Pursuing Higher Education in Lithuania After Completing School in Denmark: Uršulė Barkauskaitė’s Insights for Fellow Students

When thinking about the future, many high school graduates weigh their options between seeking a higher education in Lithuania and abroad. Uršulė Barkauskaitė, a third-year student at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University (VU LSC), is no stranger to such considerations either. It was not until she reached this crossroads herself that a strong homesickness helped her decide.

“I don’t feel like my experience is particularly outstanding,” says Uršulė.

At the age of 15, she moved to a small Danish town in the Central Jutland Region, where she finished a gymnasium and earned her International Baccalaureate diploma. The student claims to have been preparing for this experience since childhood: her parents fostered an international environment, introducing the girl to British and American cultures early on, as well as to the German language.

“Even though we are all Lithuanians, my siblings and I grew up speaking English at home. I was raised in a family with an open-minded and global perspective,” recalls Uršulė.

She decided to attend high school in Denmark mainly because her sister was already studying there. Uršulė was also fascinated by the country itself, especially its emphasis on the education system. Moreover, she was drawn to the prospect of free education.

Exceptional learning programme

According to Uršulė Barkauskaitė, it was the distinctive International Baccalaureate Programme that made a lasting impression on her. The lessons focused on individual learning, research papers, global attitudes, and, most importantly, the practical application of theoretical knowledge.

“For instance, during our literature classes, we were required to read works by authors from at least three continents and also to ensure that there was a balanced representation of both male and female writers on the reading list. We used to learn from a variety of different sources, including books, articles, podcasts, etc. We were exploring the various ways information is presented in society and how to identify it,” says Uršulė.

Starting from the 11th grade, the student had the opportunity to connect first-hand to life sciences through laboratory research, where she started exploring the world of microorganisms in fermented products. The opportunity to directly engage with science and the fostered reflective culture, which encouraged her to talk about the steps she took and the objectives she achieved in one task or another, influenced Uršulė’s decision to pursue her further studies in life sciences.

“The exam definitely wasn’t the be-all and end-all: e.g. the midterms, such as mathematics research, played a significant role in determining the final grade,” says the student.

Apart from the learning programme, she also immensely enjoyed interacting with her teachers from diverse backgrounds and countries, including Canada, the USA, and Namibia: “It truly felt as if I had been accepted to an international community committed to self-discovery. That’s when you come to understand that we have all embarked on the same journey of exploration.” 

From Denmark to the LSC

Although students from the EU can pursue higher education at world-renowned universities in Denmark tuition-free, many bachelor study programmes are conducted in Danish. Nonetheless, language was not the primary factor behind Uršulė’s decision to leave Denmark.

“When I left Lithuania at a very young age, I had a strong desire to come back here and rediscover the meaning of living in my native country. Upon hearing Lithuanian at the airport, I would feel an instantly strong pull. I was trying to understand what it was,” she says.

The student is set to start her third year of microbiology studies at the LSC this September. According to her, she was most attracted by the study programme, the international atmosphere, and the supportive community that fosters self-expression.

In addition, as a member of the Arqus Student Council, Uršulė Barkauskaitė participated in the panel session on internationalism and was later elected Vice President of this Council. She stressed the major role of the Arqus Alliance in expanding opportunities for student mobility and the quality of education, as well as in shaping the identity of the European Higher Education Area.

Uršulė is also the International Students’ Affairs Coordinator of the VU Students’ Representation, responsible for communicating with incoming students from different countries and organising various international initiatives. She asserts that her international experience enhances her ability to communicate with students, comprehend their needs, and provide better support.

“It has been a great honour to meet so many supporters of internationalism here. For example, at the LSC, we have a Teams group where members of the teaching staff, researchers, and students from various countries, as well as other internationalists, provide help for those from abroad or just seek to learn about different cultures or discuss topics ranging from Sodra (Lithuania’s State Social Insurance Fund) to event recommendations. I find it fascinating that we all want to help each other and are looking for a platform to enable us to do so,” says the VU student.

For the time being, Uršulė is looking forward to finishing her studies at the LSC while still keeping her international study aspirations alive. Engaged in both the activities of Arqus and the VU Students’ Representation, she has grasped the importance of interdisciplinarity – that is why she does not view studies abroad as emigration.

“I don’t see it as leaving the country, but rather as a new experience to share with others,” concludes Uršulė Barkauskaitė.