The first stage of the doctoral admissions process is announced: a call for proposed research topics
The Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) announces the first stage of the competitive selection process for doctoral positions and invites companies, public institutions, and organisations engaged in high-level research, experimental development and innovation (R&D&I) to submit proposals for state-funded doctoral research topics.
Through this instrument, the RCL promotes the training of highly qualified specialists (doctoral candidates), while creating opportunities for researchers to develop skills and competencies required by the labour market. These competencies will enable them to work effectively in interdisciplinary, interinstitutional and international research teams and to successfully integrate into the national and international research environment.
In 2026, the RCL plans to select 70 state-funded doctoral positions, of which 16, upon the proposal of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, are planned to be allocated to doctoral studies carried out in cooperation with companies, institutions, and organisations engaged in high-level R&D&I. The remaining positions will be distributed by fields of science as follows: 4 in the humanities, 8 in the social sciences, 14 in the natural sciences, 10 in the technological sciences, 13 in the medical and health sciences, 4 in agricultural sciences, and 3 in the arts.
Proposals for doctoral research topics may be submitted until 25 February 2026, 4:00 p.m. The proposed topics should reflect contemporary scientific achievements and societal needs. Proposals are to be submitted via the electronic system by completing the designated form. Companies, institutions and organisations may propose one or more topics by submitting separate applications for each topic.
At the end of February, once the submitted topics are published, the second stage of the competition will commence, during which higher education and research institutions will be invited to propose topics and submit applications for doctoral positions.
Applications can be submitted here.
Further information
Programme Coordinator
Edita Kavaliauskienė
Tel. +370 604 58 290
E-mail: [email protected]