Riga Technical University

Riga Technical University (RTU) is the oldest technical university in the Baltic countries. It is located in Riga, Latvia.

Riga Technical University (RTU) was founded on October 14, 1862 as the Riga Polytechnic Institute (RPI). It was the first polytechnical institute in Imperial Russia and offered degrees in agriculture, chemistry, engineering, mechanics, trade, and architecture, with education in German.

The establishment of RTU was closely connected with the economic and political changes in Europe in the middle of the 19th century: rapid development of manufacturing and railway transport, erection of bridges and other engineering constructions. Riga was rapidly transforming itself into a developed industrial center, and the main task of the school was to educate and train technical intelligentsia who would be capable of working with new manufacturing equipment and proposing new ideas for new achievements.

In the first few decades of its existence, RPI played a significant role in the development of industry and technology in Latvia and the Russian Empire. Its graduates held leading positions in factories, railroads, and other enterprises. RPI was also a center of scientific research, and its professors made significant contributions to various fields of engineering and science.

During World War I, RPI was evacuated to Moscow, where it continued its activities until 1918. After the war, RPI returned to Riga and became part of the newly independent Latvian state. In 1923, RPI was renamed the University of Latvia, and it became a unified type of university that combined technical, natural, and humanity sciences.

In 1958, the University of Latvia was divided into two separate universities: the University of Latvia and the Riga Polytechnic Institute. The Riga Polytechnic Institute continued to focus on engineering and science education, and it became one of the leading technical universities in the Soviet Union.

After the restoration of Latvian independence in 1990, the Riga Polytechnic Institute was renamed Riga Technical University. RTU continued to develop and grow, and it is now one of the leading technical universities in the Baltic region.

RTU has a rich history and a proud tradition of academic excellence.

Riga Technical University is ranked as the #1 top university in Latvia during 2025. This is the same rank as last year.