Studies

WHAT IS ERASMUS PROGRAMME?

Erasmus is a student exchange scheme intended to support student mobility for studies and traineeships.

The Erasmus programme gives you the possibilities:

to see more of the world, to meet new people from the host country and other countries;
to develop foreign language skills;
to experience your course in a different culture;
to enrich the period of your studies with a new perspective on your subject, whilst gaining transferable professional skills and experiences;
to give your CV an international dimension;
to have better chances while looking for a job in the future;
to become more independent, to grow as a person.

Erasmus enables the students to study for typically one or two semesters in one of the LSMU partner institutions in Europe as part of student‘s degree.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Erasmus is open for all, Lithuanian and international students (bot, EU nationals and non-EU nationals) registered and enrolled in a full-time study programme at LSMU.

You are eligible to do your Erasmus exchange if you have finished your first year of undergraduate study.

If you are in the higher year of studies, you should have successfully completed the previous years of studies to be nominated for Erasmus exchange.

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF ERASMUS STUDIES?

Students can go abroad for min. 3 to max. 12 months within one academic year.

The same student may receive grants for studies (including the Erasmus traineeship period, if planned) totalling up to 12 months per each cycle of study (bachelor, master, doctoral).

Students enrolled in integrated study programmes (Medicine, Odontology, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine) may do Erasmus exchanges totalling up to 24 months (including the Erasmus placement period).

WHERE COULD I GO FOR ERASMUS STUDIES?

The countries, which are participating in the Erasmus programme are 28 EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey and Macedonia.

Switzerland participates in Erasmus programme activities as a partner country. An Erasmus grant for incoming students is be paid by the host university in Switzerland. Grant rate: 420 CHF/month (approx. 390 EUR/month).

The Erasmus mobility is carried out in the framework of inter-institutional agreements between partner universities. Erasmus exchange possibilities are depending on your study programme and faculty in which you are enrolled.

The partnerships which have been established between LSMU and European universities could be checked on the LSMU web page: https://archyvas.lsmu.lt/en/activities/exchange-studies/erasmus-partners/

HOW TO APPLY?

Step 1: Find out where you can study in your subject area and how many places are available at your chosen university. There are a limited number of places available per institution, so keep a second choice in mind!
You can choose max. 3 universities by priority.

Step 2: Make investigation of the courses and modules offered at the foreign universities and prove their compatibility to LSMU study courses and modules.

Step 3: Wait for Erasmus call and apply for Erasmus studies at LSMU!

Usually Erasmus selection for the next academic year starts in March and would be announced by the LSMU Division of Academic Mobility. Additional Erasmus selection could be organized in September in case there are free places for the spring semester.

Complete your Erasmus student application form on-line before the deadline: http://lsmu-outgoing.dreamapply.com/).
Make a proof of your foreign language skills;
Participate in the Erasmus interview and show your motivation and ability to go for Erasmus exchange.

The main Erasmus selection criteria:

Academic achievements at LSMU (minimum average of grades - 7, without academic failure);
The compatibility of the study programmes at LSMU and host university;
Foreign language skills (Language of instruction at the host university);
Motivation and communication skills.

The final score is calculated according to the formula:

Final score = GPA* (60 per cent) + motivation (30 per cent) + communication skills (10 per cent)

The additional selection criteria and points:

The compatibility of the study programmes at LSMU and host university – 0.3 point (point is given only in case if the student has completed the part 'Study plan' at the host university in his/her the application until the deadline of application submission to the DreamApply system. The courses should be selected based on the evaluation of the study courses at the host university and at LSMU and should be suitable for his/her exchange period.);
Active participation in the Erasmus mentorship programme – 0.5 point (point given for the student who has undertaken mentoring activity for at least 2 semesters at LSMU);
First-time Erasmus study mobility – 0.3 point;
Erasmus mobility to other country as the country of origin – 0.3 point.

Additional points are be added to the final score of the selection. Based on the final score, students are ranked in the competition to get an Erasmus grant for studies.

Students who do not agree with the results of the Erasmus + selection can submit an appeal within 5 working days by e-mail address alvidas.sarlauskas@lsmuni.lt. You can find the appeal form here...

ERASMUS GRANT

All students nominated for Erasmus study mobility are eligible for an Erasmus grant. Erasmus grant is intended as a contribution to assist you with any extra travel and subsistence costs while you are studying and living abroad.

The amount of grant you will receive depends on the Erasmus host country and duration of Erasmus exchange period. Grant levels are determined by National Agency each year.

Grant rates for academic year 2019/2020

Group	Countries	Grant rate EUR/ month
1	Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden, United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Norway	520
2	Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Netherlands, Malta, Portugal	500
3	Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey	450

NEW! In order to ensure the equal Erasmus exchange possibilities for students from different faculties, LSMU introduced faculty quotas for an Erasmus grant based on the total numbers of students in all LSMU faculties (dated 1 January 2019):

Faculty of Medicine – 40 per cent;
Faculty of Odontology – 10 per cent;
Faculty of Pharmacy – 9 per cent;
Faculty of Nursing – 13 per cent;
Faculty of Public Health – 6 per cent;
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – 19 per cent;
Faculty of Animal Husbandry – 3 per cent.

Student will be ranked in the competition for an Erasmus grant within his/her faculty.

Students who belong to disadvantaged groups can receive financial support – 200 Eur/month. Requirements for international students:

A legal guardian was appointed for the student until 18 years old and student is not older than 25 years old at this moment.
Orphans (both parents are dead OR student had only one parent who is dead).
Confirmed 45% (or less) capacity for work OR moderate or severe disability level.

Student must submit document that confirms this status to Erasmus coordinator at LSMU.

SHOULD I PAY TUITION FEES?

Erasmus students are exempted from paying fees for tuition at the host institution. But they still need to pay full tuition fees at LSMU while studying abroad. You simply continue with your current payment plan at LSMU.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS ...

LSMU and partner institutions use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) as a tool for the recognition of study achievements and learning experiences between different institutions.

You are expected to attend classes and to participate in assessments for all courses, as required by the host university. You should achieve 60 ECTS credits per year (30 ECTS credits per semester) at the host institution.

... AND RECOGNITION

Each Erasmus exchange student has the right of full recognition of courses passed successfully abroad by LSMU. If you pass all assessments in the host university the credits you gain will count towards your degree at LSMU.

The grades achieved at the host university are not converted onto LSMU grades. LSMU recognizes the grades given in local grading scale of the host university.

ERAMUS+ DOCUMENTS FOR SELECTED STUDENTS

Before Erasmus+ studies

Students selected for Erasmus + study at LSMU must complete the application documents by the application deadline set by the foreign university. What documents are required, by what date and at what address they can be sent, the student must find out by himself/herself by reviewing the website of the host university (e.g. section: incoming Erasmus + students)

The main documents can be:

Application Form
Learning Agreement
Transcript of Records
Accommodation Form

Application Form. The students need to provide personal data, information of sending institution, the period of Erasmus+ studies at a host university, foreign language proficiency, work experience. Sometimes students are requisted to apply a short student's motivation letter or study plan.

Learning Agreement. Thisis a tripartite agreement (student, LSMU and host institution), which clearly defines study program: chosen courses, duration, the number of credits. Based on a study program and course descriptions submitted by a foreign university, the student prepares his study program for the period that he will study at a foreign university. The subjects chosen by the student, their volume in ECTS credits should, as far as possible, coincide with the study program of the academic year at LSMU.

This Learning agreement must be signed by the student, the faculty and the institutional coordinators.

Online Learning Agreement (abbr.OLA)

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences joins the digitization of Erasmus + program processes in 2021 and starts filling in the study agreement electronically using the Online Learning Agreement (abbreviated (OLA)) tool.

Process:

In the Learning agreement form, fill in the table A and B with the selected study subjects (the form can be found here...).
Discuss the completed study agreement with the academic coordinator of your faculty (contacts can be found below).
Once the academic coordinator of the faculty has approved the final Learning agreement, you must fill in the electronic form (instructions for filling it out can be found here...).

You can follow the steps of signing an OLA using the „Erasmus Mobile App“.

Transcript of Records. All completed subjects by the student before the Erasmus+ studies are reflected in the Transcript of Records. It is not only in ECTS credits but also in grades based on the local and ECTS grade scales. The Transcript of Records is signed by the Dean of the Faculty.

Accommodation Form. Registration form for accommodations. The student is usually required to provide personal information, duration of stay. There is also included information about host institution accommodation, payment and rules.

N.B. not all host institution can provide accommodation.

Additional documents. It can be CV, copy of student’s ID, Certificate of language etc.

Students must provide all completed documents to host institution and to LSMU International Relations and Study Centre. All documents can be sent by LSMU International Relations and Study Centre coordinator to the host institution (according requirements of host institution).

The host institution must provide:

Letter of Acceptance, Letter of Invitation.
Confirmed Learning Agreement.

Letter of Acceptance, Letter of Invitation. The student must receive a letter from the host university where the student is invited to study at a foreign university.

Confirmed Learning Agreement. Students usually receive Learning Agreement together with letter of acceptance. The signature of the host institution's coordinator confirms that he agrees with the student's chosen study plan.

Student must complete the rest of documents at LSMU International Realtions nad Study Centre:

Request for the Rector
Insurance
Visa
Grant Agreement
Confirmation letter
OLS Language test

Request for the Rector. Upon receiving the host university's letter of acceptance and the approved Learning Agreement, the student fills in a Request for the Rector of the LSMU to allow him to go to study at a host institution. The student's application must be signed by the Dean of the Faculty. The Request to the Rector must be submitted to the International Relations and Study Centre.

Grant Agreement. At least 1 month before the start of Erasmus+ studies, the student must provide personal data required for the scholarship contract. This is a financial agreement that governs the procedure of paying a scholarship. The scholarship contract is signed between the LSMU and the student. Both parties are provided with 1 copy.

Visa. The student must look for an information about visa or temporary residence permittion. It is recommended that this information would be checked at the Embassy of the country where student will study as Erasmus+ student.

Insurance. All students must have a valid European Health Insurance Card. The EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home. The EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or costs. Students who will study at non- EU countries must have a valid private health insurance plan that is valid in non-EU countries.

Confirmation letter. It is issued by International Relations and Study Centre at LSMU and students have to provide it to the host institution.

OLS Language test. All students must complete 1^st language test before the Erasmus+ study period (except native speakers).Students have to take a test online based of language of instruction at host institution.

During the Erasmus+ studies

Learning Agreement changes. Upon arrival to host university it often turns out that few planned classes is not possible. In such case student should, after consulting the Departmental coordinator of LSMU, design a new plan - Changes to Learning Agreement, which must be signed by the student, Departmental coordinator of LSMU and coordinator of host institution. All changes must be completed during 5 weeks from the beginning of Erasmus+ studies.

After Erasmus+ studies

After coming back, the student has to bring all the required documents to International Relations and Study Centre (within 30 days):

Evidence of Studies.Confirmation about completed Erasmus study period, signed by the Host university.
Transcript of Records. It consists basically of a list of the course units taken, the exams you have passed, the grades and the credits gained in your host university.
Erasmus final report. Notification would be sent to the student’s e-mail box. Should be submitted on-line in the Mobility Tool data system.
2nd online test assesment (OLS).
Validation of Erasmus study achievements. Based on the Transcript of records the student should complete the validation form on LSMU SIS (Erasmus coordinator would prepare the form for each of you) and to get it approved by the Departmental coordinator.
Just after all these steps will be completed, the student will receive remaining 10 % of scholarship.

Departmental coordinators

Medicine (F): Edita Mašanauskienė, edita.masanauskiene@lsmuni.lt

Medicine (LT): Ingrida Balnytė, ingrida.balnyte@lsmuni.lt

Odontology: Kristina Lopatienė, kristina.lopatiene@lsmuni.lt

Pharmacy: Valdas Jakštas, valdas.jakstas@lsmuni.lt

Veterinary medicine: Aistė Kabašinskienė, aiste.kabasinskiene@lsmuni.lt

Animal Science: Evaldas Šlyžius, evaldas.slyzius@lsmuni.lt

Institutional Erasmus coordinator: Alvidas Šarlauskas, alvidas.sarlauskas@lsmuni.lt

CONTACT US:

Eglė Vizbaraitė
International Relations and Study Centre
Division of Academic Mobility
Medical Academy
A. Mickevičiaus g. 9, Kaunas
Room No. 127
Tel: +370 37 327301
E-mail: egle.vizbaraite@lsmuni.lt