Let us therefore rejoice,
While we are young;
After our youth,
After a troublesome old age
The ground will hold us.
Long live the university,
Long live the teachers,
Long live each male student,
Long live each female student;
May they always flourish!
Long live the state
And those who rule it.
Long live our city,
And the charity of benefactors
Which protects us here
Gaudeamus igitur,
iuvenes dum sumus!
Post iucundam iuventutem,
post molestam senectutem
nos habebit humus.
Vivat academia!
Vivant professores!
Vivat membrum quodlibet!
Vivant membra quaelibet!
Semper sint in flore!
Vivat et respublica
et qui illam regunt!
Vivat nostra civitas,
Maecenatum caritas,
Quae nos hic protegunt.
We invite all first-year students to participate in integration events #StudentAUK organised by Vilnius University Students’ Representation (VU SR) together with Vilnius University (VU).
The programme might change, please check on before attending the activities. For the meetings at the faculties please contact your study programme coordinator.
More information can be found here.
The first lecture of a subject (module) is very important. During it, the professor must present a detailed description of the subject (module), which will be followed throughout the semester:
- Subject (module) program;
- Assessment and examination form and procedure;
- Evaluation criteria;
- Report requirements;
- Mandatory bibliography.
The information provided during the first lecture cannot be changed in any way during the semester. The description of the study subject (module) must be published in the VU information system.
More information about the first lecture of the subject (module) can be found in point 25 of the Study Regulations of Vilnius University.
If you want to consult, you can contact the social-academic process affairs coordinator of your department (contacts can be found here) and VU SR consulting group consultants.
Before arrival
- Create or update your Facebook account with the correct name and surname. Facebook and Messenger are the main communication platforms in Lithuania where most information is posted, and all kinds of VU student groups exist.
- If possible, register for your faculty’s freshmen camp – https://www.vusa.lt/lt/pirmakursiu-stovyklos
- Find out about all planned integration week initiatives – https://www.studentauk.vu.lt/en/main/
- Follow VU, VU SR and your faculty on Facebook and Instagram!
- Contact your mentos – they are people with existing studies experience and can advise you on various matters. If they haven’t reached out to you first, you can find their contacts according to your faculty here – https://www.vusa.lt/en/kontaktai/kategorija/padaliniai
- Install and explore the must-have apps (read about that in 10 apps that will help you to survive section) for life in Lithuania.
- Make a plan of how you will travel to your accommodation. Either find out about the arrival to dormitories or make arrangements with your rent landlord.
After arrival
- Participate in integration activities and meetings with your mentors!
- Get a Lithuanian sim-card.
- Order the Lithuanian Student Card (LSP) – https://lsp.lt/en. With it, you’ll be get various discounts and be able to visit the Saulėtekis “MKIC” library 24/7.
- Register for VU e-services: https://id.vu.lt/idmgna/#!/ and https://is.vu.lt/vuis/
- Integrate your VU e-mail to a personal mailbox. If you don’t know how, Google always helps!
- Install the VU Eduroam wireless network access on your computer and/or smartphone.
- Look up student organizations and possible after-class activities: https://www.vusa.lt/lt/programs-clubs-and-projects
TRANSPORTATION
Public transport
Trafi – this is the main public transport app used in Lithuania (Vilnius and Kaunas cities). You can see the schedules of the busses here and also buy a ticket.
Important: for purchasing 30 min. and 60 min., all students need to press 50 percent discount. For one day, one week, one month and other tickets, you need to press 80 percent discount.
Students are acknowledged with LSIC (Lithuanian student identity card) and ISIC (International student identity card) issued in European Union.
Public transport app for Kaunas city. The most comfortable way to pay for your tickets.
Taxi
FOOD
Food delivery apps:
Supermarkets apps:
Some of the supermarkets developed their discount cards, so you may spend less money while shopping with them
Recipes apps:
For more comfortable and faster food preparation
STUDIES
VU uses Microsoft Office for the inner communication and organization of study process, so you may instal these in advance:
If you need fast and good quality translation:
SOCIAL LIFE
In Lithuania, the main social media used is Facebook and Messenger, so you may install these apps, for the faster communication with your mentor and coursemates.
Make sure to follow VU and VU SR pages, so you don’t miss anything that is happening in VU.
Important: each year, there’s a Facebook page created for all VU first-year students, so please, ask your mentor to add you. Also, ask your mentor to suggest you other useful groups, like dormitory’s groups, international students’ groups, zero waste groups and so on.
Make sure to follow VU and VU SR pages, so you don’t miss anything that is happening in VU.
NEWS
Follow all the important news in LRT app and stay updated about everything that’s happening in Lithuania and around the world. In the app itself there are sections in English, Russian, Polish and Ukrainian language.
Here are some things to do:
- Walk your neighborhood – find the closest shops, bus stops, favorite places to be, etc.
- Make your new place home – join the VU dormitories groups on Facebook where people often give away lots of useful stuff for settling in or visit IKEA.
- Get to know your faculty’s premises by visiting them ahead of time.
- Visit whichever VU library is closer to you, either “MKIC” in Saulėtekis or the Old Town VU library. Alternatively, visit both!
- Roam the Old Town (you could try to find all 28 churches located here).
- Travel to Trakai.
- Go to the Bernardines Garden.
- Climb to the Gediminas Tower, and also visit the Three Crosses Hill.
- Eat at the Bernardines Yard food trucks market or Paupys Market.
- Visit museums – the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, KGB Museum, MO Museum, Money Museum of the Bank of Lithuania, Energy and Technology Museum, and others!
Visit these landmarks:
- Hill of Crosses
- Hill / Park of Salduve
- Silver Fox Park
- Golden Boy Park
- Šiauliai Boulevard
- Chocolate factory “Rūta”
- Museum of Bicycles
- Villa of Frenkelis
- Museum of Cats
- Naisiai (a small town near Šiauliai, only a short trip by bus)
- Lake of Rekyva
Read through some sightseeing suggestions here:
- Aleksoto apžvalgos aikštelė (the Aleksotas view site) – one of the most beautiful and popular viewpoints in Kaunas. It is located on a hill overlooking the city and the confluence of two rivers, the Neris and the Nemunas.
- Nemuno sala (Nemunas island) – located in the Nemunas River, it is another must-visit destination for city newcomers. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities, such as cycling, walking, and picnicking.
- Santakos parkas (Santaka park) – Santaka Park is a beautiful park located in the heart of Kaunas, and is a popular destination for both locals and tourists for its walking paths and recreational potential.
- Laisvės alėja (Freedom avenue) – it’s one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, beautiful architecture, and abundance of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Laisvės alėja is also home to many cultural events throughout the year, making it a great place to experience the local culture.
- Aleksoto ir Žaliakalnio funikulieriai (Aleksotas and Žaliakalnis funiculars) – Aleksotas and Žaliakalnis funiculars are definitely worth a visit for foreign students. These historic funiculars provide a unique way to explore the city’s hilly neighbourhoods and offer stunning views of the surrounding area. Riding the funiculars is a fun and memorable experience that shouldn’t be missed, and the areas around them also offer plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops to explore. Overall, a trip to Aleksotas and Žaliakalnis funiculars is a great way to experience the local culture and get a glimpse of Kaunas from a different perspective.
- IX Fortas (The 9th Fort) – The 9th Fort of Kaunas is a significant historical site worth visiting. It was once part of a defensive fortress complex and served as a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Visitors can explore the fort’s exhibits, including a museum dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. Overall, the 9th Fort is an essential destination for anyone interested in history.
- Kauno Kristaus Prisikėlimo bažnyčios stogo terasa (The rooftop of Christ’s Resurrection Church) – The rooftop of Christ’s Resurrection Church offers stunning panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. From the top of the church, visitors can see iconic landmarks such as the Kaunas Castle, the Nemunas River, and the many historic buildings that make up the city’s skyline. Visiting the rooftop of Christ’s Resurrection Church is not only a great way to see the city from above, but it also provides an opportunity to learn about the history and architecture of the building.
- Milikonių apžvalgos ratas (The Milikoniai Ferris Wheel) – it offers a stunning view of the city from a unique perspective, as it is situated on top of a hill overlooking the city. The ride itself is a thrilling experience, with 27 cabins that rotate slowly around the wheel, providing passengers with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.