STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

About

SMIS

SISM 1

The Strategic Management of Information Systems master’s programme prepares specialists capable of strategically planning, designing, and managing information systems that support organisational goals and digital transformation. The programme develops competencies at the intersection of information technologies, management, and strategic decision-making, with a strong emphasis on analytical thinking, innovation, and leadership.

Students gain a solid foundation in frontier and intelligent technologies, information systems design, enterprise architecture, and analytical information technologies, while also developing managerial skills in project management, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and change management. Continuous scientific research work throughout the programme ensures graduates are able to apply research-based insights to real organisational challenges.

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

You can find more information by contacting the faculty’s study coordinators:

Study Format and Schedule

Duration: 1.5 years
Language of instruction: English
Study mode: On-campus
Schedule: Weekday evenings, 17:45–21:00
Study load: 4–5 courses per semester

The Master’s thesis is developed and defended in three stages, across the first, second, and third semesters, ensuring continuous research progress and close academic supervision.

Course Overview

This programme integrates two highly demanded and closely connected fields:

Technological innovation and information systems, and
Strategic management and decision support in organisations.

During your studies, you will:

Learn modern information systems design and analysis methods
Explore strategic decision support systems and knowledge integration between IT and business strategy
Analyse interactions between information systems and their users
Develop skills in project management, based on internationally recognised PMP methodologies
Strengthen competencies in leadership, strategic planning, and organisational decision-making

Learning Outcomes and Graduate Profile

Upon graduation, students are able to:

Design and evaluate information systems and enterprise architectures aligned with organisational strategy
Apply analytical and intelligent information technologies for decision support
Manage international and technology-driven projects
Conduct independent scientific research and apply research results in practice
Lead and support digital transformation, innovation, and change in organisations

Graduates are prepared for careers as IT strategy managers, business analysts, digital transformation leaders, project managers, or consultants, working in both private and public sector organisations operating in an increasingly data-driven and technology-intensive environment.

Uniqueness of the Programme

Cutting-edge and practice-oriented curriculum that provides advanced, up-to-date knowledge aligned with current developments in information systems, digital strategy, and innovation management.
Strong connection to industry practice: all core courses are taught by lecturers with extensive real-world business experience, complemented by guest lecturers from leading international and regional IT companies.
Work–study balance designed for professionals: evening classes enable students to immediately apply newly acquired knowledge and skills in their professional environment, reinforcing learning through real-life practice

Entry Requirements

Applicants to this study programme must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Completed undergraduate studies in Economics or Business and Public Management.
Completed undergraduate studies in a different field with at least 20 ECTS in economic theory, management, accounting and audit, as well as other subjects from the fields of business and management, or completed undergraduate studies in other fields and completed complementary* studies at VU EVAF.
Completed professional bachelor’s studies and completed complementary* studies at VU EVAF.

*Individuals who have completed complementary studies in other Lithuanian or foreign universities may apply only if their studies meet the requirements of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Vilnius University for complementary studies and they provide a certificate of completion for complementary studies.

Lecturers

Svetlana NemitkoJonas Lankutis nezinomas Justina ValentukevičėGediminas Rumšas

Syllabus

Subjects of study	Credits
Semester 1 Autumn
Compulsory Courses	25.0
Frontier Technologies	5.0
Information Systems Design Methods	5.0
Research Methods	5.0
Scientific Research Work I/II p.	10.0
Optional Courses	5.0
Global Entrepreneurship	5.0
Smart Technology and Digitalization	5.0
Semester 2 Spring
Compulsory Courses	25.0
Intelligent Information Systems	5.0
Management of International Projects	5.0
Scientific Research Work II/II p.	10.0
User's Interface	5.0
Optional Courses	5.0
Internet Marketing and Technologies	5.0
Knowledge and Innovation Management	5.0
Semester 3 Autumn
Compulsory Courses	25.0
Analytical Information Technologies	5.0
Enterprise Architecture	5.0
Master Final Thesis (Study field: Management)	10.0
Strategic IS Management Seminar	5.0
Optional Courses	5.0
Leadership	5.0
Management of Change	5.0

Testimonials

Akvilė Rykovė

The Strategic Information Systems Management programme was characterised by exceptional quality, when combining practical, scientific and academic experience, students were provided not only with knowledge, but also practical skills and competencies. The up-to-date professional knowledge made it clear that not all innovations are equally successful, therefore, it is very important to build upon time-tested values and reference points. It is this approach and work in mixed groups that has allowed me to apply this knowledge in my work.

Akvilė Rykovė
Senior Team Leader in Project Management, Danske Bank

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.

For Students

Students of this program choose their own places for internships, but the faculty, in cooperation with various business companies and state institutions, offers the opportunity to carry out internships according to signed partnership agreements. In the table you will find information about the opportunities for this study program and contacts where students can apply for internships directly.

Dmitrij Dolgov
+37062500695

Giedrius Vilkuotis
+370 687 75986