In order to ensure equal opportunities for everyone to apply to higher education institutions, the regulations governing admission to higher education institutions in 2026 will be changed. High school graduates who are exempt from compulsory state Matura exams for objective reasons (e.g., health reasons) will be able to apply to higher education institutions.

This means that high school graduates who have not taken one or more exams, as well as those who have been exempted from all exams, will not be subject to the minimum admission requirements – passing three state maturity exams (Lithuanian language and literature, mathematics, and one freely chosen subject).

Instead of the grade for the exam that was not taken, the recalculated annual grade for the respective subject will be counted. When calculating the competitive score, the option most favourable to the applicant will be taken.

2025

No reforms

2024

Combining studies with military service 

On 1 July 2024, amendments to the Law on higher Education and Research entered into force, giving students the right to take an academic leave at any time during their studies to serve their initial compulsory military (including the first semester of studies). This also allows citizens of the Republic of Lithuania to combine their studies with their initial compulsory military service. Until now, students in most higher education institutions have only been able to take academic leave for compulsory military service based on personal reasons and only once during their study period. As a result, students who used up their only opportunity to take an academic leave for personal reasons were no longer able to do so.