study in Vilnius
Lithuania's capital — its oldest university, its technical university, and the only place in the country with a substantial English-language job market.
Vilnius University was founded in 1579 and is the oldest in the Baltic states, covering medicine, sciences, law, economics and humanities. VILNIUS TECH handles engineering, computing and architecture, with substantial English-taught provision.
The city's distinguishing feature for an international student is economic rather than academic. Vilnius has built a large financial-technology and shared-services cluster that hires internationally and works in English — which is what makes staying after graduation realistic for someone who does not speak Lithuanian.
Its old town is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the largest surviving medieval centres in northern Europe. Costs sit at the upper end of a narrow national range.
The oldest university in the Baltics, plus the capital's technical university.
Vilnius University
Founded 1579; medicine, sciences, law, economics and humanities, with English-taught programmes.Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
Engineering, computing, architecture and transport, with substantial English-taught provision.Vilnius is the most expensive Lithuanian city, though the national range is narrow enough that the gap is modest. Dormitory accommodation from around €70 a month matters far more to your budget than the choice of city does.
Against the other cities we cover in Lithuania, Vilnius is one of the more expensive. That is our reading of this country’s own spread, not a published index.
Living costs across Lithuania run roughly €350–750 a month — and dormitory places, from around €70 a month, matter more than the city does.
The practical texture of the place — what a week actually looks like.
Climate
Baltic and continental — long, dark, cold winters and short warm summers. The winter darkness is the real adjustment from Kathmandu.
Getting around
Buses and trolleybuses with student discounts, in a compact and walkable city.
Housing
University dormitories are dramatically cheaper than the private market. Apply the moment you are admitted.
Working
No separate work permit once your residence permit exists — but the hour cap is disputed, so confirm it. Vilnius has the most English-language work in the country.
Language
Lithuanian, with Russian and Polish also spoken. English is common among younger people and standard in the technology sector.
The city
A UNESCO old town, a large student population, and a self-declared 'republic' of artists in one riverside district.
If you intend to stay after graduating: the English-language job market — financial technology and shared services — is concentrated in Vilnius, with a smaller cluster in Kaunas
And what the city does not change: the visa, the residence permit and the work rules are national — no Lithuanian city changes any of them
This is the clearest argument for Vilnius and it only applies to some students. If you are studying engineering, computing or business and hope to use Lithuania's twelve-month job-search permit, the employers who will hire you in English are here and largely nowhere else in the country. If you are studying medicine, the job market is irrelevant to you — you will be in Kaunas, and rightly so.
Vilnius is one of 3 cities we cover in Lithuania. Tap any pin to compare — the city you pick moves your total cost more than almost any other choice you make.