University of Vilnius, Faculty of Medicine

The University of Vilnius was founded in 1579 and is the oldest university in the Baltic states; its Faculty of Medicine has existed since 1781. Human medicine lasts six years, encompasses 360 ECTS, and is taught entirely in English; a five-year dentistry programme is also available. The fee is €7,050 per semester, i.e. €14,100 per academic year. This places it in the upper third of English-taught programmes in the European Union.

What defines the faculty

The university enrols more than 24,000 students from over one hundred countries and is one of the most research-intensive universities in the region. The Faculty of Medicine is structured into six units, including the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Clinical Medicine with fourteen clinics, the Institute of Odontology, and the Biobank of the Lithuanian Population and Rare Diseases. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, the university is placed at position 465.

Clinically, the programme is anchored at Santaros klinikos university hospital, with over 8,000 employees, seven clinical groups and 35 specialised centres. Heart, liver, kidney and pancreas transplants are performed there; the hospital is a full member of twelve European Reference Networks for rare diseases. Students doing their practical year there encounter clinical pictures that simply do not arise at smaller sites. Since October 2023, the medicine programme has additionally been recognised by the Lithuanian agency SKVC under the World Federation for Medical Education. For the European labour market this is irrelevant; for paths outside Europe it matters considerably.

Where the limits lie

The language requirement is the strictest among the major English-taught medical sites in Eastern Europe: six consecutive semesters of Lithuanian to B2 level. The courses are free of charge and embedded in the timetable, but without this certificate the clinical courses are not released. This is not an elective but a genuine requirement alongside anatomy and physiology.

The second point is the price. €14,100 per year plus a capital-city rental market yield a total sum significantly above comparable sites in south-eastern Europe. Furthermore, those who firmly plan to return to Germany cannot make use of Lithuanian there, and credit transfer is decided by the Landesprüfungsamt and the receiving faculty. Pharmacy and veterinary medicine are not offered in Vilnius; both are run in Lithuania by the Health University in Kaunas. A later transfer to a German faculty is possible in principle but nowhere guaranteed.

Who this site suits

Vilnius suits you if a research-strong university with international visibility and a very large teaching hospital matter to you, and if you are prepared to commit to learning a language consistently. Those who need to budget tightly, wish to avoid a compulsory language course, or are aiming for pharmacy or veterinary medicine are better placed at other sites. Whether this site fits your transcript, budget and timeline is something Medschool Experts assesses objectively in a free consultation.

Entrance examination instead of grade-point average

The university does not allocate its places via a grade average but via its own entrance examination. It takes place online and tests foundational science knowledge; biology in the school-leaving certificate is a prerequisite, and a letter of motivation is part of the application. Alternatively, the university accepts results from recognised tests such as MCAT, IMAT, NEET or BMAT, as well as certain school-leaving qualifications. The route via a partner organisation of the university is also available. Which access route suits your profile is something we assess individually in a free consultation.

Deadlines

Intake is in the winter semester; there is no summer start. Missing one application round means losing a full year. The entrance examination is offered between January and July at multiple dates; the examination fee is €200, with an application fee of €100 on top. If you choose the route via a recognised test, your schedule is additionally governed by that test's own calendar. Registration, application and scheduling is handled by Medschool Experts; as places on the English-language programme are limited, an early start in the year before your desired intake is worthwhile.

Tuition fees and cost of living

The tuition fee is €7,050 per semester, i.e. €14,100 per academic year and €84,600 over twelve semesters. In dentistry it is €7,500 per semester. For living in Vilnius, budget €650 to €850 per month; a single place in student accommodation costs approximately €90 to €130, a private apartment in the city centre around €500 all-inclusive. Over six years, fees and living costs together amount to around €138,600; study materials and trips home come on top of that. Lithuania has used the euro since 2015, so there is no exchange-rate risk; an application for overseas BAföG is possible in principle. The decision on eligibility and amount rests with the responsible funding office; in addition students use education loans, scholarships and family support.

Structure and language of instruction

Six years and 360 ECTS, divided into two pre-clinical, three clinical and one practical year. The pre-clinical phase covers anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology and genetics, followed by internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, neurology and psychiatry. Teaching is in English; a B2 certificate is required. Alongside this, six semesters of Lithuanian to B2 run concurrently — free of charge but compulsory and a prerequisite for the clinical courses. The degree conferred is Medical Doctor with a Master in Health Sciences; in dentistry, the clinical component increases each year until independent patient treatment makes up the majority of the week.

Clinical training and practice

The clinical subjects are linked to placements at the hospitals in Vilnius, primarily at Santaros klinikos university hospital. The final year consists of rotations and corresponds in structure to the German Praktisches Jahr. Elective placements (Famulaturen) can also be completed in Germany during term breaks; recognition is confirmed in advance with the responsible Landesprüfungsamt. The curriculum is structured in ECTS, making comparability straightforward to document. Have your Transcript of Records issued after every academic year so that the evidence is available when you need it for credit transfer or your Approbation application.

Recognition in Germany

Lithuania has been a member of the European Union since 2004, and the Lithuanian medical training certificate is listed in Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC as amended by Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383. The degree is therefore automatically recognised: no equivalency assessment, no knowledge examination, no German state examination. You apply for Approbation at the competent authority of the federal state in which you wish to work. In Austria the Austrian Medical Chamber decides; in Switzerland, the competent federal authority.

Life in Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania with around 600,000 inhabitants. The Baroque old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and is one of the largest preserved Baroque old towns in Eastern Europe; you do not live on a campus on the outskirts but in the middle of a university city that has grown over centuries. The Faculty of Medicine is located together with the hospital in the north of the city and is well connected to public transport. As the country's administrative and economic centre, Vilnius brings many things within short reach, and the international students of the faculty form their own community.

Housing and daily life

A single room in student accommodation starts at around €90 to €130 per month and is the most affordable option; a private apartment in the city centre costs around €500 all-inclusive. Vilnius is the most expensive rental market in the country, so a place in student accommodation makes a noticeable difference to the monthly budget. Two things to factor in realistically: the winter is long and dark — in December dusk falls in the early afternoon. And flight connections to Germany are good but vary in frequency by season; those who want to go home regularly should include this in the cost calculation.

Is the University of Vilnius degree recognised in Germany?

Yes. Lithuania is an EU member state and the Lithuanian medical training certificate is listed in Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC. Recognition is automatic, without an equivalency assessment or knowledge examination. Approbation is granted by the competent authority of the federal state in which you wish to work. The same framework applies in Austria and Switzerland.

How much Lithuanian do I need to learn?

Six consecutive semesters to B2 level. The courses are free of charge and embedded in the timetable; without this certificate the clinical courses are not released. This is the most demanding language requirement among the major English-taught medical sites in Eastern Europe and should factor into the decision — not come as a surprise in the third year.

Do I have to take the university's entrance examination?

Not necessarily. The university tests foundational science knowledge in its own online examination but also accepts results from recognised tests such as MCAT, IMAT, NEET or BMAT, as well as certain school-leaving qualifications. The route via a partner organisation is also available. Which access route suits your transcript is something we look at individually in a free consultation.

What does studying in Vilnius cost in total?

The fee is €7,050 per semester, i.e. €84,600 over twelve semesters. Adding €650 to €850 per month for living expenses brings the total to around €138,600. Application and examination fees, study materials and trips home come on top. This places Vilnius in the upper third of English-taught sites in the European Union.

Can I study pharmacy or veterinary medicine in Vilnius?

No, neither subject is offered at the University of Vilnius. In Lithuania they are run by the Health University in Kaunas, around one hundred kilometres away and reachable by train in about an hour. Human medicine and dentistry remain the two English-taught programmes in Vilnius. A change of subject therefore means a change of site with its own application process.