VMU to Support Students Who Suffered Repressions by Belarus Government
Vytautas Magnus University has established a support fund for students admitted to the university who have been expelled or persecuted for civil and/or political reasons due to the repressive actions of the government of Belarus and consequently could not continue their studies due to the fear of an unsafe environment, thus terminating their studies in the institutions of higher education in Belarus.
VMU will issue 50 scholarships, which will include:
- 100 percent tuition fee waiver for the entire study period, covering the studies and accommodation in the VMU dormitory until the expiry of the accommodation contract;
- 100 percent fee waiver for a 4-week intensive online course on Lithuanian language and culture in January 2021 and, if necessary, the waiver of fee for an additional English course of a particular level;
- The possibility to receive a social scholarship amounting to 160 EUR if the student experiences financial or social difficulties upon his or her arrival to study and live in Lithuania;
- Free psychological support, if needed.
Additional plans include targeted scholarships that would partially cover the cost of living, provided that such scholarships are awarded by legal/natural persons who provide assistance to those affected by the situation in Belarus. Moreover, support is planned to be provided through goods and / or services.
Information for Students
Documents to be submitted by a person who wants to study at VMU
- Documents certifying the acquired education level (certificate of completion of the secondary education, if students want to continue bachelor’s studies, or bachelor’s diploma, provided the students intend to continue their education in the master’s cycle of studies);
- A transcript of studies completed at a Belarusian higher school on the subjects taken and the grades obtained;
- A certificate indicating the level of proficiency in English (IELTS, TOEFL or another standardized test; in the absence of such a certificate, the level of proficiency in the language will be assessed at VMU);
- A certificate or other written document proving the termination of studies or expulsion from a higher education institution of the Republic of Belarus, which would show that the student (free mover) suffered repressive actions of the authorities of the Republic of Belarus or was persecuted for civil and / or political reasons and thus could not continue his or her studies.
Admission steps
- In order to find out the whether it is possible to continue your studies here at VMU in the same field of studies in which you studied at a higher education institution in Belarus, please email the specialist at the VMU International Cooperation Department, Elena Lukoševičienė, lukoseviciene@vdu.lt and submit the documents indicated above.
- Upon the receipt of your transcript of higher education in the Republic of Belarus, we will contact the relevant faculty regarding the recognition of your study results and you will be informed in which study course and which study program you will be admitted.
- You can find the current programs here: Bachelor’s programmes and Master’s programmes VMU organizes studies in English in various fields of studies: information technology, politics and diplomacy, English. philology, finance, economics and management, logistics, sociology and communication, biotechnology, etc.
- Since the studies at VMU take place in English, your English proficiency must be evaluated. If you do not have an official international certificate to confirm your English proficiency level (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL), we will ask you to complete the English test organised by VMU Institute of Foreign Languages. If student’s proficiency of English is insufficient to study in the respective study program taught in English, we will provide him / her with a possibility to attend the intensive English course before the beginning of the semester and during the spring semester.
- Having arranged with the faculty to which study program and course you can be admitted, the final approval of the scholarship awarded to you will be accepted by a commission formed by the university. Afterwards, responsible persons at VMU shall issue you the letter of admission.
- After receiving the confirmation about the admission to studies, you will be able to apply in the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Belarus for the issuance of a national visa (d) for the study purposes.
- You shall be enrolled to studies from the spring semester which starts on 1 February 2021. In January, you will have an opportunity to participate in the online Lithuanian Language and Culture courses organized by VMU together with other foreign students from all over the world.
Practical tips before arriving at Lithuania
- Before arriving in Lithuania, you must obtain the national visa (D), and make the arrangements to receive the national visa (D) (if you do not have another visa/permission to enter Lithuania). The staff of VMU International Cooperation Department will provide you with all the information necessary to apply for the said visa at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Belarus.
- If you have any difficulties in crossing the border and entering the territory of Lithuania, let us know, and we will contact the relevant institutions/organizations that are currently helping to organize the arrival of Belarusians in Lithuania.
- All students will have an opportunity to get accommodation at the VMU dorm in Kaunas. We shall book you a bed at the dorm from the date you plan to arrive at Lithuania.
- You can arrive at Lithuania at any time before the semester starts.
- Regarding job opportunities upon arrival in Lithuania: according to the laws in force in Lithuania, foreign students coming from non-EU countries can work for 20 hours per week after the first year of studies, or if they have a temporary residence permit in Lithuania. During the first years or studies, the national visa (d) holders are not allowed to work. Please address all of your questions related to the labour law in Lithuania and career opportunities to VMU Career Center. Their consultations are provided free of charge.
Should you have any questions, please send them to the responsible person at VMU, Mrs. Elena Lukoševičienė, elena.lukoseviciene@vdu.lt.
