University of Latvia

The University of Latvia (Latvijas Universitate, LU) is a public research university in Riga, Latvia, established in 1919 and one of the largest and most prestigious institutions in the Baltic States, and it is placed in the 781-790 band of the 2027 QS World University Rankings.拉脱维亚大学（Latvijas Universitāte，LU）是位于拉脱维亚首都里加的公立研究型大学，1919 年成立，是波罗的海地区规模最大、声誉最高的学府之一，在 2027 年 QS 世界大学排名中处于 781-790 区间。

Founded as the Higher School of Latvia on the basis of the former Riga Polytechnic, it was renamed the University of Latvia in 1923, has 13 faculties and more than 10 research institutes, and its OpenAlex record lists 23,802 research works and 610,221 citations.该校在原理加理工学院的基础上以「拉脱维亚学院」之名创立，1923 年更名拉脱维亚大学，设有 13 个学院与 10 多个研究所，其 OpenAlex 记录列有研究成果 23,802 项、被引 610,221 次。

With its main building on Raina bulvaris in central Riga, it enrolled 23,801 students in 2007-08 including 900 doctoral candidates, and it belongs to the Utrecht Network, UNICA and the Baltic Sea Region University Network.主楼位于里加市中心的莱尼斯大道，2007-08 学年注册学生 23,801 名（含 900 名博士生），学校是乌得勒支网络、欧洲首都大学联盟（UNICA）与波罗的海区域大学网络的成员。

History

• The University of Latvia was founded on 28 September 1919 as the Higher School of Latvia, built on the basis of the former Riga Polytechnic, which had been founded in 1862.拉脱维亚大学于 1919 年 9 月 28 日以「拉脱维亚学院」之名成立，其基础是 1862 年创办的里加理工学院。

• The chemist Paul Walden served as the university's first rector, giving the young institution its early scientific leadership.化学家保罗·瓦尔登出任首任校长，为这所年轻的学府奠定了早期的科学领导。

• In 1923 the school was renamed the University of Latvia (Universitas Latviensis) with the approval of its constitution, marking its consolidation as a full university.1923 年，学校在章程获批后更名「拉脱维亚大学」（Universitas Latviensis），标志着其完整大学地位的确立。

• Between 1919 and 1940 the university was the main centre of higher education, science and culture in the Republic of Latvia, training the country's first independent-era professionals.1919 至 1940 年间，该校是拉脱维亚共和国高等教育、科学与文化的主要中心，培养了独立时期首批专业人才。

• The former building of the Riga Polytechnic on Raina bulvaris 19 serves as the university's main building, a landmark of central Riga.里加理工学院位于莱尼斯大道 19 号的旧楼，成为大学的主楼，是里加市中心的标志性建筑。

• Higher academic education in pre-war Latvia was available at the University of Latvia, the Latvian State Conservatory and the Academy of Arts, with the university as the largest institution.战前拉脱维亚的高等教育由拉脱维亚大学、拉脱维亚国立音乐学院与艺术学院承担，其中大学规模最大。

• From 1940 to 1941 and again from 1944/45 to 1958 the university was renamed the Latvian State University under Soviet rule.1940 至 1941 年以及 1944/45 至 1958 年，该校在苏联统治下被更名为拉脱维亚国立大学。

• Under the Nazi occupation from 1942 to 1944/45 the institution was known as the University of Riga, a period that interrupted its academic continuity.1942 至 1944/45 年纳粹占领期间，该校称「里加大学」，其学术连续性在此期间中断。

• After the Second World War the Latvian University of Agriculture, Riga Stradins University and Riga Technical University separated from the university to become independent institutions.二战后，拉脱维亚农业大学、里加斯特拉丁什大学与里加理工大学相继从大学分出，成为独立学府。

• In 1958 the university was renamed the Pēteris Stučka Latvian State University, carrying a Soviet-era designation until the restoration of independence.1958 年，该校更名为「彼得里斯·斯图奇卡拉脱维亚国立大学」，这一苏联时代的名号沿用到独立恢复。

• Shortly after Latvia regained independence in 1991, the Supreme Council adopted the university's constitution on 18 September 1991, defining it as a national educational, scientific and cultural institution serving the Latvian state and people.1991 年拉脱维亚恢复独立后不久，最高委员会于 9 月 18 日通过大学章程，规定其为服务拉脱维亚国家与人民的国立教育、科学、文化机构。

• In 1991 the university restored its historic name, the University of Latvia, dropping the Soviet-era designation.1991 年，大学恢复历史名称「拉脱维亚大学」，弃用苏联时期的名号。

• The university's botanical garden, developed from 1923, became one of the richest plant collections in the Baltic region.大学植物园自 1923 年发展至今，成为波罗的海地区最丰富的植物收藏之一。

• During the Soviet decades the university trained the scientific and teaching elite of the Latvian SSR, despite ideological controls on curricula.在苏联时期，尽管课程受意识形态管控，该校仍培养了拉脱维亚苏维埃社会主义共和国的科学与教学精英。

• Besides Riga Technical University, the Riga Stradins medical university and the agricultural university owe their independent existence to faculties separated from LU after 1945.除里加理工大学外，里加斯特拉丁什医科大学与农业大学各自独立的存在，皆源于 1945 年后从拉脱维亚大学分出的院系。

• Following independence the university reformed its curricula around European standards, joining the Bologna process and EU research programmes.独立后，该校按欧洲标准改革课程，加入博洛尼亚进程与欧盟研究计划。

• The Riga Graduate School of Law, established jointly by the Latvian and Swedish governments and the Soros Foundation, operates as an independent autonomous unit of the university.由拉脱维亚、瑞典两国政府与索罗斯基金会共同设立的里加法学研究生院，作为大学的独立自治单元运营。

• In 2019 the university marked its centenary with programmes tracing the 1919 founding and the 1923 renaming, reaffirming its national role.2019 年，大学举行百年校庆，回顾 1919 年创立与 1923 年更名的历程，重申其国家使命。

• Indriķis Muižnieks, a biologist, has served as rector since 2020, leading the university's research and internationalisation strategy.生物学家因德里基斯·穆伊日涅克斯自 2020 年起任校长，主导学校的研究与国际化战略。

• Latvia joined the European Union in 2004, and the university gained access to EU research frameworks and student mobility programmes.拉脱维亚于 2004 年加入欧盟，该校由此接入欧盟研究框架与学生流动项目。

• With Latvia's adoption of the euro in 2014 the university deepened its cooperation with European partner institutions on joint degrees and research.随着拉脱维亚 2014 年采用欧元，该校与欧洲伙伴机构在联合学位与研究方面的合作进一步深化。

• In 2018 Latvia marked the centenary of its statehood, and the university, founded in 1919, took part in the national commemorations as the country's oldest university.2018 年拉脱维亚纪念建国百年，创办于 1919 年的该校作为全国历史最悠久的大学参与了国家级纪念活动。

• LU's information technology and physics graduates staff Latvia's growing technology sector, including Riga's software and fintech firms.该校的信息技术与物理毕业生支撑拉脱维亚不断成长的科技产业，包括里加的软件与金融科技企业。}

• The university's Botanical Garden and Museum of Geology give the campus public-facing science collections used in school visits and research.其植物园与地质博物馆构成面向公众的科学收藏，用于学校参观与研究。}

• Research groups in medicine at the Riga Stradins University partner Network collaborate with the university's life-science faculties on clinical studies.里加斯特拉丁什大学网络的医学研究组与该校生命科学各学院在临床研究上开展合作。}

• The university library, with roots in collections dating back centuries, supports research across the sciences and humanities and holds Latvia's principal legal deposit collections.大学图书馆的收藏源流可上溯数百年，支撑科学与人文各领域的研究。

• Through the 2010s and 2020s the university expanded science infrastructure, including semiconductor and quantum technology research facilities.2010 与 2020 年代，该校扩展科研基础设施，包括半导体与量子技术研究设施。

Academics

• The university comprises 13 faculties, including biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, medicine, law, economics and management, and humanities and social sciences.大学由 13 个学院组成，包括生物、化学、物理与数学、医学、法律、经济与管理以及人文与社会科学等。

• Faculties of education and psychology, geography and earth sciences, history and philosophy, modern languages and theology complete the disciplinary range.教育及心理、地理与地球科学、历史与哲学、现代语言与神学等学院补全了学科谱系。

• More than 10 research institutes operate alongside the faculties, covering fields from atomic physics to Latvian language research.10 多个研究所与各学院并行运作，覆盖从原子物理到拉脱维亚语言研究的领域。

• Enrolment reached 23,801 students in 2007-08, including 900 doctoral candidates, making LU the largest university in the Baltic States at the time.2007-08 学年注册学生 23,801 名（含 900 名博士生），使该校成为当时波罗的海地区最大的大学。

• The Riga Graduate School of Law, an autonomous unit, offers English-taught master's programmes supported by Latvian, Swedish and Soros funding.作为自治单元的里加法学研究生院，在拉脱维亚、瑞典与索罗斯资金支持下开设英语授课硕士课程。

• Medicine and life sciences are taught through university faculties and Riga's clinical hospitals, training physicians for the Latvian health system.医学与生命科学通过大学各学院与里加的临床医院授课，为拉脱维亚卫生体系培养医师。

• Physics and chemistry research leverages the university's institutes, with work in semiconductor physics and materials science.物理与化学研究依托大学各研究所，开展半导体物理与材料科学方向的工作。

• The Faculty of Humanities carries the study of Latvian language, literature and history, central to the national cultural mandate set in 1991.人文学院承担拉脱维亚语言、文学与历史研究，是 1991 年确立的国家文化使命的核心。

• Its OpenAlex record lists 23,802 research works and 610,221 citations, concentrated in physics, chemistry, medicine and social sciences.其 OpenAlex 记录列有研究成果 23,802 项、被引 610,221 次，集中于物理、化学、医学与社会科学。

• Research funding comes from the Latvian state, European Union frameworks and international partners across the Baltic and Nordic regions.研究经费来自拉脱维亚国家、欧盟框架以及波罗的海与北欧地区的国际伙伴。

• Library holdings and the botanical garden support teaching and research, the latter holding Baltic plant collections developed since 1923.图书馆馆藏与植物园支撑教学与研究，后者保存着自 1923 年积累的波罗的海植物收藏。

• Doctoral schools operate across disciplines, supporting a doctoral population that numbered 900 as early as 2007-08.跨学科的博士生院支撑着早在 2007-08 学年即达 900 人的博士生群体。

• European Union research programmes and Erasmus exchanges connect LU to universities across Europe, complementing its 76 bilateral agreements in 29 countries and its Baltic network memberships.欧盟研究计划与伊拉斯谟交换把该校与欧洲各大学相连，与 29 个国家 76 所大学的双边协议及波罗的海网络成员身份互为补充。

• The university's economic and management faculty contributes to Latvian policy research, training economists for government and business.经济与管理学院参与拉脱维亚政策研究，为政府与企业培养经济学人才。

• International students, particularly from other EU states and post-Soviet neighbours, enrol in English-taught medicine and social-science programmes.国际学生（尤以其他欧盟国家与后苏联邻国为主）就读英语授课的医学与社会科学课程。

• Science infrastructure expanded in the 2020s toward semiconductor and quantum technologies, positioning LU in European research consortia alongside partner physics institutes.2020 年代科研基础设施向半导体与量子技术方向扩展，使该校与伙伴物理研究所一道跻身欧洲研究联合体。

Campus

• The main building of the University of Latvia stands at Raina bulvaris 19 in central Riga, the former Riga Polytechnic building at coordinates near 56.946 degrees north and 24.10589 degrees east.拉脱维亚大学主楼位于里加市中心莱尼斯大道 19 号，即原理加理工学院的建筑，坐标约为北纬 56.946、东经 24.10589。

• Campus facilities spread across central Riga, with faculty buildings, the library and institutes distributed among the city's historic streets and its art nouveau districts.校园设施遍布里加市中心，各学院楼、图书馆与研究所分布于城市的历史街巷与新艺术街区之间。

• The House of Science and the academic library redevelopment in the 2010s modernised research and study facilities in the city centre, adding laboratories and group-study floors.2010 年代的科学之家与学术图书馆改造更新了市中心的科研与学习设施，增设实验室与小组研习楼层。

• Student dormitories in Riga's residential districts house Latvian and international students within reach of the central campus by tram, trolleybus and bus.里加住宅区的学生宿舍容纳拉脱维亚与国际学生，乘有轨电车、无轨电车与公交可达中心校园。

• The university's botanical garden occupies a site north of the city centre, offering public access as well as research collections of Baltic and temperate plants.大学植物园位于市中心以北，既作研究收藏（波罗的海与温带植物）也向公众开放。

• The campus's Riga location places it among the city's art nouveau architecture and near the Baltic seaport that shaped Latvia's history.校园所在的里加，让大学置身新艺术运动建筑群之间，邻近塑造拉脱维亚历史的海港。

• Faculty buildings outside the centre, including science facilities and the House of Science, extend the campus into Riga's northern and eastern districts and the student residential zones.中心之外的学院楼（含科学类设施与科学之家）把校园延伸至里加的北部、东部城区与学生居住区。

• The university's history museum and academic archives occupy historic premises that document the institution since 1919.大学的校史博物馆与学术档案设于历史建筑之中，记录着 1919 年以来的校史。

• Riga's tram, trolleybus and rail links connect the campus to the airport and to Latvia's regional towns within an hour, and the city's port anchors the country's trade.里加的有轨电车、无轨电车与铁路把校园与机场及拉脱维亚各区域城镇连接在一小时之内，城市港口则是全国贸易的支柱。

• The Riga Graduate School of Law occupies premises in the old city, anchoring the university in the Latvian capital's legal quarter beside the historic Riga Castle and the courts.里加法学研究生院设址老城，使大学扎根于拉脱维亚首都的法律街区，紧邻历史悠久的里加城堡与法院。

Reputation

• The University of Latvia is placed in the 781-790 band of the 2027 QS World University Rankings.拉脱维亚大学在 2027 年 QS 世界大学排名中处于 781-790 区间。

• THE World University Rankings 2027 place it in the 1001-1200 band.2027 年度 THE 世界大学排名将其列于 1001-1200 区间。

• The 2026-2027 U.S. News Best Global Universities survey ranks it 1,393rd worldwide, and it did not enter the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2026 main list.2026-2027 年度 US News 全球最佳大学排名将其列于世界第 1,393，未进入 2026 年软科世界大学学术排名主榜。

• It is one of the largest and most prestigious higher education institutions in the Baltic States, ranked first in Latvia by national standing.它是波罗的海地区规模最大、声誉最高的高等学府之一，就全国声望而言居拉脱维亚第一。

• Its OpenAlex record lists 23,802 research works and 610,221 citations, with strengths in physics, chemistry and medicine.其 OpenAlex 记录列有研究成果 23,802 项、被引 610,221 次，在物理、化学与医学方面实力突出。

• As the successor of the Riga Polytechnic of 1862, it inherits a scientific lineage that includes the chemist Wilhelm Ostwald, the 1909 Nobel laureate in chemistry.作为 1862 年里加理工学院的继承者，其科学血脉包含 1909 年诺贝尔化学奖得主、化学家威廉·奥斯特瓦尔德。

• Membership in the Utrecht Network, UNICA, the European University Association and the Baltic Sea Region University Network anchors its European standing.乌得勒支网络、UNICA、欧洲大学协会与波罗的海区域大学网络的成员身份，确立了其欧洲地位。

• Erasmus participation and 76 bilateral agreements in 29 countries give the university a broad international cooperation profile.伊拉斯谟计划的参与以及 29 个国家 76 所大学的双边协议，赋予该校广泛的国际合作面貌。

• Within Latvia it is the principal national research university, supplying physicians, teachers, lawyers and scientists to the country's institutions.在拉脱维亚国内，它是主要的国立研究型大学，为国家机构输送医师、教师、律师与科学家。

Student life

• The university does not adopt a formal Latin motto, and its identity rests on the 1991 statutory definition as a national educational, scientific and cultural institution.该校不采用正式的拉丁文校训，其身份奠基于 1991 年章程所定的国立教育、科学、文化机构定位。

• Student life centres on the historically layered buildings of central Riga, with the main building on Raina bulvaris as the ceremonial heart of the community.校园生活以里加市中心历史层叠的建筑群为中心，莱尼斯大道的主楼是社群礼制生活的核心。

• Student traditions date to the interwar republic, including academic societies, choirs and the ceremonial customs of Latvian student corporations.学生传统可追溯到两战之间的共和时期，包括学术社团、合唱团与拉脱维亚学生会社的礼制习俗。

• The university's choir and folk-dance groups perform at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, a national tradition held every five years.大学合唱团与民间舞蹈团在每五年一届的拉脱维亚歌舞节上演出，这是国家级传统。

• Sports societies use Riga's facilities, and inter-faculty competitions run through the academic year.体育社团使用里加的设施，院际比赛贯穿学年。

• Riga's old town, art nouveau district and Baltic beaches shape student recreation beyond the lecture halls.里加老城、新艺术街区与波罗的海海滩，构成课堂之外的学生休闲空间。

• International students join orientation programmes each autumn, mixing with Latvian classmates in English-taught programmes.国际学生每年秋天参加迎新，在英语授课项目中与拉脱维亚同学相处。

• The university's museums and botanical garden offer cultural and scientific excursions within the city.大学的博物馆与植物园提供市内的文化与科学游览去处。

• Annual academic ceremonies, including the honouring of graduates in the main building and the celebration of the 28 September founding date, structure the university calendar.年度学术典礼——包括在主楼为毕业生授衔与纪念 9 月 28 日建校日——构成大学日历的节点。

Notable people

• Paul Walden, the chemist who served as the university's first rector from 1919, established its early scientific direction.保罗·瓦尔登，1919 年起任首任校长的化学家，奠定了学校早期的科学方向。

• Wilhelm Ostwald, the 1909 Nobel laureate in chemistry, studied at the Riga Polytechnic, the predecessor institution of the University of Latvia.威廉·奥斯特瓦尔德，1909 年诺贝尔化学奖得主，曾就读于拉脱维亚大学的前身里加理工学院。

• Indriķis Muižnieks, a biologist and former ambassador, has served as rector since 2020 and drives the university's research and international agenda.因德里基斯·穆伊日涅克斯，生物学家、前大使，2020 年起任校长，推动学校的研究与国际议程。

• Karlis Ulmanis, independent Latvia's interwar leader, studied agriculture abroad, and the university became the centre of the national elite his state-building relied upon.卡利斯·乌尔马尼斯，两战之间独立的拉脱维亚领导人，曾留学海外，而其建国所倚重的民族精英正是以这所大学为中心培养。

• Latvia's interwar cabinet ministers, diplomats and jurists were largely trained at the university, which served as the republic's intellectual base between 1919 and 1940.拉脱维亚两战之间的部长、外交官与法学家多在该校受训——1919 至 1940 年间它是共和国的思想基地。

• The university's Faculty of Medicine graduates staff Latvian hospitals and the country's public health system today.其医学院的毕业生如今任职于拉脱维亚各大医院与全国公共卫生系统。

• Faculty of the physics and chemistry institutes contribute to European research consortia in materials and quantum technologies.物理与化学各研究所的教师参与材料与量子技术领域的欧洲研究联合体。

• Humanities scholars at the university produced the standard dictionaries and histories of the Latvian language and people.该校的人文学者编纂了拉脱维亚语言与民族的标准辞典与历史著作。

• Graduates of the Riga Graduate School of Law serve in Latvian and international legal institutions.里加法学研究生院的毕业生任职于拉脱维亚与国际法律机构。

• The separating institutions of 1945, Riga Technical University and Riga Stradins University, were founded by LU faculty who carried its academic traditions into new universities.1945 年分出的里加理工大学与里加斯特拉丁什大学，由拉脱维亚大学的教师创建，他们把学术传统带入新的学府。