This year, the ranking has become even more competitive, with 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories included, compared with 2,191 universities from 115 countries and territories in the previous year.
UL has shown particularly notable progress in the Research Environment indicator. In the previous ranking, the University rose from 537th to 473rd place globally, while this year it has advanced further to 450th place. Significant progress has also been achieved in the assessment of the Teaching environment, where UL has climbed by 246 places. Positive developments can also be observed in the indicators of research quality and international collaboration.
These results demonstrate the stability of UL's research performance and the development of the University's international partnerships. The international dimension is important both for developing new research projects and partnerships and for strengthening the involvement of the UL academic community in the global research environment.
“UL’s performance in the latest THE World University Rankings confirms that long-term investments in the research support system, the development of the academic environment and international cooperation continue to deliver results. The University’s research development priorities are increasingly clearly reflected in international ranking indicators. Progress in the assessment of the teaching and research environments is particularly significant, as these provide the foundation for UL’s continued growth as Latvia’s leading research university. At the same time, we recognise that competition in the international higher education arena continues to intensify. Therefore, we will continue to develop research-based education and strengthen our research performance in a targeted manner,” says UL Vice-Rector for Research, Associate Professor Guntars Kitenbergs.
The results reflect positive developments in areas that are essential for creating a high-quality academic environment and ensuring the University’s long-term development. UL will continue to strengthen its teaching and research environment, expand international cooperation and promote collaboration with industry. At the same time, the ranking results highlight further opportunities for growth as UL continues to fulfil its role in the development of science, education and innovation in Latvia and strengthens its international visibility.
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings is one of the internationally recognised assessments of higher education performance. Universities are evaluated across five key dimensions: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry and International Outlook. The overall score across these dimensions provides a broad overview of universities’ activities in teaching, research, international cooperation and knowledge transfer.
 has maintained its position in the 1001–1200 band in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, while significantly improving its performance in the assessment of the teaching and research environment.){kind=link}