Erasmus+
Gaining overseas experience while studying is a fantastic way to pursue an international career. Vilnius College of Design gives students numerous options to take part in the global ERASMUS+ mobility program, study abroad for exchange semester, to do internship at a foreign company, or complete an alumni internship after graduating from Vilnius College of Design. Our college cooperates with 35 leading colleges and universities across Europe.
All college students have the opportunity to participate in the international ERASMUS+ exchange program – they just need to successfully pass the selection stage, which takes place every academic year in October – for those who want to study abroad in the spring semester and in March – for those wishing to study abroad in the fall semester. 1st and 2nd year full-time students can go abroad for part-time studies.
The selection of candidates for ERASMUS+ program practice for college graduates is carried out every academic year in May. 3rd year full-time students can participate in the selection to go for an internship in a foreign company after graduating from college.
We invite you to join the large group of students: over 200 our students have already gone to study or practice abroad, deepened their knowledge and improved skills in an international environment, made new friends abroad and experienced many positive experiences.
The International Relations Department regularly publishes information on various other opportunities to receive funding for mobility abroad: state scholarships, international competitions, research internships and summer courses abroad.
The remaining students in Lithuania study with future designers coming from foreign higher schools – every year the Vilnius College of Design receives over 30 foreign students who come under the aforementioned exchange program. While studying in Vilnius, college students have excellent opportunities to gain the latest professional experience and knowledge from our teachers. During the academic year, we welcome teachers from our partner universities to give informative lectures to our students and teachers.
The International Relations Department also offers to join the international network of foreign students – ESN VDK and join to dynamic international student life and to become a friend of other foreign students studying at VDK – to help young people coming to the college from all over the world to integrate into Lithuanian student life. Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is one of the largest international student associations in Europe uniting over 400 ESN sections located in higher education institutions.
Vilnius College of Design is a global CUMULUS (6) (link to https://cumulusassociation.org) association, uniting Member of 220 of the most advanced art, design and media studies higher schools from 50 countries around the world. In Lithuania, the CUMULUS association is represented by only two higher education institutions – the Vilnius College of Design and the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Membership in this association helps the Vilnius College of Design to expand cooperation with foreign higher schools geographically and subject-wise, to offer ever new opportunities for international activities to college students and the academic community, and to more actively carry out applied scientific activities. The college draws on experience and innovations from leading art and design higher education institutions abroad.
The ERASMUS+ mobility program gives the teachers and administrative staff of the Vilnius College of Design the opportunity to go to a partner higher education institution in Europe or outside Europe to give lectures according to a pre-arranged program or participate in an internship in training at a foreign company or higher education institution.
Contacts of the International Relations Department:
Head of the International Relations and Project Management Department Viktorija Bočkutė
Phone: +370 650 37727
E-mail: erasmus@dizainokolegija.lt
Useful links:
- ESN – Erasmus student network (https://esn.org/)
- „Study in Europe“ (http://ec.europa.eu/education/study-in-europe/)
- European student forum (http://www.aegee.org/)
Vilnius College of Design is happy to welcome Erasmus exchange students from partner institutions for Fall (September to January) semester or Spring (February to June) semester. Students can apply to these programs:
Every year in April, Vilnius College of Design invites lecturers and staff from partner institutions for its annual “International Week“. The event takes place at Vilnius College of Design in Vilnius, Lithuania. Guest lecturers and staff are invited to join our academic community by hosting a series of lectures, workshops and discussions to the students of Vilnius College of Design, the academic staff and the staff in college administration. The week includes a cultural program for all the guests such a walk to tour around the old-part of Vilnius and ends with a gala dinner in the heart of city.
This year it was 7th International Week for Vilnius College of Design. The main topic, “Trusting Intuition in Today’s Design”. During this week our guests from Belgium, Netherlands, Serbia and Spain gave presentations related to importance of Intuition in art and design and how AI cannot replace real feeling of human. Students actively were involved and discussed afterwards with each other and lecturers. Our teachers initiated workshops for our quests.
We hope to continue this tradition next year as it facilitates and empowers colleagues from different countries and universities to to share different experiences from their environment. Encouraging cooperation, supporting student mobility initiatives, foster international partnerships, develop intercultural competency.
For further information please contact Vilnius College of Design International Relations and Project Management Department.
Head of International Relations and Project Management Department Viktorija Bočkutė
Phone +370 650 37727, e-mail.: erasmus@dizainokolegija.lt
Students willing to apply to Vilnius College of Design for Erasmus mobility semester should follow these steps:
- Nomination – Each Erasmus students needs to be nominated by their home institution, sending an email to: erasmus@dizainokolegija.lt
- Application and portfolio submission – each student needs to fill in the application form.
- Teams online interview – After all documents are submitted, online interview is organized to share general information, discuss students‘ motivations and expectations. Afterwards an official confirmation email is sent.
- Official confirmation of acceptance being sent.
- Signing of the Learning Agreement.
Having a checklist of everyting you have to do and the thing to be taken with you to Vilnius will definitely help you a lot with your preparations. It helps you with the planning and getting an overview of all the necessary purchases you need to make before your upcoming semester abroad as well as all the things that should to be done in advance.
Here you’ll find a short checklist for you of the most important items to bring and things to do.
Important items:
- Passport or Identity Card (only if you live inside of the EU)
- Visa: if you come from outside of the EU
- Insurance Card
- Other important documents (which?)
- Money (Currency of Lithuania is the €URO): Credit Card or Mastercard (only if your Bank is from inside of the EU)
- Umbrella: It really rains a lot in Lithuania
- Computer: always useful and as a student, you will probably need it
- Smartphone: It is a lot easier to guide yourself around the city with an interactional map on your phone, also you can check the public transport lines there
- First aid kit
- Necessary medicine for yourself
- Vitamin D: especially in autumn, Vilnius has a big lack of sunshine. If you are a person who needs a lot of sunlight to be in a good mood, this can seriously become a problem for you here because you can easily become depressed, trust me on that, I experienced it myself. It’s nothing unusual, winter depression is a known disease… but don’t worry, Vitamin D tablets help against that and keep you on mood even if the sky stays grey for a whole week.
- Cosmetics
- Note/writing pad and stuff: something to take down you notes is always a good idea
- The Checklist: in the end, you should check, if you are taking all the stuff back home with you, that you brought to Vilnius. It’s basically to check, if you lost anything and to make sure that you don’t miss anything in Vilnius.
Clothing: Wind and waterproof clothes in any case!!!, jackets , underwear, socks, T-Shirts, pullovers, pants, leggins, sleeping clothes, comfortable stuff to relax at home, rain Boots.
Special for Winter: Winter jacket/Thick coat, Thick pullovers (Fleece, Thermotic), thick shoes, thick socks, thermotic underwear, scarf, gloves, hat or headband, house shoes: the floor in the apartments could be really cold, use Layer System to be prepared for every weather.
Living in Vilnius for a longer period of time you have multiple options in terms of finding accommodation. One of the options is finding accommodation before leaving for Vilnius. If this is what you are planning on doing, here are a few websites we would like to advise you.
One of them https://liv-in.lt/newtown/en.Located almost in the city center, the apartments invite you to experience a modern life that combines style and functionality. In the newly equipped spaces, you will find an aesthetic interior, minimalist decor and plenty of natural light. Each apartment is already equipped with comprehensive comfort: compact bathrooms, kitchens with the most basic household appliances, private balconies or terraces and common spaces where a diverse social life flourishes.
Another good option for accommodation https://atlasliving.lt, ATLAS is a safe space for everyone to call home. Whether you’re with us for two months, half a year, or longer — we’d love to have you as part of our community.
Newly furnished Scandinavian-style lofts and studios, transparent pricing, comprehensive maintenance, shared spaces https://www.youstonliving.com/lithuania/, good location and close to our college.
All these new accommodation options allows you to meet other international students or live with your friends in one apartment. You do have your privacy, however there are common spaces such living rooms or cinema room where you can catch up with others.
In terms of locations the Senamiestis (the Old Town) is the most recommended neighbourhood. Followed by the Naujamiestis, if you live in the eastern part of the neighbourhood, which is closest to the old town. The rent tends to be higher in the Old Town, but the location is highly recommended by students, as it allows you to live in the centre of all that is happening within Vilnius.
Looking for accommodation can be a tricky thing. We recommend you to stay away from landlords that show even the slightest bit of suspicious behaviour.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact us:
Viktorija Bočkutė
The Head of International Relations and Project management Department
Phone +370 650 37727, e-mail.: erasmus@dizainokolegija.lt