Lithuania: Number of foreign students rising every year

The number of foreign students in Lithuania has increased ten times over ten years, LRT reports. Foreign students account for just over 10% of all students at Lithuanian universities, and the number is rising every year. Most of them are from India, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Israel. The number of foreigners is highest in medical studies. The government has identified life sciences, engineering, and IT as priority fields of study for foreign nationals. However, only 5-7% of foreign students stay in Lithuania to work after graduation. The Education Exchanges Support Foundation (SMPF) found that almost 50% of all foreign students in Lithuania would like to work, but the language barrier was the biggest obstacle to getting a job. The government plans to encourage more foreign students to stay in Lithuania through scholarships.