Experts from the best-edu.ru portal presented a new study entitled ”Universities of the Post-Soviet Space in Global Subject Rankings” for 2026, which analyzed the international competitiveness of universities based on subject rankings. The analysis has been expanded to include two new subject rankings: RUR and SCImago.

Global subject rankings have become a key tool for comparing diverse educational systems, as they evaluate universities according to specific fields of study. The current analysis is based on the OECD international classification, which encompasses 39 subject areas. In effect, the study examines 39 separate rankings that include programs from universities in post-Soviet countries and BRICS states.

A university’s presence in global subject rankings means worldwide recognition of the quality of its education, despite the initially diverse and unequal systems based on subject specialization. International accreditation, as an evaluation system, was also taken into account when compiling the ranking results.

A short video presentation offers insights into how traditionally strong Russian areas of studies measure up to global standards and which former Soviet republics have most successfully integrated into the global educational system.