RSU retains its spot in global university rankings and improves performance in key indicators

Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) has retained its position in the 1001–1200 range in the latest QS World University Rankings 2027 and remains one of three Latvian higher education institutions included in the rankings. 

This year, the ranking features 1,504 universities from 106 countries, further highlighting the significance of this achievement. RSU’s consistently stable position in the global ranking confirms its sustained competitiveness within the international academic education environment, while also reflecting an improvement in its overall performance. 

Compared with the previous year, RSU’s total score increased from 14.7 to 15.9 points out of a maximum possible 100, marking an increase of over 8%. 

Given that there were no significant changes to the QS ranking methodology this year, the improvement across several indicators demonstrates RSU’s targeted development and growing competitiveness within the international academic education landscape.  

RSU has consistently strengthened its research capacity, expanded its international collaboration network and fostered an attractive environment for students and academic staff from around the world. Maintaining its position in the QS World University Rankings and improving its scores across several key indicators confirm the effectiveness of these efforts and RSU’s competitiveness within the international academic education landscape.  

Significant progress in sustainability, employability and collaboration  

A particularly notable rise has been achieved in the Sustainability indicator, where RSU’s score increased from 29.5 to 41 points out of a possible 100. 

This reflects the university’s increasingly strong position in the field of sustainability, which is also confirmed by its high ranking in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2026.  

Positive trends are also evident in other key indicators (maximum score – 100)  

• Employment Outcomes – from 14.8 to 18.7 points  
• International Research Network – from 15.9 to 19.5  
• Employer Reputation – from 16.2 to 18.8  
• International Faculty – from 30.9 to 32.2  
• Citations per Faculty – from 3.4 to 3.7  
• Academic Reputation – from 7.4 to 7.6  

Particularly noteworthy is the progress in the Employer Reputation indicator, which reflects employers’ assessment of graduates’ preparedness for the labour market. RSU has once again been ranked among the world’s top 700 universities in this indicator, reflecting both the growing competitiveness of its graduates and employers’ high regard for their preparedness for the labour market. Compared with the previous year, the university has climbed around 60 places, demonstrating steady growth and an increasingly strong position in the international labour market. 

The improvement in the International Research Network indicator reflects the active involvement of RSU researchers in international projects and publications. The university collaborates extensively with partners across Europe, North America and other regions of the world, enhancing the international visibility of its research output. 

The increase in the proportion of international academic staff further reinforces the overall picture of RSU’s international development and its ability to attract teaching staff from across the globe. 

Strong performance in attracting international students 

This year, RSU has once again maintained one of its key strengths – a high proportion of international students (International Student Ratio), with the university ranked 129th in the world.   

Students from more than 80 countries study at RSU, making it one of the most international higher education institutions in the Baltic region. 

QS data shows that RSU’s international student ratio significantly exceeds the global average, making it one of the university’s most important competitive advantages within the international higher education arena. 

Stability amidst growing competition  

Over the past decade, RSU has consistently maintained its presence in global university rankings, strengthening its reputation as one of Latvia’s most internationally recognised higher education institutions while reinforcing its role within both the Baltic region and the European higher education area.

Latvia is represented in the rankings by three universities: the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University and RSU, which retains third place nationally, while demonstrating significant progress across several quality indicators.  

About the QS World University Rankings  

The QS World University Rankings is one of the world’s most influential and widely recognised university rankings, which evaluated 8,808 higher education institutions this year. Universities are assessed against nine criteria: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Citations per Faculty, Faculty/Student Ratio, International Student Ratio, International Faculty Ratio, Employment Outcomes, International Research Network and Sustainability. 

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has traditionally topped the rankings. Imperial College London and Stanford University follow in second and third place respectively, with the University of Oxford and Harvard University completing the top five. 

Read more about the rangings