09 - Lithuania - Organisation of the academic year
The academic year usually starts on 1 September and ends on 31 August. The academic calendar is
not regulated by any legal acts as the autonomy of higher education institutions entitles them to
establishing the rules and procedures independently. Studies are organized in accordance with the
regulations approved by the Senate (in universities) or the academic council (in colleges Kolegija) of
each HEI. The academic calendars of universities and colleges have many similarities.
They are
applied to students enrolled in undergraduate, integral and Master’s degree programmes. Students of
the third stage study programmes (doctoral and postgraduate art students) begin their studies at
universities at different times as admission to these programmes is conducted in June-December, and
the course of studies, except for the first year, is usually not broken down into semesters. During the
first year doctoral students are required to pass the obligatory examinations, and during the following
years their progress is assessed once a year to see how successfully they are following the doctoral
programme.
University
The academic year in universities is broken down into two terms: the autumn term and the spring term.
Each term usually lasts 20 weeks. Usually at the end of the term a special time is allocated to the
examination session, during which students do not have any classes; they are preparing to account for
the academic subjects covered. If the academic subject courses are delivered during a semester as
consecutive courses and not given alongside each other, students account for the course after it has
been completed and then there is no examination session. In most universities the last four weeks of
the term are designated for the examination session. In some universities terms can be longer (up to
22 weeks) or shorter (up to 17 weeks). The spring term usually begins in February. One week off is
given to Easter holiday.
All universities have Christmas holidays, which last from December 25 to the beginning of January.
Winter holidays begin right after the winter examination session and last one or two weeks. Summer
holidays, which last up to two months at most (July – August), begin after the spring term. Some
students have their practice periods in summer if they are provided in the study programme.
College
Studies in colleges Kolegija are organized in academic terms. An academic year is divided into two
terms – the autumn term and the spring term. The duration and the time of terms (contact hours,
practice periods, examination sessions) and holidays are indicated in the study schedule, which is
approved by the faculty deans /heads of study centers.
The average length of the term in daytime studies is 20 weeks (the scope of the studies is, on average,
20 credits) out of which two/three weeks are assigned to the examination session. The number of
contact hours a week must not exceed 28 academic hours.
The councils of faculties/study centers can determine other than the indicated above time and length of
terms and examinations in daytime studies if it is required by the specificity of study programmes. All
the changes are subject to the approval of the director of the college.
Students are entitled to several periods of holidays: Christmas and the New Year holiday from
December 24 to January 1, winter holiday – one week after the examination session, Easter holiday –
one week before (after) Easter, and summer holiday from July 1 to August 31.
The timetable of the examination session is drawn up taking into account the understanding between
the lecturing staff and students and is subject to the approval of the deputy dean/deputy heads.
Students must not be set more than six examinations at one examination session.
Practical training periods can be scheduled for summer time.
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
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