Strategic Economics

About

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The Strategic Economics program is truly unique in its approach, explicitly designed for students who are eager to master the intricacies of business strategy. It's a program that prepares you for roles where you'll lead the design and execution of firms‘ competition, products, strategic accounts, essential business changes, and mergers & acquisitions. To achieve this, we delve deep into economic theories, blending fundamental principles like game theory, behavioural economics, and supply chain economics with strategic planning. This unique blend allows you to understand how these theories shape real-world business outcomes. Our curriculum strongly emphasises practical skills, equipping you with the ability to use economic metrics and analytical tools. This hands-on approach ensures you can craft and assess business strategies and their real-world impact in a dynamic economy.

Our Strategic Economics program is not just about theoretical knowledge. We concentrate on market dynamics and competitive analysis, preparing you to interpret and anticipate market conditions effectively. The courses encompass crucial topics for making strategic decisions in a competitive business environment. This focus on practical skills ensures that you not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also develop the ability to apply it in real-world scenarios. This pragmatic orientation instils in you the confidence to tackle real-world business challenges.

The Strategic Economics program offers an in-depth examination of the economic implications of policies and regulations. This equips our students with the skills to navigate complex regulatory landscapes. Our comprehensive approach guarantees a broad comprehension of economic principles and their strategic applications, fostering long-term growth and sustainability across diverse business environments.

For more information or to apply, please get in touch with the Faculty academic coordinator at:

Important admission note for non-EU/EFTA applicants: The gap since completing your Bachelor's degree must not exceed five years.

Schedule

At Strategic Economics, we recognize the diverse commitments of our students. That's why our classes are typically scheduled for weekday evenings, allowing you to effectively balance your educational and professional obligations. Our flexible schedule is designed to cater to the needs of both full-time students and working professionals, assuring you that you can pursue your academic goals without compromising on your professional responsibilities. Each semester is structured with modules focused on different strategic aspects, culminating in a comprehensive thesis defended in stages.

The studies occur weekday evenings from 5.45 to 9.00 PM (Lithuanian time). During each semester, 5-6 different subjects are studied. The Master's thesis is defended in three stages: the first, second, and third semesters.

You Will Learn

By enrolling in the Strategic Economics program, you will master the art of strategic decision-making embedded in a deep understanding of economic theories. The program provides the tools to analyse and apply game theory, behavioural economics, and other economic models to produce effective business strategies. You will also become proficient in utilising economic metrics and analytical tools, essential for substantiating business strategies with rigorous data.

The curriculum advances your ability to scrutinise market dynamics and competitive landscapes, enhancing your capacity to forge strategies that align with consumer behaviour and market conditions. Moreover, the program prepares you to interpret and leverage economic policies and regulations to advantage strategic business planning. By blending theoretical knowledge and practical application, you will develop thinking that integrates economic principles, ensuring your decisions promote economic sustainability and long-term business success.

Study Overview

The programme emphasises the real-world application of strategy through interactive lectures, challenging case studies, immersive business simulations, and real-life consultancy projects. It prepares students to make informed decisions that optimise outputs and achieve desired profitability. Studying under our faculty will give you rigorous analytical thinking skills, a deep understanding of economic frameworks, and solid quantitative capabilities, which are crucial in today’s data-driven business environment.

Distinctive features of the programme:

Interdisciplinary approach: integrating economics with strategic management, offering a broad perspective on both disciplines.
Dedicated faculty: learn from dedicated programme team members and professionals.
Engagement opportunities: participate in societies, career clubs, and university-level representation.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the studies will be competitive, and priority will be given to university graduates with degrees in economics, business, management, finance, and accounting, with preference given to candidates with at least one year of work experience.

Applicants from other fields and college graduates must have accumulated at least 20 credits from fundamental economics study programme subjects, which they can acquire by choosing additional studies. This requirement does not apply to applicants under three years of relevant experience who submit a free-form certificate confirming their work tenure and position.

For students who have discontinued studies in similar programme's, subjects will be accredited according to the established procedure.

Lecturers

Antanas LaurinavičiusRobertas ZubrickasInga BlažienėChristof GellweilerGiedrė DzemydaitėArūnas BurinskasTom HashimotoGuillermo Hausmann GuilOna Marija Vyšniauskė

Sylabus

1 semester

2 semester

3 semester

Career Opportunities

The Master's program in Strategic Economics is tailored to foster leadership and strategic insight, preparing graduates for influential roles across various sectors. With a robust grounding in economic theories integrated with practical strategic applications, our alums are poised to lead and innovate in high-stakes environments. The program equips students with the tools to analyse, strategise, and implement decisions that profoundly impact their organisations. By merging academic rigour with real-world applications, graduates are well-prepared to take on pivotal roles that require a deep understanding of markets, economics, and strategic management.

Here are the types of positions you can expect to move into after completion of the program:

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Director of Innovation & Sales: this position leads organisational innovation and strategic sales initiatives, applying advanced economic theories to real-world business challenges.
Head of Strategic Accounts: manages and expands strategic customer relationships, utilising your deep understanding of market dynamics and economic principles.
Senior Program Manager: oversees major programs, steering strategic decisions that align with long-term organisational goals.
Creative Director: leverage understanding of market trends and consumer behaviour to craft compelling business strategies in the creative industries.
Chief Consultant: offers expert advice on strategic planning and economic sustainability, guiding businesses through complex market landscapes.
Director of Mergers & Acquisitions: uses advanced economic analysis and strategic evaluation skills to drive corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Strategic Partnerships Manager: develops and manages key partnerships that align with corporate strategic objectives.
Lead Creative Strategist: Develop and implement innovative marketing and product development visions, aligning creative concepts with business objectives.

We believe these roles represent just a sample of the diverse opportunities available for Strategic Economics program graduates in the labour market. The skills acquired through this program open doors to numerous other strategic positions, enabling graduates to lead and innovate in various dynamic sectors.

Sincerely yours,

Program director

Testimonials

nezinomas We've designed the Strategic Economics program to bridge the gap between theoretical economics and strategic real-world applications. Our goal is to prepare leaders who think critically and act decisively in high-stakes environments. Based on the rigorous curriculum and the expert faculty involved, we anticipate our graduates will quickly move into roles such as Strategic Partnerships Manager or Director of Innovation, where they will apply their learning to drive significant business success.

The staff of the Strategic Economics committee.

Fee & Finances

*Annual tuition fee: 5460 Eur

Tuition fee might be postponed, but no later than December 1 in the Autumn semester and May 1 in the Spring semester; or can be payed in installments no less than 30 % of the semester tuition fee before the first month of each semester and dividing the remaining sum to one or two instalments which have to be paid before 1 December in the Autumn semester and 1 May in the Spring semester.

*Tuition fee might change insignificantly due to state regulations.

STATE FUNDED PLACES AND LOANS

State-Funded Places for Bachelor Students

Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania or other member states of the European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA), persons (non-EU/EFTA) granted a right of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Diaspora and people of Lithuanian origin, can apply for the State-Funded Place in the programme.
For more information, please follow this link or contact us by e-mail at

State-Supported Loans

Students are granted the possibility to apply for State-Supported Loans that are issued through a selected bank for one academic year. Loans can be given in these cases:

– To cover the tuition fee. The maximum amount equals the yearly tuition fee for the study programme you attend. This loan is paid directly to the account of the University;
– To cover living expenses. The maximum amount currently is 2000,00 EUR per year. This loan is paid in equal monthly instalments until 1 July to the borrower's personal account (for last year students until graduation);
– For partial studies abroad. The maximum amount currently is 2400 EUR, to be paid all at once to the borrower's personal account.

The loan repayment period begins no later than 12 after graduation, or termination of studies and is repaid within no more than 15 years from the beginning of the repayment period.
The applications and disbursements of the study loans are carried out by the State Studies Foundation. Please note that there are requirements that you must meet in order to be able to apply for the loan. More information

TUITION FEE POSTPONEMENT/PAYMENT BY INSTALMENT

Students who pay for their studies can apply for:

– Postponement of tuition fee for the semester for no later than December 1 in the Autumn semester and May 1 in the Spring semester;
– Semester tuition fee payment by instalments – paying no less than 30 % of the semester tuition fee before the first month of each semester and dividing the remaining sum to one or two instalments which have to be paid before December 1 in the Autumn semester and May 1 in the Spring semester.

Applications for both of the options are only available form the second year of the studies for those admitted via the admission system at apply.vu.lt. Applications are welcome during the first month of each semester via the eStudent environment.

TUITION FEE REDUCTION & COMPENSATION

The tuition fee for the semester could be reduced:

– For students actively engaged in scientific research at the University, for one semester.

Up to 100 % of the semester tuition fee could be reduced for the students who are champions or prize winners of the world or European student research contests, co-authors of inventions patented by the European Patent Office (EPO), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), or the Japan Patent Office (JPO).

From 30 % to 90 % of the tuition fee could be reduced for students, who are champions or prize winners of Lithuanian research contests.

– For students actively engaged in cultural activities at the University for the period no less than two years, for one semester.

From 30 % to 90 % of the fee could be reduced for students, who as members of the University’s performance art groups, have represented the University and become winners of awards and prizes at international and national music, theatre, choir, folklore contests or festivals.

– For students actively engaged in sports and so representing the University, for one semester.

Up to 100 % of the fee could be reduced for sportsman students if they are members of or candidates to the national Olympic team, world champions and prize winners in adult or youth competitions of their chosen branch of sport, European champions and prize winners, champions and prize-winners of world student championships.

From 30 % to 90 % of the fee could be reduced for students, who are champions and prize winners of Lithuanian championships, SELL (Baltic Student Games) champions and prize winners, champions of Lithuanian student games, members of Lithuanian national adult and youth teams, members of the University teams.

– For employees of the University (with the possibility to distribute the payments within semesters).

Up to 70 % of the tuition fee could be reduced for employees of the University who have been working at the University part-time or full-time for at least 10 months.

More information regarding the reduction of tuition fees could be found at the Description of the Procedure of Payment, Reimbursement, and Recovery of Tuition Fees at Vilnius University.

Tuition Fee Compensation

The tuition fees paid for separate semesters could be compensated for students with excellent learning outcomes. The students who have the right for tuition fee compensation must:

– Be eligible for State-Funded study places at Lithuanian higher education institutions (Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania or other member states of the European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA) or the United Kingdom (UK), persons (non-EU/EFTA/UK) granted a right of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Diaspora and people of Lithuanian origin);

– Have no academic debts;

– Have reached the excellent or typical level of learning achievements.

The list of students who have achieved the best learning outcomes is provided to the State Studies Foundation by the University. Tuition fees are compensated every year. Students granted tuition fee compensation are informed personally and are ought to submit an application for the compensation to the State Studies Foundation. You can get more information by contacting the State Studies Foundation.

TRANSFER TO SATE-FUNDED PLACES

Students in places not funded by State may transfer to State-Funded places if:

– They are eligible for State-Funded places at Lithuanian higher education institutions (Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania or other member states of the European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA) or the United Kingdom (UK), persons (non-EU/EFTA/UK) granted a right of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Diaspora and people of Lithuanian origin);

– They comply with the criteria of good study performance;

– There is an available State-Funded place after a student at the same study same field of study, the same form and the same course is expelled from the University, or terminates the studies. In cases like this transfer is proceeded twice a year, during the first month of each semester;

– There is an available State-Funded place after a student in the same field of study, the same form and the same course loses their State-Funded place during rotation. In cases like this, State-Funded places are filled once a year, after the rotation – before 15 October.

Information regarding available State-Funded places is announced by the Academic Core Unit on their website and on the eStudent environment.

The transfer of students to and from State-Funded places is proceeded by each of the Academic Core Units following the temporary Description of the Procedure for the Rotation and Ranking of Vilnius University Students Based on their Learning Outcomes.

More information regarding assessment and rotation could be found here

SCHOLARSHIPS

VU FEBA Admission Scholarship

Ten one-off Scholarships equal to 1000,00 EUR each will be awarded for the most motivated and competent international students applying to the Bachelor's and Master‘s programmes of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
The Scholarship is payable directly to the successful applicant after their arrival to study at Vilnius University Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

Eligibility:
Candidate from any foreign country will be awarded after successful admission procedure and motivation interview to any Bachelor's and Master‘s study programme at Vilnius University Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. The ranking of best students will be made after motivation interview where students get points depending on their grades, motivation to study in Lithuania, Vilnius University and chosen study programme. If different students get same score, then grades average is compared, if also coincides the higher motivation score will be evaluated. To get the scholarship students must pay first tuition fee for their studies.

Scholarships To Get During the Study Period

All students of the University can apply for different scholarships during the study period. The way these scholarships are disbursed is stipulated by the Vilnius University Scholarship Regulations and the Lithuanian Law. More information

Incentive Scholarship – a monthly scholarship for students with excellent learning outcomes. The scholarship is granted for students every semester for the results of the previous semester – in March for the results of the Autumn semester and in October – for the results of the Spring semester.

The provided amount (60,00 EUR or 100,00 EUR) depends on the learning outcomes (the student's place in the rank of students each semester). Around 10 % of the course students get the incentive scholarship.

One-Off Social Scholarship – a scholarship, provided in the case of financial problems caused by such unfortunate events as the illness of the student or a family member, the death of a relative, natural disaster and so on. Applications for the scholarship can be filled at the eStudent environment anytime throughout the study period.

The size of the scholarship (from 80,00 EUR to 480,00 EUR) highly depends on how difficult the situation is to the applicant.

One-Off Earmarked Scholarship – a scholarship granted for students with relevant achievements in sports, cultural and scientific/social activities. The application for the scholarship with the required documents could be submitted to the eStudent environment until 25 March in the Spring semester and until 25 October in the Autumn semester.

The size of the scholarship (form 40,00 EUR to 600,00 EUR) depends on the achievements.

Nominal Scholarship – a scholarship granted for students based on certain fields of activity for their achievements or contributions in these fields. The grounds and principles of granting nominal scholarships are established in the regulations of a specific nominal scholarship and/or support agreement. Please contact the Academic Core Unit where you study to find out your options.

Social Scholarship – a scholarship (260,00 EUR) provided by the State Studies Foundation granted for students who meet at least one of these requirements:
– If they come from a family with a difficult financial situation;
– If their working ability is reduced to 45 % or more;
– If they are not older than 25 and have been granted guardianship before their full legal age.

You can only be granted the social scholarship if you as well are a citizen of a European Union (EU) of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member country, or if you are an international student (citizen of non-EU or non-European Economic Area country) and have been granted permanent residency in Lithuania (not applicable for foreigners of Lithuanian origins).
The applications for social scholarships have to be submitted to the State Studies Foundation from the 15 September until 10 October in the Autumn semester and from 20 January until 20 February in the Spring semester. Please contact the State Studies Foundation for more detailed information.

Support for Foreigners of Lithuania

Social Scholarship – provided for students in a tender row based on the study programme and the year of studies, the form of the studies and the achievements. The scholarship (130,00 EUR) is granted each semester and is disbursed every month.

Social Disbursement – granted for foreigners of Lithuania who meet one of these requirements:

– Students of age 26 and under, whose both parents or guardians are dead (319,00 EUR);

– Students of age 26 and under, whose one of parents or guardians is dead (261,00 EUR);

– Students of age 26 and under, whose one of parents or guardians has a disability (232,00 EUR);

– Students of age 26 and under, who come from large families where at least 3 underage children or young adults (of age 26 and under) are enrolled on formal education programs (203,00 EUR).

The applications for social scholarships and social disbursements have to be submitted to the State Studies Foundation until September 30 in the Autumn semester and February 20 in the Spring semester. Please contact the State Studies Foundation for more detailed information.

State Scholarship for the Lithuanian Language and Culture Courses

Education Exchanges Support Foundation takes pleasure in offering Lithuanian state scholarships for students, lecturers and researchers of foreign countries to attend Lithuanian language and culture courses.
More information.