International Cooperation Department at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) is responsible for recognition of foreign qualifications giving access to higher education, and higher education qualifications for the purposes of further study at Vytautas Magnus University.
Our office does not assess:
The evaluation and academic recognition of foreign qualifications is the main step of the admission procedure. Therefore, all applicants must have their credentials recognized.
The process of academic recognition of foreign qualification is carried out together with the application process after the applicant fully uploads and submits the required documents in a single application on the DreamApply system. By submitting the application, the applicant confirms that the submitted documents are correct, truthful and complete. The applicant’s documents must also meet Country Specific Requirements.
Academic recognition refers to determining the academic value of a qualification, i.e. it determines whether the foreign qualification, in principle, meets the general academic requirements for a similar qualification in Lithuania. It is carried out in accordance with the Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) and its subsidiary documents. The principles of the Convention have been transferred into our national legislation.
Recognition, in consonance with the principles of the LRC, is given according to the five elements:
For more information regarding each evaluation element, please see European Recognition Manual for Higher Education Institutions.
Vytautas Magnus University was given the right to carry out the academic recognition of foreign qualifications by the Minister of Education and Science in the 2017 July 21 order no. V-589 “On Granting the Right to VMU to Carry Out Academic Recognition of Education and Qualifications Related to Higher Education and Acquired Under the Educational Programs of the Foreign States and International Organizations”.
Assessment and academic recognition at our institution is approved by decision No. SEN-N-33 of May 25, 2022, of Vytautas Magnus University Senate.
Evaluation and academic recognition of foreign qualification is carried out within 1 month after the submission of all required documents, including any additional documents that have been requested. If the provided information is insufficient, you will be notified about this by email (the one is noted in your application’s contact part) and the processing of your application will be suspended until the required documents are received. If the requested documents are not received within 1 month, the processing of the application will be terminated.
Application will also not be processed if:
Please note (!) The obligation to submit all the documents necessary for recognition rests with the applicant.
Evaluation and academic recognition of foreign qualifications are carried out free of charge.
Please note (!) that the recognition of the qualification assessed by Vytautas Magnus University is valid only for the selected study programme at Vytautas Magnus University.
Academic recognition decisions regarding foreign qualifications made by Vytautas Magnus University can be appealed against to the Academic Recognition of Foreign Qualifications Concerning Higher Education Appeal Committee under the Center for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC).
The appeal should be submitted to the Center for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) within 14 calendar days from the day of receipt of the decision on academic recognition by Vytautas Magnus University.
Appeals must be submitted to:
The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education
Tel: +370 5 210 4772
Email: recognition@skvc.lt
Address: A. Goštauto g. 12, LT-01108 Vilnius, Lithuania
Please note (!) Only academic recognition decisions can be appealed. If you did not meet the Country Specific Requirements for Vytautas Magnus University’s programs, the decision cannot be appealed.
Contacts:
If you have any additional questions regarding academic recognition of foreign qualification process, please contact VMU International Cooperation Department via e-mail: recognition@vdu.lt.
