Changes in the study process for Siauliai University students and free listeners

Sukurta: 08 December 2020

As of 1 January 2021, Šiauliai University becomes a sui generis core academic unit of Vilnius University — Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy.

With this significant and paramount change, every student of Šiauliai University becomes a student of Vilnius University. At the same time, certain aspects related to the study process and student rights and obligations are to change:

Obligations of the universities in the merger

Vilnius University takes over all the obligations of Šiauliai University established in the study agreement concluded between the student and Šiauliai University and assumes additional obligations not provided for in the study agreement concluded between the student and Šiauliai University but established by regulatory acts of Vilnius University and the Republic of Lithuania.

The student retains all the rights and obligations established in the study agreement concluded with Šiauliai University. In addition, the student assumes additional obligations not provided for in the study agreement concluded between the student and Šiauliai University but established by regulatory acts of Vilnius University and the Republic of Lithuania. The fundamental additional commitments of the student are the following:

To properly execute the assumed financial obligations in accordance with the procedure established by Vilnius University;
Upon completion or termination of studies, to clear his/her obligations to Vilnius University.

The study agreement expires if the student and Vilnius University have fully fulfilled the obligations established by the legal acts of Vilnius University and the study agreement or if the study agreement is terminated.

Registration for studies

Registration to resume studies

In order to resume studies, students who have suspended their studies or taken an academic leave have to submit an application for permission to resume their studies after the academic leave/suspension of studies no later than five days before the end of the academic leave/suspension of studies. In case the application is not submitted in time, the concluded study agreement is terminated, and the student is removed from Vilnius University student list. These applications are submitted on the study administration platform of Vilnius University — VUSIS.

Registration for elective courses

At the end of each semester, students have to register for elective courses (modules) for the upcoming semester. The registration for elective courses (modules) takes place on VUSIS: until 15 December for the spring semester (currently, until 1 January 2021 not applicable) and until 15 May for the autumn semester. You can get acquainted with the start and end dates for registration for electives by taking a look at the academic calendar of Vilnius University.

Notably, Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy students who have preselected and registered for elective courses (modules) for the spring semester of the 2020–2021 academic year, in accordance with the procedure established by Šiauliai University, will not have to reregister for these spring semester courses (modules).

Students have the right to drop out from the selected study subjects (modules) and choose other study subjects (modules) instead. This can be carried out on VUSIS no later than within two weeks since the beginning of the semester.

Assesment of learning achievements

At Vilnius University, a study subject (module) is considered completed (evaluated positively), if the final assessment of learning achievements received by a student is equal to or higher than 5 points.

If a student fails the final assessment of learning achievements (exam), he/she has the possibility to retake the final assessment of learning achievements of a subject (module) free of charge once. Resit exam timetables are to be published publicly on the website of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy and VUSIS until the beginning of a new semester.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that temporarily — in the autumn semester of the 2020–2021 academic year — Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy students who fail to pass the final assessment of learning achievements (exam) will be granted the opportunity to retake the final assessment of learning achievements of a subject (module) twice. A one-off fee of EUR 23.00 will be charged for the second retake of the assessment of learning achievements (exam), which will not be refunded to the student. From the spring semester of the 2020–2021 academic year onward, students will be given the opportunity to resit the final assessment of learning achievements of a subject (module) only once (without the possibility of a second paid resit).

Types of debt and debt elimination

If a student fails to pass the resit exam of a subject (module) (i.e., receives a mark lower than 5 points), a debt is generated, which can be eliminated in the following ways:

by repeating the course (module);
by successfully retaking the exam of the course (module) after self-studying without attending classes; or
by replacing the subject (module) with another one (in case of general university studies).

If a student has repeated the subject (module), retaken the exam of the subject (module) for the first time without attending classes after self-studying or replaced the subject (module) with another subject but failed the exam and the resit exam of the subject (module), an academic debt is generated, which is settled through the above-mentioned methods of debt elimination.

It is important to note that Vilnius University students who have collected more than 15 ECTS credits in debts and (or) academic debts are expelled from the University.

Arrival to assessment of learning achievements

If a student cannot participate in the final assessment of learning achievements (exam) of a subject (module) due to an illness or other significant reason, the student may address the head of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy for permission to arrange the final assessment of learning achievements of a subject (module) at another time but no later than within one month since the beginning of a new semester.

If a student does not attend the final assessment of learning achievements (exam) or an interim assessment of a subject (module), the student must inform the administration of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy within three working days of the scheduled date of the final (or interim) assessment and submit a document justifying his/her absence.

In case this cannot be conducted due to objective reasons, the student has to inform about the reason for his/her absence as soon as possible.

Entering and accounting of learning achievements

The final learning achievements of a course (module) are entered on VUSIS by the teacher of the course (module) of the chair of the evaluating commission within five working days since the final assessment of learning achievements (exam).

All learning achievements of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy students for the 2020–2021 academic year will be temporarily stored and accessible to students in both the AIS and VUSIS platforms.

Procedures for assessing learning achievements and assessment-related appeal possibilities

In accordance with the established procedure, students who disagree with the final assessment of a subject (module) (excluding final examinations and final thesis defence assessments) have the right to address Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy Dispute Resolution Commission by submitting a reasoned statement within seven calendar days from the date the final assessment of a subject (module) was published.

In accordance with the established procedure, students who disagree with the procedure applied in an interim assessment, the final assessment of learning achievements (exam) of a course (module), the final exam or the final thesis defence have the right to address Vilnius University Siauliai Academy Dispute Resolution Commission within three working days from the interim assessment, final assessment of learning achievements of a course (module), final exam or final thesis defence.

Student ranking in terms of learning achievements

After each academic semester, in relation to the weighted average of students’ learning achievements of the latest semester at Siauliai University and (or) Vilnius University, a student ranking is composed, revealing the ranking of students who received the highest final assessments for the courses (modules) studied. The ranking is formed in a descending order in terms of the weighted average of learning achievements.

Notably, based on the results of the student ranking, incentive scholarships for learning achievements of the previous semester are also awarded to students.

If a student has gone abroad for part-time studies during the study semester, the weighted average of learning achievements of his/her last semester at Vilnius University and (or) Šiauliai University is used in forming the student ranking. Students who return after an academic leave or suspension of studies are included in the student ranking based on the weighted average of learning achievements of their last semester at Vilnius University and (or) Šiauliai University.

Student rotation in terms of learning achievements

The learning achievements of each student are classified into three levels of achievement, namely, excellent, average and sufficient:

Excellent – the student has no academic debts, and the weighted average of his/her learning achievements of the assessed period ranges from 8 to 10 points;
Average – the student has no academic debts, and the weighted average of his/her learning achievements of the assessed period is above 5 points but does not reach the excellent level of achievement;
Sufficient – the student has no academic debts, and the weighted average of his/her learning achievements of the assessed period is above 4 points but does not reach the average level of achievement.

A well-performing student is an individual who has no academic debts, has fulfilled all the requirements of the study programme in the assessed period and has reached an excellent or average level of achievement; therefore, the person who meets the criteria of a well-performing student continues to hold his/her state-funded study place.

Significantly, the student rotation regarding the financing of studies with funds from the state budget does not apply to students in master's and professional study programmes. The level of learning achievement of a student in a state-funded place in the assessed period is determined on 30 September of each year. The results of the closest-in-time rotation of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy students for the 2020-2021 academic year will be announced on 30 September 2021.

It should be noted that a student can also retain the state-funded study place he/she holds even if he/she reaches only the sufficient level of learning achievement. However, this can occur only if there is no other student to whom the state-funded place could be transferred.

Preparation of final theses and other research papers

At Vilnius University, final theses and other research papers are to be drafted in accordance with the Regulations for the Preparation, Defence and Storage of Research Papers of Students Studying at Vilnius University and the established procedure by Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy.

Notably, temporary procedures for the preparation, defence and storage of final theses at Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy, which are valid until the end of the 2020–2021 academic year, have been approved.

In accordance with the procedure set at Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy, a student submits the electronic version of his/her final thesis and the permission to defend it, produced by the thesis supervisor, to Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy by e-mail granted by Vilnius University at least seven working days in advance of the meeting of the final theses defence committee, during which the student is to defend his/her final thesis;

The decision of the thesis supervisor to allow or deny a permission to defend the final thesis is confirmed by an e-mail, sent by the thesis supervisor to the student and Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy.

The student has to upload the electronic version of the thesis on the Lithuanian Academic Electronic Library Information System eLABa for a computer check for independence in the thesis development at least ten calendar days in advance of the meeting of the final theses defence committee, during which the student is to defend his/her final thesis;

As the student uploads the final thesis onto the eLABa system, the thesis supervisor performs a computer check for independence in the thesis development, which is carried out on the eLABa system. After the final thesis check is complete, a report of the computer check of the final thesis is generated, which indicates the percentage of overlapping content considering the final thesis and other electronic documents, and, if overlaps are found, comments are submitted. Then, the final thesis is submitted for further defence procedures;

The content of the final thesis uploaded onto the eLABa system may be changed only by the decision of the thesis supervisor, recorded on eLABa, to transfer the thesis to the student for clarification, however, no later than seven working days before the meeting of the final theses defence committee, during which the student is to defend his/her final thesis;

The final thesis is to be submitted for review no later than seven working days in advance of the final thesis defence;

The student is to receive feedback from his/her thesis reviewer at the e-mail address granted by Vilnius University no later than 48 (forty-eight) hours in advance of the meeting of the final theses defence committee.

Payment of tuition fees

Self-study course (module)

The fee payable for a self-study course (module) — studying individually without attending classes — equals to 25 percent of the fee for the course (module). The fee is to be paid no later than three working days before taking the exam.

Repetition of a course (module)

The fee payable for the repetition of a course (module) is calculated by multiplying the cost of a study credit by the number of credits of the course (module). The fee for the repetition of the course has to be paid no later than by the end of the first month of the semester in which the course (module) to be repeated is taught.

Taking a course (module) as a free listener

The fee payable for taking a course (module) as a free listener is calculated by multiplying the cost of a study credit by the number of credits of the course (module). Free listeners have to pay the fee within 15 working days after the day of signing the study agreement.

Students in places not funded by the state

The tuition fee payable for a semester is to be paid by the last day of the first month of the semester. The tuition fee for the spring semester of the 2020–2021 academic year is to be paid by 28 February 2021.

If a student has applied for a loan to cover the tuition fee, this payment can be deferred until the loan is granted but no longer than until 1 December in the autumn semester and 1 May in the spring semester.

If at the beginning of a semester a student does not have the needed funds to cover the full tuition fee for the whole semester, the tuition fee may be allowed to be paid in no more than three instalments; however, the first payment has to cover no less than 30 percent of the tuition fee payable and has to be paid no later than on the last day of the first month of the current semester. Applications for tuition fee deferrals and permissions to pay in instalments are to be submitted to the head of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy. The applications can be submitted through VUSIS.

Upon a request by a doctoral student, the payment of the annual tuition fee, with an approval by the head of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy, may be divided into instalments other than those provided for in the study agreement or postponed by the order of the Pro-Rector for Research at Vilnius University.

It is important to note the tuition fee for a student can be paid not only by the student himself/herself but also by other natural and legal persons (e.g., employers).

Tuition fees may also be reduced for students who actively participate in sports and represent Vilnius University and for students participating in Vilnius University research activities. In all cases, the tuition fee reduction for one semester is no less than 30 percent but no more than 70 percent.

Reimbursment of tuition fees

Recovery of tuition fees

If a student fails to pay the tuition fee payable in time, the tuition fees or parts thereof can be recovered. If the tuition fee (or parts thereof) for the semester is not paid in time and if the student is expelled from Vilnius University (by terminating the study agreement), the amount of the sums to be recovered for the semester are the following:

If a free listener fails to pay the fee for taking the course (module) exam (credit) within 15 working days from the signing of the study agreement, the recoverable amount is equal to the full fee.

In accordance with the amount due, a payment delayed after the term incurs a daily penalty equal to 0.02 percent of the amount due.

Completion of studies and settlement with the university

A student completing or terminating his/her studies at Vilnius University has to settle with the following departments of Vilnius University:

Vilnius University Library	Vilnius University Dormitory Centre	Vilnius University Students’ Representation
For borrowed library publications and equipment	For dormitory rental services provided	For the Lithuanian Student Indentity Card
Vilnius University International Relations Office	Vilnius University Department of Student Services and Career	Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy Administration
Students who have participated in the Erasmus exchange programme in the last two years have to settle	Students who have gone on an Erasmus internship during their studies have to to settle	The settlement takes place after the settlement procedure with other units of the University is complete

Notably, temporarily — until the end of the 2020–2021 academic year — students at Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy who terminate or complete their studies will have to settle only with the following Vilnius University departments: Vilnius University Library, Vilnius University Dormitory Centre and Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy.

Every student will be able to monitor his/her settlement status with Vilnius University departments on VUSIS.

A student who fails to settle with Vilnius University departments will not be able to be receive documents certifying his/her studies.

Students in bachelor’s, master’s or integrated study programmes who have completed their study programmes exceptionally well are awarded a Cum Laude diploma. Magna Cum Laude diplomas are awarded to students in bachelor's, master's or integrated study programmes who have completed their study programmes exceptionally well and distinguished themselves in their the field of research.

You can find out more about the Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude diplomas and the criteria for their issuance here.

More information about the study process and its regulation at Vilnius University can be found here.

We expect and hope that this process of organisational change will not cause additional challenges in continuing your studies at Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy and integrating into the rich community of Vilnius University.

The teams of Šiauliai University and Vilnius University are always there to help; therefore, in case of uncertainties, we will be waiting for your questions at .