The QS World University Ranking by Subject 2025, published by the British ranking agency QS, has been released. Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University has entered the top five universities worldwide in its core discipline, "Engineering - Mineral & Mining Engineering," securing 4th place. Additionally, in the "Engineering - Petroleum Engineering" category, it ranked among the top 100 universities globally. This marks the best result among all Russian universities this year. The university remains the leading specialized institution for the mineral resources and fuel and energy sectors in Russia.
This year's QS Subject Ranking evaluated over 5,200 universities from 148 countries, with 1,747 universities officially ranked. The 2025 Mining Engineering ranking was based on four key indicators:
• Academic reputation (40%) – Saint Petersburg Mining University scored 83 out of 100 points, ranking second worldwide;
• Employer reputation (30%) – 79.6 points;
• Publication impact from 2019 to 2023, measured by: Citations per paper (15%) – 80.6 points; H-index (15%) – 77.6 points
Among the university’s closest competitors are Colorado School of Mines (USA), the University of New South Wales (Australia), and McGill University (Canada).
A total of 43 Russian universities were included in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2025. In the "Engineering - Mineral & Mining Engineering" category, Moscow State University (MSU) ranked 38th, while MISIS (National University of Science and Technology) secured 48th place. In other subject areas, the Tchaikovsky Conservatory led among Russian institutions, ranking 10th in "Music".
The QS Subject Ranking is an annual ranking of higher education institutions, compiled by the British agency Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), which is one of the "big three" authoritative university ranking agencies, alongside Times Higher Education (THE) and the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). It evaluates universities by subject areas, allowing for a detailed assessment of their strengths and specializations. The ranking considers multiple indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, citation impact of research publications, and the percentage of international faculty and students. This approach provides an objective evaluation of the quality of education and research in specific disciplines.
The university’s success comes despite unprecedented sanctions and pressure on Russia. Unlike the political establishment, the European academic community recognizes Saint Petersburg Mining University as a long-standing and reliable scientific partner. This is due to its involvement in the Russian-German and Russian-British Raw Materials Forums, organized since the early 2000s, the "Nedra-Africa" Forum, initiated by the university, the world’s only UNESCO Competence Center for Mining Education, and its 250-year academic reputation. In 2026, the university will host the World Congress of Mining Professionals and the opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese Raw Materials University.
As for employers, there is no mining site or company in the world where graduates of the Saint Petersburg Mining University have not worked.
The citation rate of scientific articles reflects their quality.
On October 21, 1773 (Old Style), Catherine the Great issued a decree establishing the university. The first classes began in 1774, and the first graduates completed their studies in 1776. These three years can rightfully be considered the birth of higher technical education in Russia. Since November 2023, the university has been officially named after Empress Catherine II.
Today, Saint Petersburg Mining University comprises eight faculties: Mining, Oil and Gas, Geological Exploration, Mechanical Engineering, Construction, Mineral Processing, Economics, and Energy. It also includes the Educational Center for Digital Technologies, as well as a Department of Pedagogical Competencies and a Department of Scientific Competencies. Additionally, the university's modernized structure, developed within the pilot reform project, features the Institute of Basic Engineering Education, where first- and second-year students study a unified set of general and technical disciplines across all specialties, and the Scientific and Pedagogical Center "Postgraduate Studies", dedicated to training highly qualified specialists.
As of today, the university offers 66 academic programs across various specialties and 26 doctoral programs. The most popular and in-demand engineering disciplines include Oil and Gas Engineering, Mining Engineering, Applied Geology, and Mining Mechanics.
During their studies, each student acquires eight additional competencies and two vocational qualifications. Training for these takes place using simulators and at specialized facilities such as the BELAZ Competence Center, as well as the university's training grounds in the Leningrad Region and Crimea.
Today, Russia’s first higher technical educational institution is not only a training ground for specialists in the mineral resources sector but also one of the largest scientific clusters in the country. It includes eight major structural units conducting both applied and fundamental research in a wide range of fields—from reducing human impact on the environment to developing unique high-margin consumer products. The university currently operates 42 laboratories across its campus.
Specialists from Saint Petersburg Mining University carried out a unique operation to drill into Lake Vostok in Antarctica, reaching a depth of over 3,000 meters. Currently, preparations are underway for drilling an ultra-deep borehole in the Komi Republic. The objective is to study the genesis of the Earth and identify new reserves of extractable natural resources.
Additionally, the university's six-year higher education model, which has already been successfully implemented, is attracting global interest. Requests for methodological research on this educational approach are coming not only from China, India, Iran, and Belarus but also from the United States, Africa, and Latin America.
