Education System in Lithuania

Primary	Primary	6–11	4	Pradinė mokykla (Primary School). Compulsory education for the children age 6 to 16
Middle	Lower Secondary	10–17	6	Pagrindinė mokykla (Lower Secondary School): Vidurinė mokykla (Secondary School), Jaunimo mokykla (Youth school) Pagrindinės mokyklos baigimo pažymėjimas (PMP) (Certificate of Lower Secondary Education)
Secondary	Upper Secondary	16–19	2	Vidurinė mokykla (Secondary school): Gimnazija (Gymnasium), Licéjus (Lyceum), Tarptautinio bakalaureato mokykla (international baccalaureate school) Certificate/diploma awarded: Brandos atestatas/ Maturity Certificate
Secondary	Vocational Secondary	14–20	4–6	Profesinė mokykla (Vocational school): Technologijų gimnazija (Technological gymnasium), Jaunimo mokykla (Youth school)
Post-secondary	Junior Secondary	18–21	3	Aukštesnioji mokykla (Junior college): Certificate/diploma awarded: Admission to Junior Colleges stopped in 2003.
Vocational	Professional Qualification		3	Professional qualification (profesinė kvalifikacija): Non-university higher education studies can be transferred as an appropriate part of university first cycle or integrated studies on a course-by-course evaluation basis.
Tertiary	Undergraduate		4	Undergraduate studies (universitetinés pagrindinés (irmosios pakopos) :The first cycle leads to the Bachelor (Bakalauras) degree and/or a professional qualification (profesinė kvalifikacija). The qualification obtained (Bakalauro diplomas or Aukštojo mokslo diplomas) gives the right to enter the university second cycle.
Tertiary	Graduate		2	Graduate study (antroji pakopa): Studies lead to a Master (Magistras) degree or a professional qualification (profesinė kvalifikacija). When studies lead to the award of a professional qualification, they last for at least 4.5 but not more than 6 years (180 to 240 national credits). When studies lead to the award of a Master's degree, they last for at least 5 but not more than 6 years (200 to 240 national credits). The only exceptions in integrated studies are made in the fields of Medicine, Odontology and Veterinary Medicine where studies may last longer but no more than 7 years (a maximum of 280 national credits).
Tertiary	Postgraduate		2	Residency (Rezidentūra) studies last from 2 to 6 years (80 to 240 national credits). They are designed exclusively for the training of specialists in the fields of Medicine, Odontology and Veterinary Medicine. To be admitted, students should hold an integrated study qualification, namely: Doctor (Gydytojas); Medical Doctor (Medicinos gydytojas); Doctor Odontologist (Gydytojas odontologas); Veterinary Surgeon (Veterinarijos gydytojas) or a comparable qualification. On completion of studies, a Residency certificate (Rezidentūros pažymėjimas) in a special field is awarded. Postgraduate art studies last for a maximum of two years (up to 80 national credits). They are designed to train higher education institution art teachers and specialized artists. To be admitted, students should hold a Master's degree awarded on completion of university second cycle studies or a comparable qualification in the area of arts. After the successful completion of the studies, the postgraduate Licentiate diploma in Art Studies (Meno licenciato diplomas) is awarded. Doctoral studies last for 3 to 4 years. Studies consist of doctoral courses (at least 20 national credits), specific research activities and the preparation of a doctoral dissertation. Doctoral studies are jointly organized by higher education and research institutions.Upon completion of the doctoral course, a doctoral thesis must be prepared and publicly defended in order for the candidate to qualify for the Doctorate.

Primary Education

There have been ongoing attempts to upgrade the Lithuanian education system since 2003 and these are nearing completion. Education at all state, non-tertiary institutions is free now, except for pre-school which is partly subsidized. The primary school program takes 4 years to complete, nominally between ages 6 to 11. Some schools specialize in this stage only, while others provide all 3 phases of school education.

Middle Education

From approximately ages 10 to 17 students pursue their 6 years of education at middle school towards their certificate of lower secondary education.The curriculum continues to be mainly academic still.

Secondary Education

For their final 2 school years at secondary institutions young adults may continue with general education, or move on to vocational schools that will fit them better for an entry-level job. When the new state model is complete, it will be possible to switch between these two streams.

Vocational Education

Adults can complete their secondary education in special classes. Youth schools provide training to troubled pupils with learning or social difficulties. There is a network of vocational colleges offering shorter training courses too. Education is alive in Lithuania these days, after an oppressive winter.

Tertiary Education

Lithuania Education State and private tertiary institutions are divided into 2 kinds, namely non-university level colleges and true universities. All programs are assessed annually by the Ministry of Education and Science, and there is a national credit system of 1600 hours per year. Moving through bachelors to masters and to doctorates is strictly regulated, and there are no short cuts allowed.

The most venerable institution is the University of Vilnius established in 1579 as a Jesuit Academy. Following a violent period of disruption in the latter 20^th Century, peace has returned and it has rebuilt its many faculties,

Resources:

Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania