According to the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2025, RGUHS ranks 1,839th out of 21,462 universities worldwide, placing it in the top ~8.6% globally; nationally it stands at #54 in India with a research rank around 1,771
World Ranking of RGUHS (Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences)
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, is one of the major and specialized universities in India dealing only with health sciences. It has come to be one of the biggest health sciences universities in Asia, serving thousands of students in a wide range of fields like medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, Ayurvedic science, and many more. Although RGUHS is well known at the national level, its world ranking is also becoming prominent step by step, particularly among scholars and researchers.
World Ranking Overview
As of 2025, RGUHS is ranked #1,839 globally by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). This puts it in the top 8.6% of over 20,000 worldwide universities. Locally in India, RGUHS is ranked approx. #54, indicating its strong presence in the country’s higher education system. Its research ranking is also impressive at #1,771, indicating its increasing output in medical and healthcare-based research publications.
This is according to a number of important performance metrics such as education quality, post-graduation employment of alumni, faculty awards, and research productivity. RGUHS excels in research, particularly in life sciences, healthcare services, clinical medicine, and traditional Indian medicine such as Ayurveda and Homeopathy.
Rankings on Other Platforms
Other institutional and educational ranking agencies give very similar global ranks for RGUHS based on different methods:
EduRank positions RGUHS at around #3,371 globally and about #210 in India. The ranking is based on the quantity and influence of scholarly publications, citation rates, and web presence.
IONS University Rankings put RGUHS at about #3,771 globally, with a national ranking of about #218. The concentration here is somewhat broader, encompassing campus life, student-faculty ratio, infrastructure, and alumni opinion.
It should be noted that these variations in rankings are due to the varied metrics utilized. While CWUR and EduRank give more emphasis to research and scholarly contributions, IONS incorporates more qualitative and student-centric factors.
Though RGUHS does not yet measure up to Ivy League universities or the world’s premier universities like Harvard or Oxford, it is a specialized university with a good reputation for health sciences. Being in the top 10% of the world’s universities—particularly in a specialized field—demonstrates its relevance and possible future global recognition.
Additionally, RGUHS‘s research ranking is also an important badge of honor. It indicates the university’s work in promoting scholarly publications, having international medical conferences, supporting Ph.D. programs, and interdisciplinary cooperation among its affiliated institutions.
Factors Responsible for the Ranking of RGUHS
- Sizable Affiliation Network
RGUHS administers over 700 affiliated health science colleges scattered all over Karnataka. This huge network adds to its academic presence and significantly to its production in terms of graduates, research articles, and professional development.
- Specialized Research Output
The university releases a high number of publications in the form of research articles through its schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Ayurveda, and Allied Health Sciences. These are indexed in prominent medical journals worldwide, enhancing the research score of the university.
- Digital Infrastructure and Online Learning
The HELINET (Health Sciences Library and Information Network) Digital Library of RGUHS has access to thousands of journals and books, which keeps students and researchers abreast of the latest in world medical sciences.
- System of Standardized Curriculum and Examinations
By presenting a uniform curriculum and standardized examination system among its affiliated institutions, RGUHS sustains a high level of education. This scholarly rigor indirectly adds to its international academic reputation.
- Varied Health Science Courses
RGUHS provides undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and fellowship programs in more than 30 varied health science courses. The scope and variety of such programs provide a steady supply of talented healthcare professionals, both nationally and internationally.
Even with its accomplishments, RGUHS has some weaknesses that impact its global ranking:
Small number of international collaborations in relation to top-ranked universities.
Low international student intake due to emphasis solely on domestic admissions.
Moderate visibility in areas other than health-related research.
Less weight on liberal arts or inter-disciplinary topics, which are usually covered in global rankings.
The world ranking of RGUHS speaks volumes of its dedication to delivering outstanding education and healthcare-related research. Ranked in the top 10% of the world’s universities and the top 60 within India, RGUHS goes from strength to strength as it increases its presence in medical sciences through strict academic rigor, an extensive network of affiliated colleges, and an increasing number of high-impact research.
With the increasing need for trained healthcare workers around the world, institutions such as RGUHS are taking center stage in determining the future of medicine and allied sciences in India and the world at large. With continued investments in digital resources, infrastructure, and research capability, the global ranking of RGUHS shall further improve in subsequent years. For scholars and students in pursuit of quality education in health sciences, RGUHS is a reliable and nationally renowned choice with growing international significance.
History of RGUHS
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences was founded by the Karnataka Government in the form of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Act of 1994. The reason behind its establishment was to integrate all of Karnataka‘s health science colleges and institutions into one platform to maintain uniformity in education, standards, and research techniques. The university was established on June 1, 1996.
Earlier, various medical, dental, and paramedical colleges in Karnataka were affiliated with various universities, which created inconsistencies in curriculum, examinations, and academic standards. The establishment of RGUHS established a centralized academic authority for all health science education throughout the state.
The university was named after Rajiv Gandhi, the late Prime Minister of India, who had set his vision for developing education and healthcare in India. Right from its incorporation, RGUHS has been instrumental in regulating medical education and fostering research in Karnataka and India as a whole.
In its early years, RGUHS started with affiliations to a few medical and dental colleges. Over the past two decades, it has expanded its network to over 700 affiliated institutions, making it the largest health sciences university in India. It governs colleges that offer education in modern medicine, traditional Indian systems (like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani), allied health sciences, nursing, pharmacy, and more.
With an aim to impart quality health sciences education, RGUHS formed various academic bodies to plan curricula, oversee academic performance, and foster research. The university also made investments in learning technologies, especially its HELINET digital library that has access to thousands of medical resources and journals.
RGUHS has, over the years, earned a reputation not merely for excellence in its academic programs but also for its contribution to upgrading public health standards through research and extension activities. It works closely with numerous government organizations, research centers, and healthcare organizations to keep its education practical, contemporary, and relevant to society.
