State of Lithuania - Lithuanian state scholarships programme

What the Lithuanian state scholarships give you

You will receive a monthly scholarship to cover your studies or research at a university in Lithuania, as well as a separate payment to cover your tuition fees. The amount depends on which of the three study programmes you choose. Each programme lasts one semester, with the exception of the Master’s programme, which covers the full duration of your studies. The programme is run and funded by the Lithuanian government through its Foundation for the Promotion of Educational Exchanges (SMPF).

• Short-term studies (1 semester, up to 6 months): 592 euros per month for Bachelor’s or Master’s students, or 1,184 euros per month for PhD students. Up to 35 scholarships, with a maximum of 5 per country.
• Short-term Lithuanian studies (autumn semester, up to 5 months): 962 euros per month. At least half of your courses must focus on Lithuania, for example on the Lithuanian language, literature, history or culture. 10 Grants are available for general applicants and 20 for those affiliated with a centre for Lithuanian studies.
• Full-time Master's degree (a whole Master's, or the last two years of an integrated programme): 592 euros per month, paid even during the holidays. A total of 70 scholarships will be awarded, of which 20 are reserved for Ukraine and 5 for people of Lithuanian origin.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are from a foreign higher education institution and would like to study on a face-to-face programme at a Lithuanian higher education institution. To do so, you will first need an official letter of admission or confirmation from that Lithuanian higher education institution.
• Nationality: You are a national of one of the eligible countries (these include Ukraine, the USA, Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan, India, Israel and a number of other countries) or a person of Lithuanian origin from a non-EU country. The list varies slightly depending on the programme stream.
• Language: You have a good enough command of Lithuanian, English or the language in which your degree programme is taught to be able to follow the lectures.
• Level (Master's track only): You hold a bachelor’s degree or will have completed one by the end of the 2025–2026 academic year, and you have not yet obtained a master’s degree in any country.
• Field of study: All disciplines are eligible. For the Master’s programme, additional points are awarded for Computer Science, Life Sciences and Engineering.
• One time only: You have not yet received this Lithuanian government scholarship and cannot combine it with any other scholarship.
• Who cannot apply: Students, lecturers or researchers at Russian or Belarusian universities.

How to apply

First, secure a place at a Lithuanian higher education institution. You should then apply for the scholarship via the SMPF online system; all documents must be submitted in English or Lithuanian. The deadline was on 2026, 17 April for the short-term programmes and on 20 April for the Master’s programme, at 16:00 Vilnius time. Applications will be assessed equally on the basis of your motivation and your academic results; the results will be announced by 15 June.

How realistic are your chances?

Award of the scholarship is subject to nationality: only nationals of certain countries may apply, and the number of scholarships per country is limited (often to 5 or 10). If you come from an eligible country, clearly meet the requirements and have already secured a place at university, your chances are good. Motivation counts just as much as your grades, so a well-reasoned application is crucial. The ‘Lithuanian Studies’ degree programme and the country quotas (such as the 20 places for Ukraine) can open up additional opportunities for the right applicants.