Academic recognition determines the academic value of a qualification acquired outside Lithuania and its comparability with a qualification awarded in Lithuania.
Applicants holding foreign qualifications must have their qualifications recognised for the purpose of admission to Lithuanian Sports University, unless automatic recognition applies. Information about qualifications subject to automatic recognition is available here.
Academic recognition and admission are separate decisions. Recognition of a qualification does not guarantee admission to LSU. Applicants must also meet all general and programme-specific admission requirements.
Submission of an application
Academic recognition is performed only after the applicant has submitted a complete application through the LSU online admission system. Documents sent by email are not assessed for academic recognition, and LSU cannot confirm eligibility on the basis of a preliminary review.
Applicants must submit all required education documents meeting the applicable legalisation, authentication and translation requirements. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms that the information and documents provided are accurate, authentic and complete.
LSU may request additional documents or information and may verify the authenticity of documents with the issuing institution, the competent national authority or through official registers.
Assessment
The qualification is assessed by comparing its:
- level;
- purpose;
- workload or duration;
- quality;
- learning outcomes.
LSU takes into account the General Recommendations issued by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) and may request an individual recommendation from SKVC where additional information or expertise is required.
The University may recognise the qualification, recognise it subject to certain limitations or additional requirements, or refuse recognition where substantial differences are identified. The decision is issued in writing through the LSU online admission system.
Processing time
The academic recognition procedure is normally completed within one month from the date on which all documents required for academic recognition have been submitted.
If additional information must be collected, the assessment period may be extended, but for no longer than three months. If the applicant fails to provide requested documents within the period specified by LSU, the recognition procedure may be discontinued. The applicant will be informed accordingly.
Appeals
Applicants who disagree with an academic recognition decision may appeal it. Detailed information about the appeal procedure and applicable deadlines is available here.
Applicants without complete documentation
Applicants who are unable to provide the standard education documents for reasons related to refugee status, displacement or a comparable situation should contact LSU before submitting their application. A special recognition procedure may apply.
Legal basis
Academic recognition at Lithuanian Sports University is carried out in accordance with the following legislation and international agreements:
- Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Recognition Convention). The Convention establishes the principal rules for fair recognition of foreign qualifications, including the principle that recognition should be granted unless substantial differences can be demonstrated.
- Description of the Procedure for Academic Recognition of Education and Qualifications Acquired under Educational Programmes of Foreign States and International Organisations, approved by Resolution No. 212 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 29 February 2012, as amended by Resolution No. 475 of 12 June 2024. This legal act regulates the assessment criteria, possible recognition decisions, processing time and appeal procedure in Lithuania.
Where applicable, automatic recognition is also based on:
- Agreement among the Governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the Automatic Academic Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. It applies to specified Estonian and Latvian qualifications, including upper secondary qualifications issued from 2019.
- Treaty on the Automatic Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications among the Baltic and Benelux countries. It applies to eligible higher education qualifications awarded in Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and entered into force in Lithuania on 1 May 2024.
Some of the official Lithuanian legal texts linked above are available only in Lithuanian.
Supporting resources
The following resources are used for information about foreign education systems, institutions and qualifications:
- SKVC (Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education) – Qualification Recognition.
- ENIC-NARIC Network. The network provides access to official national recognition centres and information about national education systems.
- AR-GO automatic recognition tool. The tool provides information about qualifications covered by the Baltic and Benelux automatic recognition arrangements.
- Official databases and registers maintained by education authorities, qualification authorities and awarding institutions in the country where the qualification was obtained.