Two disciplinary fields of UL included in the QS World University Rankings

The University of Latvia (UL) continues to strengthen its position in international higher education rankings, demonstrating both stable academic performance and significant growth potential in the context of global competition. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 in this release include two disciplinary fields of UL – Medicine and, for the first time, Physics and Astronomy.

Within the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the field of Medicine at UL ranks 701^st–850^th, while Physics and Astronomy is positioned 601^st–675^th ranking band globally. These results attest to the University’s sustained presence in the international academic environment, successfully operating under conditions of intense global competition.

“The inclusion of a new disciplinary field in the QS World University Rankings constitutes a significant recognition of the scientific excellence and development potential of UL. It demonstrates that the University is capable of maintaining consistent positions within the international academic environment, and, furthermore, of expanding its presence into new and strategically important fields. The work, professionalism and contribution of our researchers to the advancement of knowledge form the foundation of this recognition,” emphasises Rector of UL, Professor Gundars Bērziņš.

From a long-term perspective, the performance of UL demonstrates continuity and stability: the field of Medicine has been included in this ranking every year since 2022, reflecting the University’s capacity to strengthen its position over time. Within the QS World University Rankings by Subject, particular importance is attributed to academic reputation and employer reputation, which, depending on the disciplinary field, account for between 50% and 80% of the overall score. These data are derived from surveys of more than 130 000 academics and 75 000 employers worldwide. The experience of UL to date indicates that the field of Medicine has achieved a high level of international recognition even in the absence of specifically targeted publicity activities.

In addition to its performance in subject rankings, UL demonstrates compelling progress across other international assessments. In the QS Sustainability Ranking 2026, the University is placed 553^rd globally and 235^th in Europe, maintaining its leading position in Latvia. Meanwhile, in the QS Europe University Rankings 2026, UL ranks 274^th in Europe and 101^st in Northern Europe, achieving particularly substantial results in graduate employability, where it is placed 25^th in Europe.

Further information in the homepage of rankings.