BALTICS: Estonia, Latvia,

Lithuania

Zaneta SAVICKIENESeptember 25, 2008

LOCATION North – east part of Europe On eastern coast of the Baltic Sea Borders with Russia, Belarus, Poland

EU since 2004

Local time – GMT+ 2 hours

Climatic Conditions Transitional between maritime and

continental Average temperature in July + 17, in

January - 5, There is four clearly distinguished seasons

GENERAL FACTS and NUMBERS

Country Estonia Latvia Lithuania

Capital Tallinn Riga Vilnius

Population, mln.

1,3 2,3 3,4

State language

Estonian Latvian Lithuanian

Currency1 Euro =

15,65 Kroon 0,70 Lat 3,45 Litas

RIGA

TALLINN

VILNIUS

LanguagesEstonian - Finno - Ugric family, related to

Finnish Lithuanian and Latvian, belongs to the Baltic

group of Indo-European languages.

Oldest of IE is Lithuanian. Has retained ancient sound system.

Foreign languages

Most common foreign language in Baltics is English,

second in respect of popularity is Russian.

International students

Person with foreign secondary education diploma

who is applying for studies in Baltic countries

is considered to be an international applicant

Different conditions for EU and non- EU

1st group.

EU Apply on same

conditions as citizens

Residence permit

2nd group. non EU

Early applicationBigger fees

Student visas +Residence permit

International students

State Institutions

Non-State institutions

HE establishments

Academic calendar Academic year is divided into two

semesters Autumn semester beginning in September Spring semester beginning in February Each semester covers 20 weeks of studies + 3- 4 weeks for exams

Credit systemo National credit system in all three

countries o ECTS – introduced later o National credit – 1 study week (40

hours of student workload)o One National credit = 1,5 ECTSo Estonia will fully introduce ECTS since

September 2009

INFORMATION www.eesti.ee/eng/ www.latvia.lv www.li.lv/li_eng.htm www.lithuania.lt www.tourism.lt www.travel.lt