Outgoing students

Erasmus+ selection for studies is held two times a year:

• first stage in February: selection for autumn and spring semester studies;
• second stage in September: selection for studies in spring semester.

Who can participate in the selection?

• All VMU students can participate in the first selection stage, except for final year students.
• All VMU students can participate in the second selection stage.
• Students who have already studied under Erasmus + are also eligible. Students may receive an Erasmus + scholarship for study or traineeship several times during one cycle, but the total duration of the mobility may not exceed 12 months period. Students of integrated study programs may not exceed 24-months period. for the duration of the period.

Students with disabilities or special needs are welcome to participate in the Erasmus+ selection. These students may receive additional funding. For more information, please check information on Education Exchanges Support Foundation website.

How to know to which universities it is possible to go?

The list of possible universities can be found together with the announcement of the competition.

While choosing a university abroad, you have to pay attention to the following:

• does the foreign university offer subjects (they are presented on its website) which you are meant to take at VMU as part of your study programme;
• assure that smooth coordination of the Erasmus studies between the sending and the receiving institution, as well as validation after the Erasmus period, are regulated by the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS);
• are you fluent in the foreign language which will be taught at the university abroad (subjects are not always taught in English. This may also be verified on the website of the foreign university);
• if you would like to write your BA, MA or PhD thesis at a university abroad during the next semester, consult with your thesis supervisor and the head of the department at VMU regarding this possibility. The thesis is written abroad from 2 to 3 months. The selected students have to find a supervisor, a consulting lecturer, before their Erasmus period at a university abroad. The thesis is defended at VMU after the Erasmus studies are finished.

Selection criteria:

• Learning outcomes of the last two semesters. The exception applies to the first-year students at all levels, when the first semester's learning outcomes are assessed, without having them – bachelor's degree or bachelor's / master's degree appendix (40% of the final score);
• Compatibility of the study / research plan at the receiving institution and the study programme at VMU (40% of the final score);
• Student motivation (20% of the final score);
•  The level of knowledge of the language in which the study subjects will be held at the receiving institution, it should be not lower than it is specified in the Erasmus + Interinstitutional Agreement.

Note! The order of the selection criteria is not defined. The faculties/academies have the right to determine, make public and apply a separate sequence of criteria and additional criteria during the selection process.

The smooth coordination of the Erasmus+ studies between the sending and the receiving institution, as well as validation after the Erasmus period, are regulated by the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Each student participating in the Erasmus + programme is provided with Erasmus+ student status. Sending and host institutions as well as Erasmus+ student's rights and obligations are set out in the Erasmus+ Student Charter.

After being selected for your Erasmus+ studies, please follow the instructions here and pay close attention to the following information regarding the application process, document submissions, and deadlines.

Document Submission Process:
The entire document submission process will take place on the Mobility-Online platform. Please familiarize yourself with the platform's interface and functionalities. Below are the steps you need to follow:

1. Host Institution Application:

• Check the application procedure of the receiving institution abroad (check the website or follow the instructions sent via email of the Host university).
• Submit the application and accommodation (if applicable) forms to the respective universities before the application deadline.
• Each student is responsible for sending all required documents directly to the partner university on time.

2. Home University Documentation:

• All required documents for VMU  are outlined step-by-step on the Mobility-Online platform.
• Ensure you carefully review and submit required documents.

3. Reviewing Application Status:

• Periodically check your application status on the Mobility-Online platform.
• Respond promptly to any requests for additional information or documentation.

4. Submission Deadlines:

• It is imperative that all documents are submitted on the Mobility-Online platform no later than 1 month before the start of your mobility period.
• Adhering to deadlines is crucial to ensure timely processing of your application and to secure your Erasmus+ student status and scholarship. The status of an Erasmus+ student is described in the Erasmus Student Charter.

Erasmus+ Student Status and Scholarship:

Upon successful submission of all required documents and completion of the application process on the Mobility-Online platform, you will be granted Erasmus+ student status and awarded the Erasmus+ scholarship.

Please ensure you carefully follow all instructions and meet all deadlines to facilitate a smooth application process. Should you have any questions or require assistance, do not hesitate to contact the Erasmus+ coordinator at your home university.

! Students from non-EU countries who have Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) of Republic of Lithuania should note that this document is not considered as a TRP of other countries and students should look for information about migration procedures in the country of their interest.

Students with disabilities or special needs are able to receive additional funding for their mobility period. Required documents must provided at least one month before the start of their studies abroad in order to receive extra funding. More information can be found here.

Student can receive an additional social scholarship (250 Eur per month), if a person belongs to the below mentioned groups.

Groups:	Students must submit the supporting documents* issued by the responsible authorities:
Persons entitled to or receiving social benefits under the Republic of Lithuania Law on Cash Social Assistance for Poor Residents or the corresponding law in the person’s country of citizenship.	Certificate of receipt of social assistance or relevant document(s) from the person’s country of nationality. The provided document also must include the time period for which the student receives financial support from his/her country of origin, and it must overlap with the Erasmus+ study period.
Persons who have a disability determined in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts.	Disability certificate or certificate from a medical institution.
Persons aged 25 or under who have been placed under guardianship (custody) before reaching the age of majority in accordance with the procedure established by law or whose parents (or the only parent they had) are (is) dead.	Death certificates, court or other decisions; a certificate from an orphanage.
Persons with a young child(ren) (up to 12 years).	Birth certificate(s) of the child(ren).
Refugees	Decision on Granting Asylum in Lithuania or Permanent Residence Permit in accordance with Article 53(1)(7) of the Republic of Lithuania Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners.
Citizens of Ukraine studying at VMU during the war in Ukraine caused by Russia.	A copy of the passport of a citizen of Ukraine.

*All students also have to send a completed request form.

Description of groups of persons with fewer opportunities.

What scholarship will I get?

I gr.	Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland.	674 EUR/month
II gr.	Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia.	674 EUR/month
III gr.	Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary.	606 EUR/month

Travel expenses!

Please note that when traveling up to 500 km. the trip must be "eco-friendly". If the travel is not ecological, the reason why must be provided.

Travel distance	Ecological travel. Amount	None-ecological travel. Amount
10–99 km	56 EUR for one participant	28 EUR for one participant
100–499 km	285 EUR for one participant	211 EUR for one participant
500–1 999 km	417 EUR for one participant	309 EUR for one participant
2 000–2 999 km	535 EUR for one participant	395 EUR for one participant
3 000–3 999 km	785 EUR for one participant	580 EUR for one participant
4 000–7 999 km	1 188 EUR for one participant	1 188 EUR for one participant
8 000 km or more	1 735 EUR for one participant	1 735 EUR for one participant

Note! "Travel distance" means the distance between VMU (Kaunas) and the city of the host institution, and "amount" means the funds allocated to cover the costs of travel to and from the city of the host institution.

Travel distance must be calculated using the Erasmus+ distance calculator.

An eco-friendly trip: An eco-trip is a trip to and back from the host institution that uses low-emission vehicles, such as buses, trains, or a car journey with fellow passengers who are also involved in mobility activities.

• Students, who choose an eco-trip, receive an additional allowance of EUR 50 as an individual support to cover the cost of the round trip and a scholarship for up to 4 days.
• Additional travel support and a scholarship for the travel days are paid to the student upon completing the settlement procedure after the mobility period and submission of the actual documents proving the ecological travel and its duration.
• Students, who choose an eco-friendly trip, must inform the International Relations Department coordinator of this choice no later than one month before the trip.

Students, who signed the Scholarship Agreement, are receiving the scholarship in two stages:

1. 80% of the scholarship is being transferred before Erasmus+ studies start;
2. 20% of the scholarship is being transferred after return, when student fulfills all the requirements (more information in STEP 4).

• Ask the coordinators to mark your arrival date in the Erasmus Period Statement. The dates of arrival and departure should match the dates in your Erasmus Financial Agreement. If your Erasmus+ dates change (are shortened or prolonged), you must immediately inform VMU International .
• Agree with the academic coordinators on changes in your Online Learning Agreement if needed. Also, fill in and sign your Online Learning Agreement’s Changes to the Learning Agreement/During Mobility part which must be signed by the responsible persons at the faculty/academy at VMU and at the receiving institution.
• Agree with your professors that the final evaluation of every course you take would be a mark. VMU does not accept “Pass” as an evaluation. If the professor declines to do that, inform your academic coordinator and change that study course.
• Ask your coordinator about your exam session dates. If the dates change (are shortened or prolonged), you must immediately inform VMU International Cooperation Department.

• Upload to the Mobility Online system Erasmus Period Statement signed by the foreign institution’s coordinators.
• Fill in the online Erasmus report (EU Survey).
• Upload to the Mobility Online system a copy of your Erasmus+ studies Transcript of Records. This document also has to be sent to your faculty/academy at VMU.
• Upload to the Mobility Online system documents supporting the green travel (tickets, fuel receipt, etc.).

*Just after all these steps the student will get the remaining 20% of the scholarship.

• Is there a possibility to change the receiving institution or exchange semester after the results of the selection are announced?
  If students decide to change the receiving institution or the exchange semester, they must inform the coordinator at VMU International Cooperation Department and receive the approval of the Faculty. Before changing the receiving institution or the exchange semester, please, make sure that the application deadline is not finished in your selected university and you will be able to submit all the documents and complete the application procedure on time.
• What form of Learning Agreement should I fill-in?
  The receiving institution might send you a different form of Learning Agreement together with the description of application procedure. Despite that students must fill-in the form of Online Learning Agreement.
• How to get to know what is the deadline of application in the receiving institution?
  Students must individually check what is the application procedure and the application deadline in the partner university.
• What to do if the period of my studies abroad is shorter than I planned and indicated in the scholarship agreement?
  You must inform your coordinator at VMU International Cooperation Department about the change of mobility period not later than 1 month before the end of your exchange studies. If the period is shorter (it can’t be shorter than 3 months) and you will come back earlier than it was planned, your scholarship will be reduced.
• What to do if the period of my studies abroad is longer than I planned and indicated in the scholarship agreement?
  You must inform your coordinator at VMU International Cooperation Department about the change of mobility period not later than 1 month before the end of your exchange studies. If the period is longer and you will come back later than it was planned, after informing the coordinator on time, your scholarship will be increased.
• Is there a possibility to extend the period of mobility and stay in the receiving institution one more semester?
  Students wishing to extend the Erasmus + study mobility period for the second semester (or to remain in the same institution for the final thesis preparation after the end of the first semester) at least 2 months before the exchange end date specified in the grant agreement (but no later than the end of January) must inform their academic department and International Cooperation department by submitting a request and changed Learning agreement. The head of the academic unit makes a decision on the possibility to extend the studies.

How to know to which universities it is possible to go?

The list of possible universities can be found together with the announcement of the competition.

Erasmus+ selection for studies is held two times a year:

• first stage in February: selection for autumn and spring semester studies;
• second stage in September: selection for studies in spring semester.

You can take part in the first stage of selection, if you are:

• 1 – 3 year Bachelor’s degree students (1 – 4 year BA students at the Music Academy)
• 1 year Master’s degree students;
• 1 – 4 year students of integrated studies;
• 1 – 3 year doctoral students including full time and part time modes.

For the second stage, all full-time students (except first year Bachelor degree students) may send applications.

Students with disabilities or special needs are welcome to participate in the Erasmus+ selection. These students may receive additional funding. For more information, please, contact Education Exchanges Support Foundation or check the information in the database of the Higher Education Accessibility Guide (HEAG).

While choosing a university abroad, you have to pay attention to the following:

• does the foreign university offer subjects (they are presented on its website) which you are meant to take at VMU as part of your study programme;
• assure that smooth coordination of the Erasmus+ studies between the sending and the receiving institution, as well as validation after the Erasmus+ period, are regulated by the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS);
• are you fluent in the foreign language which will be taught at the university abroad (subjects are not always taught in English. This may also be verified on the website of the foreign university);
• if you would like to write your BA, MA or PhD thesis at a university abroad during the next semester, consult with your thesis supervisor and the head of the department at VMU regarding this possibility. The thesis is written abroad for 3 months. The selected students have to find a supervisor, a consulting lecturer, before their Erasmus period at a university abroad. The thesis is defended at VMU after the Erasmus studies are finished.

Selection criteria:

• compatibility between the plan for studies or research at the higher education institution abroad and the study programme at VMU;
• results of studies or research during the last two semesters. For first-year students of all levels: results of studies in the first semester. If not available – results of studies reflected in the appendix to the Bachelor or Master degree diploma;
• good knowledge of the language in which lectures will be taught;
• motivation of the student;
• student’s experience of work, studies, internship, participation at international academic projects and public activities in Lithuania or abroad;
• student’s ability to independently solve the arising problems.

The smooth coordination of the Erasmus studies between the sending and the receiving institution, as well as validation after the Erasmus period, are regulated by the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

What documents should I submit to the receiving university?

Selected students are responsible for checking the application procedure of the receiving institution and sending the application and accommodation forms to the universities abroad before the application deadline. Each student is responsible for submitting all the required documents to the partner university on time.

What documents should I submit to the home university?

The documents have to be submitted in Mobility-Online system.

• Letter of Acceptance which contains a detailed academic calendar of studies abroad. This letter will be sent to you by the receiving institution not earlier than one month after the application deadline is finished in the partner university.
• Filled and signed Learning Agreement. This form has to contain signatures of the student, Head of the Department and the Vice-dean of the faculty. Note! Students who are majoring in one academic discipline and have chosen another for their minor studies may match the minor studies’ subjects at the foreign university as well. In that case, the Learning Agreement has to be prepared in two versions – one for the faculty which offers the major concentration and the other for the faculty of the minor studies.
• Filled and signed Request for the Dean of the faculty (PhD students must use form of Doctoral Student’s Request for the Rector). This form has to contain signatures of the student, Head of the Department and the Vice-dean of the faculty.

*Students from non-EU countries who have Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) of Republic of Lithuania should note that this document is not considered as a TRP of other countries and students should look for information about migration procedures in the country of their interest.

All the above mentioned documents must be submitted to the International Cooperation Department not later than 2 months before the mobility. After submitting them students are being provided with Erasmus student status and granted with Erasmus+ scholarship. The status of an Erasmus student is described in the Erasmus Student Charter.

What scholarship will you get?

1. Scholarship

Countries	Per month
Partner Countries	700,00 Eur

2. Travel grant
The amount depends on the distance between VMU (Kaunas city) and place of receiving HEI (city)*

Travel distance	Amount allocated	Ecological trip - the allocated amount**
From 100 to 499 km:	180,00 Eur	285,00 Eur
From 500 to 1999 km:	275,00 Eur	417,00 Eur
From 2000 to 2999 km:	360,00 Eur	535,00 Eur
From 3000 to 3999 km:	530,00 Eur	785,00 Eur
From 4000 to 7999 km:	820,00 Eur	-
8000 km or more:	1.500,00 Eur	-

* According to the distance calculator (European Commission): http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/tools/distance_en.htm
** The funding opportunities depend on the project's year and the received funding. Please contact ICD for more information.

Students, who signed the Scholarship Agreement, are receiving the scholarship in two stages:

• 80% of the scholarship and travel grant is being transferred before Erasmus+ studies start;
• 20% of the scholarship and travel grant is being transferred after return, when student fulfills all the requirements (more information in STEP 4).

 

Students with disabilities or special needs are able to receive additional funding for their mobility period. Required documents must provided at least one month before the start of their studies abroad in order to receive extra funding. More information can be found here.

Student can receive an additional social scholarship (250 Eur per month), if a person belongs to the below mentioned groups.

Groups:	Students must submit the supporting documents* issued by the responsible authorities:
Persons entitled to or receiving social benefits under the Republic of Lithuania Law on Cash Social Assistance for Poor Residents or the corresponding law in the person’s country of citizenship.	Certificate of receipt of social assistance or relevant document(s) from the person’s country of nationality. The provided document also must include the time period for which the student receives financial support from his/her country of origin, and it must overlap with the Erasmus+ study period.
Persons who have a disability determined in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts.	Disability certificate or certificate from a medical institution.
Persons aged 25 or under who have been placed under guardianship (custody) before reaching the age of majority in accordance with the procedure established by law or whose parents (or the only parent they had) are (is) dead.	Death certificates, court or other decisions; a certificate from an orphanage.
Persons with a young child(ren) (up to 12 years).	Birth certificate(s) of the child(ren).
Refugees	Decision on Granting Asylum in Lithuania or Permanent Residence Permit in accordance with Article 53(1)(7) of the Republic of Lithuania Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners.
Citizens of Ukraine studying at VMU during the war in Ukraine caused by Russia.	A copy of the passport of a citizen of Ukraine.

*All students also have to send a completed request form.

Description of groups of persons with fewer opportunities.

1. Ask the coordinators to mark your arrival date in the Erasmus Period Statement. The dates of arrival and departure should match the dates in your Erasmus Financial Agreement. If your Erasmus+ dates change (are shortened or prolonged), you must immediately inform VMU International Cooperation Department.
2. Agree with the academic coordinators on changes in your Learning Agreement by e-mail. Also, fill in and sign your Learning Agreement’s Change Page which then must be uploaded to Mobility Online system. Changes in your Learning agreement should be made during the first month of your studies.
3. Agree with your professors that the final evaluation of every course you take would be a mark. VMU does not accept “Pass” as an evaluation. If the professor declines to do that, inform your academic coordinator and change that study course.
4. Ask your coordinator about your exam session dates. If the dates change (are shortened or prolonged), you must immediately inform VMU International Cooperation Department.

Within 30 days after the end of your studies abroad, you must upload the following documents to the Mobility Online system:

1. a copy of filled in online Erasmus report (EU survey). The request  will be sent to your e-mail 30 days before the end of your studies;
2. a scanned copy of your Learning Agreement and its Change Pages signed both by your home and foreign institution’s coordinators;
3. Erasmus Period Statement signed by the foreign institution’s coordinators.

Just after completing all above listed steps you will receive the remaining amount of the scholarship and travel grant.

4. You will have to present VMU International Cooperation Department with a copy of your Erasmus Transcript of Records. Receiving institution should send it to you in 5 weeks after official end of the semester.

• Is it possible to submit the documents and participate in the Erasmus+ contest while being abroad?
  Students who want to participate in the Erasmus+ contest but are abroad can submit their documents online. To collect all the signatures, please, fill-in your Learning Agreement and Request for the Dean of the faculty and send it to the faculty coordinator.
• Is there a possibility to change the receiving institution or exchange semester after the results of the selection are announced?
  If students decide to change the receiving institution or the exchange semester, they must inform the coordinator at VMU International Cooperation Department and receive the approval of the Faculty.
• What form of Learning Agreement should I fill-in?
  The receiving institution might send you a different form of Learning Agreement together with the description of application procedure. Despite that students must fill-in the form of Learning Agreement that is provided on the website of Vytautas Magnus University.
• How to get to know what is the deadline of application in the receiving institution?
  Students must individually check what is the application procedure and the application deadline in the partner university. These dates can be found on receiving institution website.
• What to do if the period of my studies abroad is shorter than I planned and indicated in the scholarship agreement?
  You must inform your coordinator at VMU International Cooperation Department about the change of mobility period not later than 1 month before the end of your exchange studies. If the period is shorter (it can’t be shorter than 3 months) and you will come back earlier than it was planned, your scholarship will be reduced.
• What to do if the period of my studies abroad is longer than I planned and indicated in the scholarship agreement?
  You must inform your coordinator at VMU International Cooperation Department about the change of mobility period not later than 1 month before the end of your exchange studies. If the period is longer and you will come back later than it was planned, after informing the coordinator on time, your scholarship will be increased.
• Is there a possibility to extend the period of mobility and stay in the receiving institution one more semester?
  If students want to extend their mobility for next semester, they must apply and participate in the contest.