Vilnius University

One of the oldest universities in all of Northern Europe is Vilnius University. It has a history and tradition that is longer when compared to the university of Edinburgh, university of London, university of Bonn and the universities of Athens and Gottingen, Yale and Harvard. Vilnius University is well known for its research and studies and is more of a classical type of a university. It is also the largest university in Lithuania.

According to the latest statistics, Vilnius University currently has over twenty thousand students studying in it and employs close to three thousand personnel that includes the academic staff, the professors, doctors and research fellows. It houses a total of twelve faculties, eight institutes, ten study centers and also boasts of having the oldest library in the entire country of Lithuania.  Philosophy, theology and humanities were the courses that were initially offered when it was still an academy. They were taught in the Latin language. The library was constructed in the year 1570 and two years later nearly two thousand five hundred books were transferred to it because of the efforts of Sigismund Augustus II who donated them as a part of his collections from his very own library. The main university was completed in the year 1579.

Vilnius University continued to prosper throughout the seventeenth century. Today, it also has a total of three hospitals, an astronomical observatory, St. John’s church, a botanical garden and a well-equipped computer center. It is stated that the mission of Vilnius University is to create, accumulate and disseminate knowledge by ensuring continuity of authentic university culture distinguished by the atmosphere where old traditions and new ideas enrich each other. They also strongly believe in diversity and complete and total freedom of thought and expression.

It represents an incredible blend of ancient history and modern architecture. A large number of the old buildings are still present and it was in these buildings that a number of erstwhile scientists, researchers, artists and academicians carried out their research and studies. Many genres of architecture like Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classic have been represented in the constructions and the style of Vilnius University and the amalgamation of these make the whole structure extremely beautiful and confer upon it a king of royalty and grandeur. There are twelve courtyards and in the Vilnius University also exists a memorial for the great poet and humanist M.K. Sarbievijus.

Welcome to Vilnius University