Doctoral studies

Doctoral studies are the third cycle studies. The persons who hold a master’s or equivalent qualification degree are admitted to these studies. The doctoral studies prepare the scientists who can independently perform research and experimental development works, solve scientific problems, work in an academic and non-academic environment.

 

Admission requirements

General information

Doctoral studies are the third-cycle study programmes that aim to develop the knowledge and skills required for carrying out independent research.

The Doctoral degree is awarded to a doctoral student who completes the doctoral programme and defend their doctoral dissertation (art project). The Doctor of Science (Doctor of Art) degree allows access to the world of scientific research, not limited to the academic world, but also in independent research centres and production facilities.

Research Doctorate:

  • Studies 30 ECTS Credits ( 3-4 study modules at KTU, 1-2 study modules abroad)
  • Research and presentation of research results (≥2 international scientific conferences and ≥2 scientific publications)
  • Doctoral dissertation (preparation and public defence)

Art Doctorate:

  • Studies and research 240 ECTS Credits (study modules  ≥ 40 ECTS; artistic-creative practice ≥ 80 ECTS; art reseach ≥ 80 ECTS)
  • Art Project (preparation and public defence)

The University admits to doctoral studies in 15 science/artistic fields coordinated by the University and 5 science/artistic fields not coordinated by the University.

Doctoral studies at KTU provide the following opportunities:

  • Double degree possibilities
  • Study modules for general skills development
  • Short-term and long-term internships for studies, research and practice
  • Doctor Europaeus certificate possibilities
  • Doctoral research in a high-profile research team
  • Incentives and rewards for active PhD students
  • “Start up Space” for entrepreneurs
  • KTU International PhD Summer School for core competences
    summerschool.ktu.edu

Regulations of admission to doctoral studies 2024*

The Regulations of admission to the Third Cycle Studies of Kaunas University of Technology (hereinafter – Regulations) establish a procedure under which applicants are admitted to the full-time third cycle (hereinafter – doctoral studies) study programmes of science fields coordinated by Kaunas University of Technology (hereinafter – University).

Participation in the competition for admission to doctoral studies is allowed after the submission of the application and other required documents. Submission and registration of the documents is performed under the procedure and within the terms indicated in the Regulations.

Admission requirements and minimum competition scores

1. The applicants are admitted to doctoral studies of the science field under the procedure of competition on the grounds of their compliance with the requirements for the science field and on the basis of their competition score;

2. The admission requirements and the minimum competition scores for admission to statefunded and state non-funded doctoral studies are provided in Appendix 2 to the Regulations;

3. All the applicants are required to comply with the main and additional admission requirements;

4. The applicants can apply to state-funded and state non-funded positions of studies. The rights and obligations of all the applicants are equal (except for the amounts of fees). The applicants who have already completed or are currently students of doctoral studies are not eligible for a statefunded position if more than half of the duration of their doctoral studies was state-funded by the Republic of Lithuania.

Structure and calculation of the competition score

  1. A weighting grade point average of the master’s diploma supplement (VS) or equivalent education (as well as the bachelor’s diploma when applying to the science fields of Physics and Materials Engineering) in the ten-point grading system. The information on the calculation of the
    grade point average of the applicant’s diploma supplement is obtained from the relevant education documents;
  2. Evaluation of the research experience (Mm) in the ten-point grading system. The evaluation of the research experience includes the applicant’s scientific publications or the research paper, other research experience, scientific qualifications, compliance of the scientific publications and research experience with the topic of doctoral studies;
  3. Evaluation of the recommendations by scientists or a research proposal in the selected topic (Mr) in the ten-point grading system. The evaluation of the recommendations by scientists includes their validity and objectivity; the evaluation of the research proposal in the selected topic
    includes its originality, the applicant’s knowledge of the topic and the ability to formulate ideas;
  4. Evaluation of the interview (Md) in the ten-point grading system. The evaluation of the interview includes the demonstrated understanding of the scientific problems in the science field the applicant is applying to, the understanding of scientific problems, his/her motivation, and the ability to formulate answers (including the English language skills);
  5. The competition score (KBD) is calculated as a sum of multiplications of the component competition scores in the ten-point grading system and the weighting coefficients indicated in Appendix 3 to the Regulations, i.e.,

 

 

where EPj – j competition component (VS, Mm, Mr and Md) mark in the ten-point grading system; EKj – weighting
coefficient of j competition component; m – number of the competition components forming the competition score.

Procedure for the preparation and evaluation of the research proposal and research paper

A research proposal is prepared on the selected topic if the applicant applies to the science fields of Physics, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Informatics Engineering, Measurement Engineering or Management.

If no research works by the applicant are presented, the applicant is required to present a research paper whose topic is consistent with the dissertation topic indicated in the applicant’s application (if the applicant applies to two thematic areas, two individual (i.e., different) research papers are required to be submitted).

 

Exeption: If the applicant is applying to the science field of Informatics Engineering, he/she is required to have published at least one scientific publication (or to present a publication which has been accepted for publication, and, in this case, submit a copy thereof), i.e., in the science field of Informatics Engineering, a research paper is not acceptable.

Regulations of admission to doctoral studies will be announced in May/June

Applicants to the full-time doctoral study programmes of the science/artistic fields which are not coordinated by the University are admitted under the admission regulations approved by the institutions coordinating the relevant science/artistic fields.

Participation in the competition for admission to doctoral studies is allowed after the submission of the application and other required documents. Submission and registration of the documents is performed under the procedure and within the terms indicated in the Regulations.

Doctoral School

Kaunas University of Technology
Studentu 50, Kaunas, Student Infocenter
LT-51368, Lithuania

Email: phd@ktu.lt
ktu.edu/phd

 

Consultation hours:
I-IV 13:00-17:00
V 13:00-15:45

 

Admission steps

General information about dates and deadlines to doctoral studies

  1. The admission is conducted in several stages:
    • submission of documents for the recognition of qualification obtained abroad in Lithuania (for those applicants who have obtained their education at a foreign higher education institution and do not have a document confirming the recognition of their diploma in Lithuania): documents must be submitted from 1–15 May 2024 (until 17:00) via e-mail phd@ktu.lt
    • the main admission to doctoral studies coordinated by the University is held in June/July;
    • applicants to the full-time doctoral study programmes of the science/artistic fields which are not coordinated by the University are admitted under the admission regulations approved by the institutions coordinating the relevant science/artistic fields.
  2. Additional admission(s) is/are held provided there are remaining vacant state-funded and/or state-non-funded positions.
  3. The applicants who were not successful at the main admission and intend to participate in the additional admission are required to submit a repeated application with the required documents for participation in the competition and pay the application fee one more time.

Dates and deadlines for admission to doctoral studies coordinated by the KTU

Procedures of admission to doctoral studies Start End
Submission of documents for the recognition of qualification obtained abroad in Lithuania (for those applicants who have obtained their education at a foreign higher education institution and do not have a document confirming the recognition of their diploma in Lithuania) 01-05-2024 15-05-2024
5 p. m.
Submission, registration and administrative verification of admission documents 05-06-2024 20-06-2024
5 p. m.
Revision of admission documents after administrative verification 21-06-2024
2 p. m.
Submission of appeals regarding the incorrect evaluation of the admission documents 25-06-2024
8 a. m.
25-06-2024
10 a. m.
Announcement of decisions 25-06-2024
4 p. m.
Interviews with the doctoral committees of science fields 26-06-2024 28-06-2024
Provision of information to the applicants regarding the final results of the competition in the admission information system of the University (institutions of joint doctoral studies notify their applicants in person) 28-06-2024
4 p. m.
Submission of appeals regarding the admission results 01-07-2024
8 a. m.
01-07-2024
10 a. m.
Announcement of decisions 01-07-2024
4 p. m.
Provision of information to the applicants regarding the final results of the competition in the admission information system of the University (institutions of joint doctoral studies notify their applicants in person) 02-07-2024
5 p. m.
Signing of agreements with the applicants invited to doctoral studies 03-07-2024
9 a. m.
03-07-2024
4 p. m.

Admission to doctoral studies in Sociology is closed

Admission to doctoral studies in Political Sciences is closed

Admission to doctoral studies in Architecture is closed

Admission to doctoral studies in Transport Engineering is closed

Admission to doctoral studies in Education is closed

Submission of the application

The applicants to doctoral studies are required to submit the following documents:

  1. an application indicating the science field (no more than two), the topic (no more than two per science field) and the form of funding;
  1. copies of the Master’s (as well as Bachelor’s for those applying to the science fields indicated in Appendix 2 to the Regulations) or equivalent qualification diploma(s) with diploma supplement(s) (only the final diplomas and diploma supplements are submitted; provisional degree certificates are not accepted instead of these documents);
  2. a curriculum vitae;
  3. recommendations by two scientists representing the relevant science field (a recommendation of the supervisor of the topic to which the applicant is applying is required in the science fields specified in Appendix 2 to the Regulations; if the applicant is applying to the positions of doctoral studies funded under the invitation to doctoral studies under the competition of the Research Council of Lithuania, a recommendation of the supervisor of the topic to which the applicant is applying is required). The recommendations have to be prepared in the same calendar year when the applicant’s application is submitted. A recommendation has to clearly specify the institution and the science field to which the applicant is being recommended;
  4. a research proposal on the selected topic (only in the science fields indicated in Appendix 2 to the Regulations); if the applicant applies to two topics, two individual research proposals have to be submitted;
  5. A list of scientific works (articles in scientific publications, conference proceedings) with a full bibliographic description and copies thereof; if there are no such scientific works (except for the informatics engineering science field, see Appendix 2 to the Regulations), the applicant has to present a research paper whose topic is consistent with the dissertation topic indicated in the applicant’s application (if the applicant applies to two thematic areas, two individual research papers have to be submitted);
  6. a copy of a valid personal document: a passport (for citizens of all countries) or an ID card (only for citizens of the European Union);
  7. a copy of the receipt of the application fee payment;
  8. a certificate issued by IELTS, TOEFL, CEFR or any other competent institution within the last 2 (two) years certifying the level of the English language. Certificates indicating the level of the English language obtained after completing English language training via various mobile apps (such as Duolingo, Babbel, LinguaLift, etc.) shall not be accepted;
  9. If any required documents are not submitted within the deadlines set out in Paragraph 31 of the Regulations, the application shall not be examined.

Motyvational interview

  1. The applicants are required to attend the interview with the doctoral committee of the science field to which they apply.
  2. If an applicant who has submitted all the documents set out by the Regulations does not attend the interview, his/her admission documents are no longer considered and assessed by the doctoral committee of the science field (in this case, the final decision is made by the doctoral committee of the science field).
  3. The timetable of the meeting of Doctoral Committee will be announced on KTU website.

Application fees

  • Application fee is 50 EUR for the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and any other country of the European Union, and 120 EUR for the citizens of all other countries. The data specified in the section of the payer code – The applicant’s/student’s personal identification number, Code of the fee – 2881. The invoice with the bank details is issued as soon as the applicant starts his/her application online.

The application fee is non-refundable after the registration of the application for permission to participate in the competition for admission to doctoral studies.

 

The applicants to the positions of joint doctoral studies pay the application fee to the bank account of the institution to which they have submitted the admission application.

 

Note: The individuals specified in Paragraph 44 of the 2024 Regulations of Admission to the Third Cycle Studies at Kaunas University of Technology are exempted from the payment of the application fee.

Signing of the learning agreement

  1. The individuals invited to study at the University are required to sign a learning agreement with the University within the set deadlines. The agreement is only signed with the invited persons who have submitted copies of their diploma and diploma supplement of master’s studies or equivalent qualification;
  2. The learning agreement is signed in person (in printed form) at the University’s Doctoral School. When signing the agreement, the applicant has to submit (show) the originals of diploma(s) and diploma(s) supplement(s) of the acquired qualification specified in the application.
  3. If the individuals invited to study at the University are staying abroad within the deadlines set out for signing their learning agreements, they are allowed to email the signed learning agreement within the deadlines set out by the Regulations and send the original agreement to the Doctoral School of the University by registered mail. In this case, the original documents specified in the application have to be submitted (shown) to the Doctoral School of the University upon the arrival to studies. If an individual has been admitted to the position of joint doctoral studies, the learning agreement is signed at the institution to which the person has been invited to study;
  4. If any invited applicant(s) do not sign their learning agreements within the deadlines set out by the Regulations, their invitation to study at the University is rendered invalid, and, by the verdict of the doctoral committee of the science field, the further applicant(s) receiving the highest competition score who initially were not invited to study are then invited to take the vacant positions, or these positions are transferred to the next stage of admission.
 

Academic recognition

Academic recognition of foreign qualifications for candidates to doctoral studies

If education documents have been issued at a foreign institution, the academic acknowledgement of the qualification, the identification of the equivalent subjects and their transfer into the Lithuanian evaluation system are required. The acknowledgement of the applicant’s education documents is performed by the University under the procedure set out by the University.

 

Procedure for submitting documents:

  1. For recognition of qualifications obtained abroad, applicants for doctoral studies should submit the following documents from 1–15 May, 5 p.m. to phd@ktu.lt.
  • the application for the recognition of qualification together with a copy of the applicant’s passport;
  • the bachelor’s diploma and diploma supplement;
  • the master’s diploma and diploma supplement.
  1. Any documents issued in languages other than Lithuanian or English are required to be translated into one of these languages and approved under the procedure stipulated by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania.
  2. Provisional degree certificates may be submitted for the procedure of the recognition of qualification if the study process is not complete at the time of submission or in cases when the document certifying the qualification is not awarded immediately after graduation.
  3. Documents for the recognition of qualifications obtained abroad are accepted only on the dates set out in the Admission Rules.

 

Important. For the submission of the admission documents to doctoral studies only the final documents certifying the qualification and the supplements thereof shall be submitted. A temporary (provisional) degree certificates are not accepted.

 

More information is available here: KTU Academic Recognition

 

Financial information

Tuition fee

Students admitted to state-funded positions are exempted of tuition fee.

Self-funded doctoral students pay the tuition fee:

Science Area Annual tuition fee, EUR
Technological Sciences 11 589 €
Natural Sciences 11 589 €
Social Sciences 11 589 €
Humanities 11 589 €
Visual Arts 11 589 €

 

Application fees

  • Application fee is 50 EUR for the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and any other country of the European Union, and 120 EUR for the citizens of all other countries. The data specified in the section of the payer code – The applicant’s/student’s personal identification number, Code of the fee – 2881. The invoice with the bank details is issued as soon as the applicant starts his/her application online.

 

The applicants to the positions of joint doctoral studies pay the application fee to the bank account of the institution to which they have submitted the admission application.

 

Note: The individuals specified in Paragraph 44 of the 2024 Regulations of Admission to the Third Cycle Studies at Kaunas University of Technology are exempted from the payment of the application fee.

Details of the bank accounts

The data specified in the section of the payer code – The applicant’s/student’s personal identification number. It is required to specify the name and surname of the applicant/student in the description of the payment.

Recipient – Kaunas University of Technology
Swedbank: LT54 7300 0100 0251 0317, SWIFT XABALT 22
SEB bankas: LT75 7044 0600 0310 4494, SWIFT CBVILT 2X
Luminor bankas: LT70 4010 0425 0240 0369, SWIFT AGBLLT 2X

Scholarships

The students of the state-funded doctoral studies are provided with financial support (scholarship) in the amount set out by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania during their studies. From 1 January 2024 the size of the doctoral scholarship is:

  • 1045 EUR/month during the first year of studies;
  • 1210 EUR/month during the second-fourth year of studies.

 

Additional Funding

Doctoral students may expect additional funding.

  • Scholarships of the Research Council of Lithuania and KTU Funds are awarded for excellent results of studies and scientific research.
  • Financial incentive of KTU Doctoral Fund for scientific activities of doctoral students.
  • Financial incentive of the Research Council of Lithuania for academic visits of doctoral students.
  • Support of KTU Fund of International Scientific Events for participation in the international scientific conferences, seminars, and science competitions.

The University offers a variety of financial support and promotion opportunities for students in both state-funded and non-state-funded study places:

Doctoral students can apply regarding the additional support provided by the institutions and external foundations:

 

Frequently asked questions

Diplomas & Academic Records & Transcripts

Diploma recognition is the alignment of Lithuanian and foreign education. In order for you to be accepted for study in Lithuania, your previous education needs to be evaluated against the Lithuanian degree structure.
The acknowledgement of the applicant’s education documents is performed by the University under the procedure set out by the University. More information is available at academic-recognition.

You will be informed by email about the results of recognition within ~1 month.

When we receive documents required for the recognition of qualification, the process of your foreign degree documents evaluation and recognition will be started.

More information about important dates here: Dates and deadlines

For the admission process you have to submit your final degree diploma, a temporary (provisional) degree certificate is not accepted.
A temporary (provisional) degree certificate is a document issued by an institution to a student who has been awarded or conferred an academic degree. The temporary (provisional) degree certificate is issued as a replacement for the actual degree certificate e.g. in case the actual degree certificate cannot be given to the student immediately after the studies have been completed due to technical or administrative reasons. As far as all foreign degree diplomas must be evaluated and recognized, only final certificates are processed, and therefore any temporary / provisional diplomas will be considered as insufficient for final evaluation and recognition.

If your Master’s diploma was issued outside Lithuania, then according to the regulations it must be evaluated and recognized. For diploma recognition process both Bachelor and Master diplomas and their supplements are mandatory.
More information is available on KTU Academic Recognition

All Master’s degree documents issued in languages other than English or Lithuanian should be supplemented with an official translation.

All documents (original language and translation) necessary for the evaluation must be officially certified!

  • The certificates in original language must be notarized. A simple copy, attached to a certified translation, is not enough.
  • The translated documents must be officially certified or stamped by the translator

Usually, a translation contains, in addition to the translation, a copy of the certificate in original language. However, translators are only allowed to certify the document issued by themselves. Take both the translation and the original certificate with you to the certifying authority. By this you can ensure that both documents (translation and document in original language) can be certified.

It is required that you list all post-secondary institutions you have attended: you need to list details about your both Bachelor’s and Master’s studies (and PhD, if applicable). If you are currently pursuing your  PhD research, you must also indicate that information.

Provided that your studies are in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and if the Graduation Ceremony is later than the application deadline, you should contact the your Faculty/Academic Office with the request to issue:
– a document certifying the fact that you have completed certain Master programme, and the date of diploma awarding must be indicated;
– an academic transcript of all study semesters in that Master programme, including credits and evaluations, as well as the results of Master thesis defence.

Additional supporting documents

The recommendations have to be issued in the same calendar year when the candidate’s application is submitted. Therefore, if you are applying in 2024, the recommendation is considered valid if issued in 2024.

A recommendation must explicitly specify the institution and the doctoral programme to which the candidate is being recommended. That means, that the refereee should clearly indicate that he/she recommends you for PhD studies in, for example, Informatics Engineering, at Kaunas University of Technology.

In such case, for those programmes where it is mandatory to provide a recommendation by the supervisor of the topic, your application will be considered as incomplete and will be withdrawn from the competition.

According to the Admission Regulations recommendations by two scientists representing the relevant science field (a recommendation of the supervisor of the topic to which the applicant is applying is required in the science fields specified in Appendix 2 to the Regulations; if the applicant is applying to the positions of doctoral studies funded under the invitation to doctoral studies under the competition of the Research Council of Lithuania, a recommendation of the supervisor of the topic to which the applicant is applying is required). The recommendations have to be prepared in the same calendar year when the applicant’s application is submitted. A recommendation has to clearly specify the institution and the science field to which the applicant is being recommended.

A consent of the supervisor of the topic to which the candidate is applying to Informatics Engineering is required to confirm that the supervisor agrees to supervise the candidate if he/she is invited to studies.
That means that a candidate has to communicate with that researcher (future supervisor) well before the application deadline.

A list of the research works has to be submitted with the unabridged bibliographic description. You may search the internet on “bibliographical references on a list of references” to see what it looks like.

No, only PDF format is acceptable.
Failure to follow the requirements may result in rejection of application.

No, research proposal ≠ research paper.

Note! 2 topics = 2 research proposals, that means if you choose two different topics in  the programme that requires research proposal, you will have to write two different proposals, for each of your chosen topic.

How to write a research proposal: Admission regulations Annex 5

Yes, you are eligible apply to all programmes offered by KTU except to Informatics Engineering: for this programme at least one publication is mandatory.

In this case you will have to write a research paper on the topic that you are applying to. If you choose two different topics, you will have to write two different research papers for each of your chosen topic.

How to write a research paper: Admission regulations Annex 4

If there is no English level indicated in your MSc or BSc diploma supplement, register for a test and obtain your certificate at:
– KTU Centre of Foreign Languages
– any institution, certified to provide this service

It now possible to document your English through the TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition Test. The test is a possibility for students to take their test at home rather than at a test center.

Unfortunately no late documents or test results are accepted.

Application fee

No, all mandatory documents (including copy of application fee transfer) must be submitted by the application deadline.

Eligibility & Requirements

Yes, you can if you meet the requirements for both programmes. However, consider:
-the mandatory recommendations of supervisors
-your scientific experience in both science fields
-participation in interviews with each committee
-your motivation

You are eligible (provided that you have certain background and scientific experience in Mechanical Engineering, Technological Sciences).
After admission: possible necessity to take additional courses in the field of science (fee-paying).

Results of admission

No, the minimum required score does not guarantee you a position.
A certain number of state-funded positions can be less than the number of candidates with >min.competition score.

If you believe that the admission decision is incorrect, you may lodge an appeal. Follow the instructions included in the Admission Regulations.