Individualised Studies at Vilnius University

Sukurta: 04 July 2013

Individualised Studies are a part of the curriculum that students independently select from their second semester or late (depending on the study programme). Individualised Studies consist of subjects from main study programme, other study programmess, Minor Studies, 20+ language courses, General University Studies. Subjects can be selected form students‘ home faculties and other University faculties. The list of Individualised Studies Subjects (Modules) can be found here. 

Uniqueness

The opportunity to develop general competencies and receive a broader education;
More opportunities and an easier path to choose master's studies in the future;
More opportunities to plan your career, as additional competencies allow you to apply for job positions that require a wider range of skills.

Selection

The first selection starts form the second semester (depending on the study program);
Further selections will be made gradually throughout the entire study period;
It is recommended to choose subjects based on personal interests and the desired career path, while also considering any prerequisites (in cases if there are any);
In case any question arise, students are welcme to use the University’s counseling services.

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What subjects can be selected?

As there is a wide range of subjects (modules) to choose from, it is natural to wonder how these subjects differ from one another. You can find general descriptions of the subjects below. International students can select subjects form their main study programme, other study programmes, general university subjects and foreign languages.

What are General University Subjects?

What foreign languages can be selected?

What are Minor Studies?

Minor Studies - an opportunity to select and study another programme from another study field alongside your main study programme. The scope of the Minor Studies is not less than 30 study credits and not more than 60 study credits. It is important to note that in many cases when a student opts for Minor Studies, they will no longer be able to choose Individualised Study Subjects (modules), as all the credits allocated for individual studies are used up.

Student registration for Minor Studies is open from April 1 to April 30 (for studies starting in the Autumn semester) and from November 1 to November 30 (for studies starting in the Spring semester).

For additional information and registration for Minor Studies, you should contact the Academic Core Unit organizing the specific Minor Study programme. You can review the list of Minor Study programs here.

Please note, that the option to select Minor Studies is available only to Lithuanian students.

What courses can be selected from Partner Institutions?

Vilnius University collaborates with the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) and the Vilnius Academy of Arts (VDA) and offers VU students the opportunity to choose subjects offered by LMTA and VDA. Bachelor's and integrated study students admitted to Vilnius University from 2023 can choose these subjects using the credits allocated for Individualised studies in their study programme.

About the differences in subject credits:

If you want to register for a course offered by another university, it is important to know that if 5 credits are allocated for individual study options and the course (module) offered by the other university is worth 3 credits, in this case, you should choose two courses of 3 credits each so that the total number of credits is not less than 5.

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Relavant information about individualised studies can be found on Univeristy’s Moodle platform.

Available information:

video about the registration process for individual studies;
lists of subjects/modules for individual studies;
additional advice from career counsellors;
Contacts of the University's lecturer-mentor network.
Also, you will have the opportunity to fill in a feedback form and contribute to the development of the Moodle course.

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Career advice

Vilnius University provides Career counselling which can help students get to know themselves better, goals for the future and identify the steps to achieve them. You can find out more about the careers center's services here.

Know yourself

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and a clear foundation of ones values will not only help you choose the right things that will be interesting to you, but also help you understand what kind of career you really want in the future: to be a specialist in the chosen field, or maybe the head of an organization? Whether you are interested in a government job or a non-profit organisation or you wish to contribute to the creation of Lithuania's future by developing your business?

Answer yourself the following questions:

How do your interests and hobbies relate to the individual study subjects you want to choose?
What are your strengths and weaknesses? Choose those things that match your strengths, but also think about those that can help you strengthen your weaknesses;
Name three of your strengths and choose one you would like to improve on. Think of three examples (situations) that would prove of these traits. Ask 3–5 people who know you well (students, teachers, friends, family members) to provide examples as well. After receiving the results, identify your three most repeated features and the area that needs improvement.

Explore the possibilities

Find out which things are best suited for you. Evaluate not only the subject content but also the form. Think about whether you lack theoretical knowledge or practical skills such as public speaking, teamwork or problem-solving.

Answer yourself the following questions:

What career opportunities will your selected subjects offer?
Take a look at the World Economic Forum's "Future of Jobs Report" to find out about the most promising job fields and positions. Check which ones interest you the most.
Now take a look at the descriptions of individualised study subjects and evaluate how these subjects match current labor market trends?
How can these individual studies affect your academic and career path?
Are you ready for the challenges that may arise when adapting to new study subjects (higher learning load, easier or maybe more difficult study subject).
Is the field of this subject interesting enough that you are ready to explore it even after the lectures? For example, taking distance learning courses, talking to professionals in the field, etc.

Plan and make decisions

Remember that your study choices are your career choices, so choose responsibly! Knowing what are your future goals will allow you to start taking the first steps towards them now.

Answer the following questions for yourself:

What are your long-term career goals and aspirations? That is, how do you see yourself 5 years after graduation? What is your ideal career scenario? And how do your individual studies fit into this scenario? If you don't have this scenario yet, create a vision for your career.
When you are considering several suitable options and can't decide on a subject, a comparison of alternatives can help you decide. Find out how here.

Tips from lectures-mentors

If any issues related to selection occur, students have the opportunity to contact lectors-mentors from various University departments. Students can be consulted about academic or work-related goals and specific competencies related to a certain field. More information about mentoring can be found here.

Advices from lecture-mentors on how to choose individualised studies

Tips form Academic Consultants

For questions related to the selection system, registration dates, or the study process, it is recommended to contact Academic Consultants at the Student Affairs and Career Office. More information or registration for a consultation can be found here.

Academic advisors at the Student Services and Career Office can provide advice not only on Individualised Studies but also on the entire study process, and challenges that may arise, and suggest possible alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I know in which study semesters I have to select Individualised study subjects (modules)?

Where and when will I be able to register?

What subjects will be available for selection?

Will the cost of tuition and study load change?

What happens if a group is not formed after selecting the desired subject (module) and the subject cancelled?

In case if the group is not formed, the individualised study subject will, unfortunately, be cancelled. In this case, students will be informed and will be able to register for another study subject. Registration will take place during the first two weeks of the new semester. Exact dates are published in the VU Study Information System (VUSIS).

What happens if a student gets a debt for an individual study subject (module)?

How does individualised studies differ from an individual study plan?

The subjects of individualised studies, unlike the individual study plan, are provided in the study programme plan. An individual study plan is an individual arrangement of the subjects studied and their settlement during the semester(s), drawn up at the request of the student (and changed if necessary). Students can create an individual study plan, even if the program includes individualised studies, it means that the student has the right to submit a request to change the compulsory subjects of the study programme or their arrangement in semesters. However, we must emphasize that this is only possible with the approval of the study programmee committee/committee chairman.

Is it possible to change subjects of individualised studies after choosing?

I want to choose individualised study subjects (modules), but I have special needs. Can I choose?

Individualised study subjects (modules) can be selected by all undergraduate students from the second semester of their studies (or later, depending on the study programme plan). If you have questions about the selection of individualised studies related to special needs, it is recommended to contact the Disability Affairs Coordinator. You can find more information about studies and individual needs here.

What should I do if the subject I want to choose takes place at the same time as a mandatory subject?

It is important to pay attention to timetables when choosing individualised study subjects (modules). Each student is responsible for ensuring that individualised study subjects do not overlap with the timetable of compulsory subjects. However, in case selected subjects do overlap, students should select another individualised study subject there and select the subject during the next semester. Another option would be change the group of the main subject (if such an options is available). The schedules for study programs and individual studies (modules) at Vilnius University can be found here.

Uniqueness

Selection

What subjects can be selected?

Important information

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