Third cycle studies are carried out during doctoral studies in science and art. 

The purpose of doctoral studies in science is to train scientists who are able to conduct research, experimental development work, and solve scientific problems independently. The decision to grant the right to provide doctoral programmes in science to universities and universities together with research institutes in which high level research in line with the field of science, or the universities together with foreign research and HEIs, falls within the competence of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport, after assessing the recommendations of the Research Council of Lithuania. The right is granted on the basis of the assessment of a respective level of research carried out in the field of science at the institutions claiming to provide doctoral studies in science. Upon defending the doctoral thesis, a doctoral student is awarded a Doctorate degree.

The purpose of doctoral studies in art is to train artists – researchers who are able to create, interpret and carry out research based on artistic practices. Granting universities the right to provide doctoral programmes falls within the competence of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, after assessing the recommendations of the Research Council of Lithuania. The right is granted on the basis of the assessment of the artistic and scientific activity of the institution claiming to provide doctoral studies in art. Upon defending the art project, a doctoral student is awarded a Doctorate degree.

A Doctorate degree in science can be awarded to an individual who has successfully completed continuous full-time doctoral studies (up to four years) or extended doctoral studies (up to six years), prepared a thesis and defended it, or to an individual who has defended the prepared thesis externally. The total scope of the doctoral studies in science is not less than 30 ECTS credits.

Granting the right to provide doctoral programmes in science to a university or a university together with other Lithuanian and/or foreign universities and/or research institutes in which high level scientific research is carried out falls within the competence of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport following the Description of the Doctoral Programmes in Science approved by the Ministry.

At least every five years, the Science Council of Lithuania organises, in accordance with the their established procedure, an assessment of the quality and efficiency of doctoral studies carried out by the institution (institutions) and puts forward an assessment and proposals to the Minister of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania. Lithuanian university (universities) has/have the right to provide doctoral studies awards (award) to the individual who has defended the thesis and then issues (issue) a diploma to them.

A Doctorate degree in art can be awarded to an individual who has successfully completed doctoral studies (usually over four years), prepared and defended an art project, or to an individual who has passed the necessary exams and defended the prepared art project. A doctorate in art comprises studies in a specific field of art (minimum of 40 study credits), artistic-creative activity (minimum of 80 study credits) and artistic or artistic and scientific research (minimum of 80 study credits), for a total of 240 credits.

The Minister of Education, Science and Sport grants the right to provide doctoral programmes in art to a university (universities) in compliance with the Description of Doctoral Programmes in Art approved by the Minister. The right is granted on the basis of the assessment of the level of the corresponding artistic field, including artistic research, and scientific activity of the universities that apply for provision of doctoral studies, documents of doctoral programmes, the study infrastructure submitted by them and projected cooperation agreements on doctoral studies concluded with Lithuanian and (or) foreign research and HEIs.

At least every five years the Lithuanian Research Council organises an assessment of the quality and efficiency of doctoral studies in art and puts forward proposals to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport for the continuation of doctoral studies.

When admitting individuals to third cycle studies, the results of the lower or the same study cycle, as well as other criteria established by a HEI, must be taken into account.

Doctoral studies candidates have the status of student. They are issued a student’s certificate and receive all guarantees and support provided by the state.

Students carry out fundamental and applied research, engage in applied scientific activity, and take part in the research programmes of their own country and abroad. Apart from scientific activity, the artistic activity of teachers and students oriented towards the artistic education of the public and the unity of art practice and studies is developed at HEIs.

Students buy textbooks and other educational books or use the ones available in the libraries of HEIs.

The majority of HEIs in Lithuania have established their own career centres, which provide students with different consultations of a general nature and individual consultations, providing training on employment issues, helping students to find places to do practical work, and later to find a job, and also helping employers to find employees.

Youth labour centres in cities and districts provide similar services. They provide young people with services of open information, counselling, vocational and professional information and guidance, organising meetings with employers and social partners, carry out project activities encouraging youth employment initiatives, organise different activities (labour clubs, training sessions), and prepare information-methodological material.

The assessment of students is carried out under the procedure established by the Regulations on Doctoral Studies of each HEI.

Every institution defines the circumstances under which students’ progress from one stage of studies to the next in its Statute of Studies (Regulations). Under-achieving students may be excluded from a HEI in the manner established by each institution.

Upon completion of doctoral studies and having defended the doctoral thesis, a diploma certifying a degree in science (art) is awarded.