The recently released QS EECA University Rankings 2021 features 400 of the top universities in the emerging Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region, with 52 new entrants this year.

The EECA rankings are compiled using 10 indicators including academic reputation, employer reputation, international research network and web impact. You can find out more about the methodology used here.

It’s worth noting that the data collected for these rankings reflects the period before COVID-19.

In this article, we will be counting down the top 10 universities in the EECA area. Alternatively, you can view the full rankings here.

QS EECA University Rankings 2021: Top 10
Rank	University	Location
1	Lomonosov Moscow State University	Russia
2	University of Tartu	Estonia
3	Saint-Petersburg State University	Russia
4	Charles University	Czech Republic
5	Novosibirsk State University	Russia
6	Jagiellonian University	Poland
7	University of Warsaw	Poland
8	Masaryk University	Czech Republic
9	Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University	Russia
10	Tomsk State University	Russia

10. Tomsk State University (TSU)

Location: Russia

Falling two spots this year in the EECA rankings is Tomsk State University (TSU) in 10^th place. TSU is the largest classical university in the Asian part of Russia, and an acknowledged center of science, education and innovation. It ranks joint 250^th in the QS World University Rankings 2021.

TSU performs exceptionally well across several of the indicators this year. It earns a perfect score in the faculty student ratio indicator and the proportion of staff with PhDs – an indication of the high quality of teaching at the university.

9. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

Location: Russia

A new entry to the top 10 this year is Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), ranking 9^th in the EECA region and 281^st in the world.

Located in Russia’s capital, MIPT specializes in teaching theoretical and applied physics, applied mathematics and related disciplines. The school’s graduates are extremely attractive to employers in the area, reflected by the high score it earns in the employer reputation indicator this year.

8. Masaryk University

Location: Czech Republic

Masaryk University rises two places in the EECA rankings this year and is a member of the Compostela Group, a group of 67 universities that collaborate on projects.

The second largest university in the Czech Republic, Masaryk University scores well in the international research network and web impact indicators, reflecting the high quality of its academic output.

7. University of Warsaw

Location: Poland 

Maintaining its seventh-place position in the EECA rankings for another year is the University of Warsaw, ranking joint 321^st in the world. The university offers a broad range of courses in 37 languages, as well as having 26 programs available in English. 

Ranking third in the region for academic reputation and fifth for employer reputation, the University of Warsaw actively prepares students for life after graduation.

6. Jagiellonian University

Location: Poland

Retaining its sixth-place position in the EECA rankings in 2021, Jagiellonian University ranks joint 326^th in the world. Established in 1364 as the University of Kraków, Jagiellonian University is one of the oldest universities in the world.

Jagiellonian University earns its highest scores are in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators. Its courses are offered in a variety of different languages, and the university collaborates with academic institutions all around the world, attracting many international students. 

5. Novosibirsk State University

Location: Russia 

Dropping two places in the EECA rankings in 2021 is Novosibirsk State University. Despite this, the school performs well in the EECA rankings, ranking fifth in the region and joint 228^th in the most recent world university rankings. 

Novosibirsk State University offers 17 English-taught programs as well as 28 research internship opportunities. The school’s academic excellence is reflected in its high score in the academic reputation indicator, where it places seventh in the EECA area.

4. Charles University

Location: Czech Republic

Up one place this year to rank fourth in the EECA area is Charles University. Charles University is the oldest university in Central Europe, as well as the largest institution in the Czech Republic.

Ranking first in the EECA area for the proportion of international students indicator, Charles University counts more than 7,000 international students amongst its 49,000-student population.

3. Saint-Petersburg State University

Location: Russia

Down one place this year but still holding onto the top three in the EECA area is Saint-Petersburg State University (SPbSU). Ranking 225^th worldwide, the university earns its highest score in the academic reputation indicator. 

SPbSU is famous for producing several notable alumni, including the current president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, as well as several Nobel Prize winners. SPbSU also collaborates with 230 higher education institutions, giving it excellent international connections around the world.

2. University of Tartu

Location: Estonia

Founded in 1632 by Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the University of Tartu is the oldest, largest and highest placing university in Estonia. It places second in the EECA area and 285^th in the world. 

The university scores the highest for the international research network indicator, due to its strong international outlook, attracting students from more than 88 countries. Although the official language of the university is Estonian, 23 courses are taught in English (although these are mainly at master’s level). 

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Location: Russia 

Lomonosov Moscow State University claims the title of the best university in the EECA area for the seventh year running. Founded in 1755, the university counts 13 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, along with many other successful mathematicians, writers, politicians and physicists.

Lomonosov Moscow State University earns several perfect scores across the indicators, including the employer reputation, academic reputation and faculty student ratio indicators.