The application with all required enclosures must be registered in the system at https://is.vu.lt/pls/dokt/isas.register?p_kalba=en and sent by e-mail
For more information, please contact:
Find more about PhD studies at Vilnius University
Admission 2026
Additional Admission to a Research Council of Lithuania funded doctoral topic will take place till 15 December 2026, 12:00 (midday).
Applications and all required documents must be submitted within the specified period through the Vilnius University Information System for Doctoral Admissions (ISAS) at: https://is.vu.lt/pls/dokt/isas.login
- Research proposal (in PDF format, uploaded to the "Other Additional Documents" section of the Vilnius University Information System (ISAS)) on a topic selected from the approved list of doctoral research topics and prospective supervisors (see the "Research Proposal" section). The deadline for submitting the research proposal is the same as for all other required application documents, i.e. 15 December, 12:00 a.m. (midday).
Motivational interviews with the Admissions Committee will take place via Microsoft Teams.
Within the indicated deadlines, applicants must submit their application and required documents via the Vilnius University online admission system for third-cycle (doctoral) studies (ISAS):
https://is.vu.lt/pls/dokt/isas.login
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- esearch project (in PDF format, uploaded to the VU IS system under the attachment category “Other Documents”) on a topic selected from the approved list of doctoral dissertation themes and supervisors for admission to doctoral studies (see the section “Research Project”).
- Application form.
- Motivation letter.
- Proof of payment of the application fee:
- EUR 50 for citizens of Lithuania and European Union countries,
- EUR 100 for citizens of other countries
- Copy of a personal identification document.
- Copy of a document confirming a change of surname (if applicable).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Copy of a Master’s degree diploma or an equivalent higher education qualification diploma with its diploma supplement (if ISAS does not contain data on your grade point average).
- Two recommendation letters from scholars in the field of science to which the applicant is applying (one of them must be from the prospective dissertation supervisor or a written confirmation of their agreement to supervise).
- Copies of scientific publications and/or documents confirming participation in academic conferences (optional).
- Other documents considered relevant by the applicant (e.g., certificates of completed courses, passed doctoral-level examinations, etc.).
Applications submitted without at least one of the required documents listed above (except for publications and/or documents confirming conference participation) will not be considered.
Admission Process
The admission process consists of two stages:
Stage 1 – Evaluation of the Research Proposal
During the first stage, the submitted research proposals are evaluated by members of the Admission Committee.Only applicants whose research proposals receive a positive joint evaluation by the Committee will be invited to the second stage.
Stage 2 – Motivational Interview
During the second stage, applicants participate in a motivational interview with the Admission Committee. The final competitive score is calculated as follows:
- Evaluation of the research proposal and interview – 70%
- Weighted average grade from the diploma supplement – 20%
- Evaluation of research experience and scientific publications – 10%
Motivational interviews with the Admission Committee for selected candidates will take place on July 1 starting at 9:00 AM via Microsoft Teams.
In accordance with the VU Regulations on Doctoral Studies, the Doctoral Admission Committee establishes the ranking list for admission to state-funded and tuition-based study places.
Topic could be found here: Doktorantūra
Admission to PhD studies in 2026 will take place:
- From 3 March 2026 to 25 June 2026,
- Until 18 May 2026 (12:00 noon) for applicants who:
- have completed their studies outside Lithuania, and
- do not have a document confirming the recognition of their diploma in Lithuania.
Within the indicated deadlines, applicants must submit their application and required documents via the Vilnius University online admission system for third-cycle (doctoral) studies (ISAS):
https://is.vu.lt/pls/dokt/isas.login
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- esearch project (in PDF format, uploaded to the VU IS system under the attachment category “Other Documents”) on a topic selected from the approved list of doctoral dissertation themes and supervisors for admission to doctoral studies (see the section “Research Project”). The deadline for submitting the project is the same as for the other application documents, namely: 18 May if the applicant's previous studies were completed outside Lithuania or 25 June if the applicant's previous studies were completed in Lithuania.
- Application form.
- Motivation letter.
- Proof of payment of the application fee:
- EUR 50 for citizens of Lithuania and European Union countries,
- EUR 100 for citizens of other countries
- Copy of a personal identification document.
- Copy of a document confirming a change of surname (if applicable).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Copy of a Master’s degree diploma or an equivalent higher education qualification diploma with its diploma supplement (if ISAS does not contain data on your grade point average).
- Two recommendation letters from scholars in the field of science to which the applicant is applying (one of them must be from the prospective dissertation supervisor or a written confirmation of their agreement to supervise).
- Copies of scientific publications and/or documents confirming participation in academic conferences (optional).
- Other documents considered relevant by the applicant (e.g., certificates of completed courses, passed doctoral-level examinations, etc.).
Applications submitted without at least one of the required documents listed above (except for publications and/or documents confirming conference participation) will not be considered.
Admission Process
The admission process consists of two stages:
Stage 1 – Evaluation of the Research Proposal
During the first stage, the submitted research proposals are evaluated by members of the Admission Committee.Only applicants whose research proposals receive a positive joint evaluation by the Committee will be invited to the second stage.
Stage 2 – Motivational Interview
During the second stage, applicants participate in a motivational interview with the Admission Committee. The final competitive score is calculated as follows:
- Evaluation of the research proposal and interview – 70%
- Weighted average grade from the diploma supplement – 20%
- Evaluation of research experience and scientific publications – 10%
Motivational interviews with the Admission Committee for selected candidates will take place on July 1 starting at 9:00 AM via Microsoft Teams.
In accordance with the VU Regulations on Doctoral Studies, the Doctoral Admission Committee establishes the ranking list for admission to state-funded and tuition-based study places.
Topics and Supervisors https://www.vu.lt/stojantiesiems/doktorantura/socialiniai-mokslai
PhD at Vilnius University was a great way to start researcher‘s career. I liked the fact that the course is taught by researchers who publish their own papers in high-level academic journals and love their work. This allows me to get to know both modern methods and current issues, as well as the researchers themselves and their peers. I also liked the fact that VU is providing more and more resources for PhD students: helping with the editing and publication of the dissertation and scientific articles, reimbursement of presentation costs, travel expenses, and even part of the costs of courses or research. I am happy to be able to continue publishing my papers and attending high-level conferences after my PhD.
The central goal of pursuing a PhD is to become an independent researcher. PhD study at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration was full of learning and grooming. Experienced researchers from diversified economics fields, a strong academic infrastructure, and a working environment that deeply motivates one to harness potential are the hallmarks of the faculty. The knowledge and experiences I acquired during my study tremendously helped me to understand behavioral environmental economics from a widened horizon. My stay at Vilnius University not only shaped me academically and personally but also opened opportunities for my future endeavor
I was particularly impressed by the quality of the PhD studies in economics and the sincere support of the faculty staff during my studies. The lectures were taught by the most highly qualified professors, and the PhD supervisors never wasted any time or effort in guiding me along the path of my PhD. The financial support provided by the Faculty's Doctoral Fund has contributed significantly to my ability to carry out my research and to present my results at international conferences. Internships at foreign universities have also contributed to the quality of my research and allowed me to establish relationships with foreign researchers and to create opportunities for new projects. I highly recommend PhD studies in Economics at Vilnius University!
Pursuit of continuous improvement and in-depth knowledge lead me to join VU PhD programme. Top level professors, great infrastructure and assistance when it‘s needed warrant only the best feedback for the faculty. What is more, there are plenty of workshops, seminars and conferences organized by the university, thus PhD candidates get introduced to latest research performed by their peers and colleagues. Most of the programme is spent on the research, so a PhD candidate needs to be motivated and willing to invest themselves into their topic of research. If you are prepared, it truly is an opportunity of a lifetime.
In my prior experience as a professional, I was always concerned about a gap between the science and practices in financial markets, where great academic ideas do not always translate into great professional practices. Motivated to bring more academic insights into financial markets, I started my PhD studies at VU. The courses were beneficial and introduced me to the up-to-date research methodologies and tools. I found that the program provides a lot of flexibility, as well as students are encouraged to take a responsibility on how to structure their research project. In addition, I was impressed about international opportunities available, including visiting speakers and exchange programs, that allowed to start building my research network from day one.