expenses only. Additional amounts for accompanying partners or family are not provided.

• Tuition fee for studies will be covered by the Republic of Lithuania. The maximum amount of the tuition fee will be determined by the normative costs that are approved by the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.
• Any other fees such as student union fee, library membership fee, etc. shall be paid by the scholarship holder.
• Travel and accommodation costs shall be covered by the scholarship holder. 

PART 3 LITHUANIAN (BALTIC) STUDIES

The Lithuanian language belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. It is one of the remaining two live Baltic languages boasting of numerous archaisms, the best-retained ancient system of sounds and a number of morphological peculiarities. Lithuanian (Baltic) studies are intended for all applicants interested in Lithuanian or Baltic philology, Indo-European linguistics, Lithuanian literature, Lithuanian history, culture, ethnography and folklore.

Programme requirements for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies 
Applicants for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies scholarship are required to design their study programme which must include subjects from the two groups of study fields below: 

• First group – philology. Eligible study fields from this group are as follows: Baltic philology, Lithuanian philology, linguistics, literature. 
• Second group – history, philosophy, theology and culture. Eligible study fields from this group are as follows: Lithuanian history, ethnology and folklore, culturology. 

Applicants for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies are required to aggregate 30 ECTS per one semester. The total credit value from the study fields of both first and second groups should be not less than 22,5 ECTS per one semester. Remaining 7,5 ECTS credits of the study programme shall be chosen from other study fields at the discretion of the applicant. 

The list of higher education institutions where Lithuanian (Baltic) studies can be arranged

• Vilnius University
• Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences
• Vytautas Magnus University
• Klaipeda University
• Siauliai University

PART 4. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The list of documents to be submitted (in the order given). Please do not put each individual document into plastic sheets or binders:

• Printed and signed online application form (the form can be found on the website www.scholarships.lt ).
• Official letter from the candidate’s higher education and research institution approving the status of a student, lecturer or researcher.

NB1. For students the letter must contain information on the applicant’s current cycle of studies (1st, 2nd or 3rd cycle), year of studies and expected date of graduation. 

• For students - transcript of academic records of the last two semesters issued by the applicant’s present higher education and research institution.
• Certified copy of obtained higher education diploma or diplomas.
• Two recommendation letters from home higher education and research institution (written within the past six months).
• Official letter of acceptance issued by the host higher education and research institution in Lithuania. 

NB2. Applicants for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies scholarship – this letter must contain information on the chosen subjects and the number of credits for each subject.

NB3. The duration and dates of the intended studies should also be indicated in the official letter of acceptance.

• Detailed programme of intended studies.
• Copy of certificate of proficiency in English or Lithuanian (or another language acceptable for the host institution).

NB4. TOEFL, IELTS, CPE or other widely recognized exams of English proficiency are acceptable. If the candidate does not hold any of those certificates, then a signed letter confirming the proficiency in the language from the home university’s professor of English or Lithuanian is also acceptable.

• Copy of the valid identity document.

Documents must be:

• Completed in English or Lithuanian (or with certified translations into one of these languages).
• Submitted in two (2) identical sets (one original set and one copy of the original set). Every set must be put into plastic sheet or envelope.
• Typed and printed (handwritten documents will not be accepted).

All copies (including scanned documents) of the original set must be clearly authorized as true copies of original documents by the issuing institution or a Notary Public.

Printed and signed online application form with additional documents has to be sent by ordinary post.
Documents submitted only online, sent by fax or e-mail will not be accepted. Incomplete applications or postmarked after the deadline will not be considered.     

PART 5. IMPORTANT DATES

1^st of April, 2015 – deadline for online application submission. Application form can be found at www.scholarships.lt . Online Application System will be closed at 12.00 Central European time (GMT+1).  

Applications must be sent by ordinary or registered post to the Education Exchanges and Support Foundation by 1^st  of April 2015, date as per postmark to this address:

Higher Education Programmes Unit
Education Exchanges Support Foundation
Rožių al. 2 
LT-03106  Vilnius, Lithuania

All scholarship applications must reach Education Exchanges Support Foundation by 24^th of April, 2015. Applications received later than that date will not be considered.

The final decision on the award, based on recommendations of the Committee for International Studies, rests with the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania. Awarded candidates will be informed personally by email until: 

1^st of July, 2015 – e-mail notification on the results for the Lithuanian (Baltic) studies scholarships.