Education funding puts focus on sciences

  • 2014-03-10
  • From wire reports, VILNIUS

The Lithuanian government has approved state funding for more than 4,600 graduate and 500 postgraduate students for 2014, reports ELTA. State funding for postgraduate studies is projected to grow by one tenth, with particular focus on the biomedical and physical sciences.

Funds for graduate (Masters) studies and the number of available places have not changed compared to 2013. Last year, the state funded graduate studies for 4,623 students, while this year it is planned to accept 4,625 graduates. Fourteen million litas (4 million euros) was allocated. For graduate studies in 2014 there are 1,349 places provided for technological sciences, 533 for biomedical, 463 for physical, 1,569 for social, 422 for humanitarian and 289 for arts sciences.

In 2014, the state has increased funding for postgraduate (Doctoral) study programs. Study cost will be covered and grants issued for 509 postgraduates - 20 more than last year.

Funding of postgraduate studies is expected to be increased by 9.4 percent in 2014 year-on-year. Funds will be proportionally allocated to physical, technological and biomedical sciences. Seventeen million litas is expected to be allocated.

106 state-funded places are provided for students studying biomedical sciences, 102 for technological and 91 for physical sciences. Also - 116 for social, 57 for humanitarian, 23 for agricultural and 14 for arts sciences.