Doctoral Studies

The chosen doctoral study subjects and the preliminary dates for their examinations are specified in the individual study plan. The study plan is prepared and approved within the first two months of the start of doctoral studies. If necessary, the doctoral student may submit a request to the doctoral committee of the relevant field of study to amend the study plan.

Administration of doctoral study exams:

• Prior to the exam, the department prepares an order specifying the exam date, location, and the assessment committee.
• After the exam, the department forwards information regarding the exam to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Office. Once this information is received, the exam results are recorded.

NB: if you need a certificate about doctoral study exams, please contact the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (drs@cr.vu.lt).

FAQ:

1. To replace a doctoral study subject and its exam specified in your study plan with another one, submit a request to the doctoral committee of the relevant field of study to amend the study plan.
2. For valid reasons, the doctoral committee may postpone the scheduled dates for exams indicated in the study plan. In order to postpone an exam, submit a request for postponement to the doctoral committee of the relevant field of study.
3. If you fail the exam, it may be retaken (no sooner than two months later). If the exam is failed a second time, an extraordinary certification is scheduled within one month of the exam date. Following the certification, the student is permitted to take the exam one additional time, with the costs covered by the student. If the exam is failed a third time, the doctoral student is expulsed from the doctoral studies, in accordance with Point 48 of the "Regulations of Doctoral Studies at Vilnius University".

Each year*, doctoral students report on the implementation of their approved study plan to the doctoral committee, in accordance with the procedures established by that committee.

*Doctoral students funded by the Research Council of Lithuania must report on the implementation of their approved study plan twice a year.

*Based on committee decision, a doctoral student may undergo certification more than once during the same academic year.

*In accordance with Clause 55 of the "Regulations of Doctoral Studies at Vilnius University," doctoral students who fail to pass the periodic certification are expulsed from the doctoral studies, and must settle accounts with the State Studies Foundation (read more about this here).

Doctoral students in their final year of study must undergo a certification prior to the scheduled completion date of their doctoral studies.

Doctoral students in their final year of study must submit their dissertation manuscript to the doctoral committee (requirements for the dissertation manuscript are published on the websites of the respective units).

Doctoral students who fail to meet this requirement do not pass the periodic certification and are expulsed from the doctoral studies. 

Procedure for submitting a request for an academic trip:

• Doctoral students are permitted to go on an academic trip upon submission of a request.
• The request is submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department via VUSIS or by email.
• The request for the trip must be signed by: 1) the doctoral student; 2) the academic supervisor; 3) the chair of the doctoral committee or the head of the unit; 4) if the trip is funded by a project, the financial officer responsible for the project.
• During the trip, the doctoral student must collect all original financial documents or statements related to travel expenses.

Procedure for the reimbursement of expenses incurred during the trip:

• Within 5 working days of returning from the trip, submit the financial documents regarding expenses incurred during the trip to the VU Finance Department (ilma.jonaityte@cr.vu.lt). These include: train and bus tickets (receipts, invoices); documents proving accommodation rental costs (invoices, receipts, cash receipts, bank statements); a copy of the vehicle registration certificate and fuel purchase receipts (if several doctoral students travel in the same car, travel expenses are reimbursed to only one of them); etc. The doctoral student must ensure that VAT invoices and other financial documents are issued to them as a physical person.

*If you wish to amend the initial request, you can do so by filling out a request to amend the order.

*Before setting out on a trip, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the "Description of the Procedure for the Use of Doctoral Fund of Vilnius University". 

Templates:

• Request for an Academic Trip
• Request to Change the Order

Doctoral students are granted academic leave upon submission of a request and, if necessary, documents substantiating the reason for the leave.

Procedure for submitting a request for academic leave:

• The request is submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department via VUSIS or by email.
• The request must be signed by: 1) the doctoral student; 2) the academic supervisor; 3) the chair of the doctoral committee or the head of the unit.
• As the academic leave nears its end, a request to resume doctoral studies or a request to extend the academic leave (if there are grounds for doing so) must be submitted. Failure to return from academic leave within 15 calendar days without a valid reason results in expulsion from doctoral studies.

Grounds for granting academic leave and documents to be submitted:

• Doctoral students are granted academic leave for personal reasons upon submission of a request, for a period not exceeding one year during the entire course of doctoral studies.
• Doctoral students are granted academic leave due to illness upon submission of a request and a medical certificate specifying the recommended duration of the leave.
• Doctoral students are granted academic leave for pregnancy and childbirth upon submission of a request and a medical certificate.
• Doctoral students are granted academic leave for child care upon submission of a request and a birth record. Such leave may be taken for a period of up to three years and until the child reaches the age of three.

Templates:

• Request for Academic Leave
• Request for Return from Academic Leave

The doctoral study plan must be structured so that 3–5 credits are allocated to transferable skills trainings.

Administration of credits for transferable skills training:

• Following the transferable skills training, doctoral students submit a request for the recognition of credits, along with a document confirming their participation in the training, to the doctoral committee.
• The unit forwards information regarding transferable skills training credits to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department. Upon receipt of this information, the credits for transferable skills training are recorded.

NB: 

• To find out how many credits you have earned, please contact the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (drs@cr.vu.lt).
• The procedure and scope for recognizing credits for transferable skills trainings may vary depending on the requirements established by the doctoral committee. You can find the credit recognition procedure on the websites of the individual units.

You can find more information about transferable skills training here.

FAQ:

1. You can find out about past and upcoming training sessions organized by the Vilnius University here.
2. Certificates for participation in trainings organized by VU are issued at the end of the academic year. If you need a certificate sooner, please contact gabija.strumylaite@cr.vu.lt.
3. Doctoral students may participate in transferable skills trainings organized not only by Vilnius University but also by other Lithuanian or foreign institutions.

In the event of a change of surname, the doctoral student must submit the following documents to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: drs@cr.vu.lt):

1. a request to change the surname;
2. a copy of a document confirming the change of surname (passport, personal identity card, marriage record, etc.).

ATTENTION: Requests of this type must be submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department via email. The Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Division does not receive requests submitted through VUSIS.

Template:

• Request to change the surname

To obtain a certificate regarding your doctoral studies and/or passed examinations, please contact the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: drs@cr.vu.lt). 

ATTENTION: Requests of this type must be submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department via email. The Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Division does not receive requests submitted through VUSIS.