In the latest international subject rankings, QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, announced yesterday, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) maintains a strong global position. The university is ranked among the top 500 institutions worldwide in Engineering and Technology.
KTU is ranked in six subject areas. In two of these – Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Materials Science – it is placed in the 351–400 band globally, while in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering it ranks in the 401–500 band.
KTU – a Leader in Advancing Interdisciplinarity
In Engineering and Technology, KTU is ranked 451–500. In Electrical and Electronic Engineering, its position in the 351–400 band marks the highest result achieved by any Lithuanian university in this field over the past five years.
In Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, KTU is ranked 401–450. The most notable improvement has been recorded in Computer Science and Information Systems, where the university is now ranked 551–600.
For the second consecutive year, two KTU subject areas in Natural Sciences have been included in the rankings. In Materials Science, KTU is ranked 351–400 – the highest position among universities in the Baltic region included in this field. In Chemistry, where KTU is ranked 601–700, it is the only technical university in the Baltic region represented in this subject.
In Business and Management Studies, within the Social Sciences and Management area, KTU maintains its position at 601–650. Consistent performance in this field since the introduction of the rankings, together with significant progress in engineering and technology disciplines, reinforces KTU’s leadership in advancing interdisciplinarity.
KTU is the only Lithuanian university ranked in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Materials Science. In Computer Science and Information Systems and in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, the university ranks first among Lithuanian institutions included in the rankings.
Sustained Progress Driven by Strategic Focus
According to Agnė Latvelė, Project Manager at KTU’s Strategy Monitoring and Quality Department, the university’s steady progress in international subject rankings is driven by a strong focus on the quality of studies and research and their synergy, the promotion of internationalisation, and leadership in regional innovation development.
“Improved results have been significantly influenced by the growing citation impact of scientific publications, targeted international networking, and the strengthening of partnerships with business and industry, as well as decisive institutional actions in developing impact-driven innovation ecosystems at both national and international levels. The consistent strengthening of priority study and research areas enables the university to compete successfully with the world’s leading institutions,” says A. Latvelė.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 evaluates universities across five broad subject areas – Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.
This year, 55 disciplines were assessed across these five areas. The methodology is based on academic and employer reputation surveys conducted by QS, citations per publication, the H-index measuring research productivity and impact, and the International Research Network (IRN), which reflects the diversity, scope and effectiveness of global research collaborations.
In total, 6,273 institutions were analysed, of which 1,908 were ranked. This year’s edition includes more than 300 newly ranked institutions.
