Lithuania - Guidance to Apply for Student Loan

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Procedure

Applying for the Government's Student Loan Scheme

In order to get a State-Supported Loan, you should fill an online application form (available in Lithuanian language only). You will be redirected to the form when you click this link.

To join, you must be your Bank Internet banking system user or have a personal digital certificate.

Please note that borrowers immediately should inform the State Studies Foundation, if any of the following circumstances occur: changes in the graduation date (different from that stated on your loan agreement) or cost of studies, if you suspend, terminate or renew your studies.

Applying for a Student Loan Banks

More and more banks are offering loans for university education. Students have successfully applied for loans from several Lithuanian banks.

Students or their parents may also consider obtaining an education loan from a private institution.

But before going for this option you should carefully check the reputation of the financial institutions and look for those institutions giving loans at competitive interest rates.

A thorough research on all the terms and conditions regarding the payback etc should be done before going for such loans.

• Decide on the amount of Loan required
• Understand which banks provide loan
• Go to the bank Apply for the student loan
• Submit all the necessary documents
• Get Approval

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Required Documents

• Have a valid identity document;
• Sign the National Higher Education Fund (hereinafter - the Fund) website at https://studentai.vsf.lt/studentai/ connecting the system

Office Locations & Contacts

State Studies Foundation,
Address: A.Gotauto str. 12 - 407, LT - 01108 Vilnius, Lithuania,
Tel: (+370 5) 2639152,
Fax: (+370 5) 2639153,
E-mail: [email protected]
Working hours: 8.00 - 17.00, Fridays 8.00 - 15.45; lunch break: 12.00 - 12.45
Contacts
Map

Eligibility

All students enrolled on the first, second and third cycle, integrated and non-degree studies at higher education institutions in Lithuania can apply for a State-Supported Loan.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

User guide

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

Types of the State-Supported Loans:

• Loan to cover tuition fee. Maximum amount equals the yearly tuition fee of the study course you attend. This loan is paid directly to the account of an institution of higher education until July 1.
• Loan to cover living expenses. Maximum amount - 1900 per year. This loan is paid in equal monthly installments until July 1 to the borrower's personal account (for last year students until graduation);
• Loan for partial studies abroad. Maximum amount - 2280, to be paid all at once to the borrower's personal account.

Required Information

• First name(s) and Last name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number (optional)
• Place of birth (the name of the town or village)
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Contact details
• Relationship status
• University or college details
• Course details
• Course type
• Term details
• Placement details

Need for the Document

State-Supported Loans are preferential loans for students issued through the selected credit institutions (banks) for one academic year.

Information which might help

In cases state below, you cannot get a State-Supported Loan:

• If a total amount of all your State-Supported Loans received, excluding interest, would exceed 385 BSB (Basic Social Benefit (Lith. abbr. BSI) - 38) - 14630;
• If you suspended studies or are on academic leave;
• If you already have been granted state-supported loan and fail to fulfill your obligations established by your previous loan agreements;
• If you are an international student (citizen of non EU or non-European Economic Area country) and have not been granted permanent residency in Lithuania (not applicable for foreigners of Lithuanian origins).

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

State allows students to borrow on favorable terms:

• State-Supported Loans are loans guaranteed by the State;
• State-Supported Loan repayment starts a year after graduation or termination of the studies;
• Repayment period of state-supported loan - 15 years;
• Possible loan grace periods;
• State Studies Foundation may pay interest during the time of study, as well as during the loan grace period;
• Possibility of early repayment of the loan at no additional cost.

External Links

Ministry of Education and Science

The State Studies Foundation

State-Supported Loans

Students of Lithuanian higher education institutions willing to get state supported loans application filling in form

Legal information

Others

The State Studies Foundation is a state budgetary institution, which administers financial support for students. The Foundation started its activities in 1993 when the Government of the Republic of Lithuania established the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation, whose primary function was to administer support for the projects of groups of scientists. Until 2008 the Foundation had expanded its functions and had become the major institution administering public funds allocated for science; in 1998 it started issuing loans for students. As of the 1st January 2010 the Foundation operates under new name and regulations.

Our mission - to implement the higher education policies, by ensuring accessibility and quality of higher education, transparent management of the financial support for students using modern technologies and e-services.

The main functions of the State Studies Foundation are as follows:

• Administering State loans and State-supported loans for students;
• Administering Study Scholarships;
• Administering Social Scholarships for students of Lithuanian higher education institutions studying at the first, second or continuous study levels;
• Administering the repayment of all or part of the State funds allocated to cover the cost of studies of State-funded students to the State Budget when, in the cases and in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, State-funded students who are expelled from a Lithuanian higher education institution or terminate their studies must return the said funds to the State Budget;
• Administering reimbursement of a part of the cost of studies paid over a respective period of studies (which may not exceed the normative cost of studies), in accordance with the procedure and amount set by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, for a part of non-funded students of the first-level or continuous studies who have the best performance record after the first two years (in the event of extended studies - after completing a half of the study programme) and after the remaining years of studies;
• Administering the granting of State support for the studies of children and grandchildren of expatriates and foreigners of Lithuanian descent at Lithuanian schools of higher education in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Science;
• Administering the reimbursement of a part of the cost of studies for persons who fulfilled mandatory initial military service or accomplished basic military training;
• Administering repayment of the funds allocated to target funding to the State budget;
• Implementing other measures assigned by the Minister of Education and Science in order to ensure quality and accessibility of higher education.