January Intake in Lithuania: Universities and Deadlines

Last checked: November 2026

We moved to Lithuania from Cameroon and Zimbabwe ourselves, and we would rather tell you the options are thin than sell you a February start that your residence permit cannot meet. Below you will find which institutions actually run a spring intake for 2027, their deadlines, and whether the permit timeline makes it realistic from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya or Zimbabwe.

Is there really a January intake in Lithuania?

Not in the way agents’ adverts suggest. “January intake” is a phrase borrowed from the UK, Canada and Australia, where some programmes really do start in January. In Lithuania the autumn semester runs from September to January, exams finish in January, and the spring semester starts in February. So when people talk about a January intake in Lithuania, they mean applying in autumn to start in February.

The bigger issue is who offers it. In our research for 2027 we found spring entry for non-EU degree students mainly at colleges (universities of applied sciences) and one regional university. The large research universities’ 2027 admission pages list only an autumn start for international applicants.

Universities offering a January intake in Lithuania for 2027

These are the institutions where we could find a January intake in Lithuania for 2027 (in practice, a February start) on official pages. Dates are for applicants from outside the EU/EFTA, which covers every African country. Note that today, 4 November 2026, two of the three deadlines have already passed.

SMK University of Applied Sciences

SMK is the most established option for a January intake in Lithuania and the only one still open for February 2027. Its programmes page gives a spring cycle that opens on 2 September and closes on 1 December for non-EU applicants, with classes from 1 February. Its fees page already has a “Spring Semester of 2027” section and lists the non-EU application fee as €200.

Non-EU tuition is listed at €3,500 to €4,400 a year depending on programme and campus, with business programmes cheaper than nursing and IT. These are professional bachelor’s degrees, so check the length and content against your career plans. SMK says non-EU students who need a permit must pay in full before it issues the documents for the permit.

Klaipėda University

Klaipėda University announced its spring 2027 intake on 31 August 2026 with two bachelor’s and three master’s programmes, which makes it the only university (rather than college) we found offering master’s entry in February. The deadline was 1 November 2026, so it has now closed. Its admissions page shows the same standing dates each year (spring 1 November, autumn 1 June), which is useful if you are planning for February 2028.

Utena University of Applied Sciences

Utena accepted spring 2027 applications by email from 3 September to 31 October 2026 and promises foreign applicants a decision within 10 working days of the deadline. It is a small college in a small town, and we could not confirm which English-taught programmes run in spring, so ask before you plan around it.

Where we found no spring intake

Vilnius University and Mykolas Romeris University state one intake a year, in September. VMU’s 2027/28 admissions open on 1 November 2026 for an autumn start only, and its last spring intake for international students we could find was for 2023/24. KTU ran February intakes until about 2023, but its recent announcements cover September only. Vilnius Business College’s application page lists autumn dates only. Our guide to top universities in Lithuania covers these institutions for a September start.

Can you make a February 2027 start from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya or Zimbabwe?

This is where most plans for a January intake in Lithuania fall apart. Degree students from outside the EU need a temporary residence permit (TRP), and the official decision time is up to 2 months after your documents and biometrics reach the Migration Department, but it could be more. Card production and delivery abroad can add up to 20 days. None of that clock starts until you have an offer, have paid tuition and have your police certificate legalised.

Now count back from 1 February 2027. If you apply to SMK in late November, get an offer in early December and attend biometrics before Christmas, a two-month decision lands around late February, and the card comes after that. The end-of-year holidays slow everything. In practice, a February 2027 start only works if you applied in September or October and already have most documents ready. Our guide to Lithuania TRP processing time breaks down each stage.

Where you give biometrics also matters, and it differs by country:

The Migration Department lists external service centres in Africa only in Accra, Pretoria and Harare, and these generally serve their own nationals. If you are Nigerian or Kenyan, ask your university and the Migration Department which centre will accept you. Do not assume Accra or Pretoria will. Booking is done in MIGRIS, the Migration Department’s online system, not on the VFS website.

Your police certificate is the other slow step. It must be apostilled or legalised through your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an embassy, which can take weeks in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. Zimbabwean readers can see the details in our guide to studying in Lithuania from Zimbabwe.

What a spring start needs: a checklist

If you still want a January intake in Lithuania, whether in 2027 or 2028, everything has to overlap. Use this order and do not wait for one step to finish before starting the next:

1. 1. June to August: choose a spring programme and email admissions to confirm it accepts non-EU students in February.
   2. September: apply as soon as the portal opens, and order your police certificate the same week.
   3. September to October: receive the offer, pay tuition through the official channel and start legalising the certificate.
   4. October, early November at the latest: submit the TRP application in MIGRIS and attend biometrics.
   5. November to December: wait for the decision; answer any request from the Migration Department quickly.
   6. January: collect the card, book flights and accommodation.
   7. Late January to February: arrive, declare your residence and start classes.

You also need proof of funds of at least €577 per month for 12 months plus €1,153 for a return trip, health insurance of at least €30,000 and the TRP state fee of €80. Our article on proof of funds for a Lithuania student permit explains what the bank statement must show.

Before you pay a spring tuition deposit, ask the institution in writing two things: will you refund me if the permit is refused, and can I defer to September if it arrives late?

January intake in Lithuania vs September intake

A January intake in Lithuania has real advantages if the programme suits you: you do not lose a whole year, and classes are smaller. But you arrive in the coldest, darkest month, often after most housing has been taken, and with fewer fellow newcomers. For most of the people we talk to, September 2027 is the better target. The Lithuania university application deadline guide lists the autumn dates.

Planning a January intake in Lithuania for 2028

If February 2027 is now out of reach, February 2028 is very achievable. Watch the portals from late summer 2027: Klaipėda announced its 2027 spring intake at the end of August, and SMK opens its spring cycle in early September. Get your police certificate application (make sure issuance will be within the 6-month validity requirement) and English test sorted before the portal opens, so the only thing you are waiting for is the offer.

Compare costs before you commit. Tuition at the colleges is often lower than at universities, but check the qualification you will receive, especially if you plan a master’s later. Our overview of tuition fees in Lithuania for international students helps you compare. You can read the official spring announcement on Klaipėda University’s admissions portal and the fees on SMK’s tuition page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a January intake in Lithuania for international students?

Not strictly. The spring semester starts in February, and only a few institutions, mainly SMK, Klaipėda University and Utena, admit new non-EU students then. Most universities take international students only in September.

Does Vilnius University have a spring intake?

No. Vilnius University has one intake a year for international degree students, starting in September. Its non-EU deadline for 2027 is 1 May 2027.

Can I still apply for the January intake in Lithuania for 2027?

At the time of writing, SMK is the main option, with a non-EU deadline of 1 December. Apply only if your documents are almost ready, because the residence permit can take up to 2 months after biometrics.

What happens if my permit arrives after the semester starts?

It depends on the institution. Some allow late arrival for a few weeks or a deferral to September; others do not. Get the answer in writing before you pay tuition.

Are there master’s programmes with a February start?

Very few. Klaipėda University offered three for February 2027 (Business Management, Regional Governance and Healthcare Management), but that deadline has passed. Most master’s programmes start in September.

Whether you are aiming for a January intake in Lithuania or for September, the timing is easier to get right with someone who has been through the permit process. If you would like us to look at your documents and dates, book a free consultation and we will tell you honestly which start date is realistic for you.