She indicated that there has also been a significant increase in the number of Erasmus+ students that will study at MRU in the fall 2017 semester.
One of our priorities is strengthening our position in the international sphere and attracting talented students from abroad to Lithuania. This year, therefore, there was an increase in the number of international students applying to MRU studies programmes. Among the most popular are joint/double degree studies programmes, which MRU implements together with universities in France, South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, Ukraine and other universities, the Vice-Rector said.
Compared to the fall 2016 semester, the number of applicants to Bachelor's Degree studies fell, but applicants to MRU Master's programmes remained at the same level.
Q: There have been news reports that MRU has seen a dramatic decline in applicants. How do you view the application results?
A: It has become a sort of tradition that MRU is, at times, called a "bankrupt" university by so-called anonymous critics and representatives of other universities. But seriously, our University supports the education reform that has begun whose main goal is improvement of studies' quality. The main assumption of studies' quality is motivated students who are properly prepared for studies and motivated lecturers, academics as well as a great studies and research and internal quality assurance system as well as a strong, united front by students, lecturers, administrators and social partners. During the last several years we have identified strengths and see our future development in the areas of law, public safety and public management as well as in the areas of Psychology, Educology, Information Technologies, Economics and other social science areas. We are a specialised social sciences university, so we can not be compared with classical or technology-oriented universities. Yes, we were aware of the fact that introducing a minimal 3 grade for admission, the number of applicants to Bachelor's Degree studies would decrease. Some of these high school or gymnasium graduates were forced to choose studies in colleges, professional schools or go abroad to study at universities, who do not have minimal admission requirements. Therefore, there has also been a reduction in the number of students applying to state non-financed places in universities. However, we prepared for these challenges ahead of time and this will not change the further development of MRU.
Q: Which Bachelor's Degree Programmes Were Most Popular?
A: After conclusion of the first admissions round to Bachelor's Degree programmes, I can say that Law, Public Management, Public Safety, Psychology, Social Work, Educology programmes were most popular among students. A large amount of international students from abroad applied to Tourism Management and a Heritage, Informatics and Digital Contents (joint programme with Korea's Dongseo University DSU), and English for Specific Purposes and a Second Foreign Language (Korean) programmes.
Q: And the situation with Master's Degree studies?
A: The number of Master's Degree applicants has remain unchanged and is the same as in 2016. We are planning to admit about 900 students to 30 high-level Master's Degree studies programmes. Just like in Bachelor's Degree studies, there is a noticeable interest in the main university profile studies programme areas. The most popular were: European and International Business Law, Civil and Business Law, Criminal Law and Criminology, Public Administration, Healthcare Law and Policy, and Project Management studies programmes. That is why the decline in the total number of applicants, which is now presented as "dramatic" is much lower than announced, when the number of applicants to Bachelor's Degree programmes is considered. It is important to remember that there will be a 2nd round of admissions. During the 2nd round, usually there is quite a number of applicants to state non-financed places. That is why we will be able to discuss the total number of MRU students only at the end of August.
