LBTU continues to demonstrate strong performance in the Times Higher Education Rankings by Subject
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026 in the fields of Social Sciences, Engineering, and Life Sciences have been published, and among the research-active and world’s leading universities included is the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU).
Overall, the ranking evaluated 2,191 higher education institutions from 115 countries and territories. The Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Engineering rankings are part of the overall THE World University Rankings, the results of which were published on January 21. The assessment methodology used in compiling the rankings is based on five main pillars: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry, and International Outlook.
The Social Sciences subject ranking evaluates higher education and research institutions active in fields such as communication and media studies, politics and international studies, sociology, and geography.
In the Social Sciences subject ranking, LBTU is placed in the “1001+” band. In this ranking, LBTU’s performance is rated highest in the criteria Industry (44.1 ranking points), Research Quality (27.0 ranking points), and International Outlook (20.4 ranking points). In the field of Social Sciences, LBTU provides higher education programmes in sociology, economics, and management, while also conducting interdisciplinary research.
The Engineering ranking evaluates universities across five core disciplines: general engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, civil engineering and chemical engineering.
In the Engineering subject ranking, LBTU is placed in the “1251+” band. LBTU achieved its highest scores in the criteria Research Quality (28.9 ranking points), International Outlook (24.8 ranking points), and Industry (18.8 ranking points). Engineering and technology are the most widely represented fields of study and research at LBTU.
Meanwhile, the Life Sciences ranking assesses universities across four main disciplines related to veterinary medicine, biological sciences (including biology and biochemistry), agriculture and forestry, and sports science.
In the Life Sciences ranking for 2026, LBTU is placed in the “1001+” band. In this subject ranking, LBTU scored highest in the criteria International Outlook (32.1 ranking points), Research Quality (22.3 ranking points), and Industry (21.1 ranking points).
The Times Higher Education (THE) Subject rankings allows to compare universities worldwide across 11 major subject areas and discover which institutions demonstrate excellence in different fields of studies.
The Subject rankings encompass 148 individual disciplines. They are developed using the same comprehensive and trusted methodology as the THE World University Rankings. However, metric weightings are carefully adjusted for each subject, ensuring that the rankings accurately reflect disciplinary priorities, fairly assess institutional strengths and provide meaningful, field-specific insights.