VU Study regulations
VILNIUS UNIVERSITY
FACT SHEET OF STUDY REGULATIONS
Students are admitted to the University by the Rector. Senate commission determines the conditions of admission. Admissions procedure is organized by the Commission appointed by rector.
At the undergraduate level of studies persons are admitted (by the tendering procedure) with at least a secondary education.
At the graduate level of studies persons are admitted (by the tendering procedure) with a university education.
At the postgraduate level of studies persons are admitted (by the tendering procedure) possessing Master or an equivalent degree (university higher education diploma).
University studies are of two types: Consecutive and Non-consecutive.
Consecutive studies are to gain a university degree and (or) qualification.
Non-consecutive studies are for improving skills, or change, add to already acquired education.
Consecutive study has three levels: the first (Bachelor), second (Master's and special professional) and third (doctoral and residency). Undergraduate and graduate studies can be combined in integrated studies.
The extent of Study is calculated of credits. One credit is equal to 40 student or listener contractual working hours (one week of his work).
The extent of Undergraduate level of studies is not less than 140 and not more than 180 credits.
The extent of Master's Degree studies is at least 60 credits and no more than 80 credits.
Integrated Studies volume - at least 180 (some granted only to professional qualifications) or 200 (when granted and a master's degree) credits and no more than 240 credits. The extent of integrated studies in Medical course is of not more than 280 credits.
The extent of Postgraduate studies is determined in a Doctoral and residency regulations.
Study Programs.
Study program - study Content, methods and tools of a certain direction as a whole.
On completion of the first year of studies individual study program may be made for students at their request. The procedure of establishment of individual study programs is formed and confirmed by the Dean (the Head of the unit).
According to the role of the program study subjects are divided into mandatory, optional and free ones. The proportions of mandatory, optional and free subjects in the study programs of different course directions and degrees are set in the study programs Regulation.
Study Methods.
Study Methods are: classroom work, individual work and practice. Studies may also be held at a distance.
STUDY PROCESS
Academic calendar.
Studies at the University are divided into semesters. Academic year is of two semesters - autumn and spring. The academic year begins on 1 September and ends on 31 August.
Part-time semester period lasts for 20 weeks, 4 of them are set for exam session - for taking exams and credits. Autumn semester begins on the 1 of September and lasts until the 26 January. Winter examination session - December 22 - 24, and January 2 - 26. Christmas holiday - December 25 - January 1. Winter holiday - 27 January - 3 February. Spring semester begins on the 4 of February and lasts until the 30 of June. Spring examination session - June 3 – 30. One week of this semester is for Easter holidays. From the 1 of July to the 31 of August - summer holidays.
Classroom work proceeds in accordance with schedules. The schedule of required subjects and the project schedule of supposed elective subjects for autumn semester are organized and published by the Dean's Office till 15 of April, while the Schedule for spring semester – up to
the 15 of November. The final schedules of lectures should be organized no later than 10 days before the semester begins.
Registration for semester courses.
Before each semester, students are registered for the semester studies according to the regulations settled by the Faculty Council.
Semester students are registered automatically, if they have no academic debts or their session is not extended (postponed exams).
Students who are renewing studies must register for their studies each semester before the semester starts.
At the end of the semester, students must register for the next semester‘s elective and free courses.
Deadline for elective and free courses for spring semester is the 1 of December, and for the autumn semester - May 1.
First semester students must register for the elective and free courses within the first two weeks of the semester.
After the final schedule of lectures is published, students have a right to sign out of the selected courses and choose others, but no later than within the first two weeks of the semester.
It is permitted to sign out of the selected courses and switch to other ones:
because of incompatibility of schedule;
when the intended student quota for the chosen subject is overfilled;
when the administration of the Faculties cancels the chosen subject.
Work during the semester.
During the first lecture of the subject students should be familiarized with the program of the subject, procedures of work during the semester and the requirements for the course report (examination/credit test, paper work).
Evaluation of study results.
The main method of the evaluation of study results is an examination. Some of the study subjects may be evaluated by credits.
Exams and credits are in writing or both in writing and orally.
Study results are evaluated by the teacher who is the head of the course or by the commission of experts of the special range, consisting of the teacher who is the head of the course.
If the teacher (the head of the course) can not evaluate study results because of the illness or other valid reasons, the Department Head should appoint another teacher or a specialized commission of experts for the evaluation of study results.
Commission for evaluation of study results can also be constituted for other cases on a reasoned request of students or listeners.
Students' knowledge through exams is evaluated from 1 to 10 points, while the credit tests - credited or Fail. Other valuation principles are determined in the methodology of the evaluation of study results.
Exams and credits are taken at the specified scheduled time. The student who is unable to take the examination because of the illness or other valid reason may apply to the Faculty Dean for taking examinations at different times during the session or for extending the examination session.
A student who does not agree with the examination procedure and (or) with the examination results has a right to apply with a reasoned written request to the Faculty Examination Appeals Board not later than three working days after the publication of examination (credits) results
Academic debts and liquidation.
During the examination session or extended session failed exams are the student academic debts.
Student having academic debts may retake the examination once within the first two weeks of the new semester and if the exam session was extended - within two weeks after the extended deadline.
At the end of the period for retaking exams (credits), the Dean of the Faculty can allow the students having one or two academic debts to repeat the studies of appropriate courses and continue the study program.
For the students of the last semester of the Undergraduate level of studies, who have one or two academic debts at the end of the next-to-last semester examinations (credits) retaking period, Dean of the Faculty may allow to retake appropriate examinations (credit tests) once before the beginning of the last examination session.
Students having more than two academic debts after examination (credits) retaking period as well as the students having one or two academic debts who were not allowed to repeat the studies of these courses, are eliminated from the University.
Final paper.
Defense of the final paper or (and) taking the final exam(s) can be allowed if only all the requirements of study program are accomplished.
Student may change the selected study program to another if all the requirements of the new study program of the first year of Undergraduate level of studies or of the first semester of Graduate level of studies are accomplished substantially.
Requirements of the relevant part of the program are considered being accomplished substantially if there are no more than two failed exams or credits. These program disparities can be eliminated within a year. These disparities are not considered academic debts.
STUDY TERMINATION.
Studies are terminated:
At the request of the student;
when student (listener) is eliminated;
when studies become not available because of some other objective reasons.
For the student (of the Consecutive study program) who is temporarily unable to continue to study because of the disease or a pregnancy and infant care, at his request on presentation of evidence academic leave is given.
GRADUATION.
Person who has accomplished all the requirements of the selected consecutive study program is considered graduated from University.
On graduation of University students get a diploma certifying.
Students who have accomplished study programs of the first and the second graduate levels of consecutive studies exceptionally well get a special diploma CUM LAUDE.
Students who have accomplished study programs of the Graduate level or integrated study programs of consecutive studies exceptionally well and distinguished scientific abilities, get a special diploma MAGNA CUM LAUDE.