VER 2026: CU CONFIRMS THE OUTSTANDING QUALITY OF ITS RESEARCH
Bratislava, 19 June 2026: Comenius University Bratislava (CU) has confirmed its position as one of the most important research institutions in Slovakia. In the VER 2026 periodic assessment of research, development, artistic and other creative activity, CU recorded a 145% increase in the quality of its research and artistic activity compared with the previous assessment in 2022.
The VER 2026 assessment, conducted by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, evaluated creative outputs, the societal impact of research and the quality of the creative environment. The assessment involved 169 independent international experts from 23 countries, who evaluated Slovak public higher education institutions and public research institutions.
CU’s result is significantly above the national average increase in quality, which, according to available data, stood at approximately 40%. The university has thus built on its long-standing tradition of high-quality research and confirmed that its scientific and artistic outputs are of growing international significance.
“The results of the VER 2026 assessment confirm that Comenius University is one of the key pillars of Slovak science. We see them both as recognition of the work of our researchers and as a commitment to further strengthening the quality of research, its societal impact and international cooperation,” said CU Rector Marek Števček.
The university saw a marked improvement in the quality of its outputs particularly in law, psychology, medicine, pharmacy and the natural sciences. Under VER 2026’s new criterion assessing the societal and practical impact of research, international experts gave the highest marks to the links between hospital practice and university research at CU’s medical faculties and Faculty of Pharmacy. The Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of CU also confirmed its strong research performance and high-quality research environment. It received the highest score for excellence in scientific publications, with more than 50% of its papers reaching the highest international standard, and it also performed strongly thanks to its well-established doctoral schools.
“The results of the assessment clearly show that the strength of our faculties lies not only in the sheer volume of top-level publications, but above all in their tangible contribution to society. It is clear that the high quality of our academic environment enables us to involve young researchers effectively in international projects while they are still studying, successfully linking top-level science with the training of a new generation of experts,” said Jozef Masarik, CU Vice-Rector for Science and Doctoral Studies.
CU among the leaders of excellent science in Slovakia
The VER 2026 assessment does not create a single simplified ranking, but quality profiles in 28 research areas. CU’s results demonstrate the university’s strength across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from the humanities and social sciences to the natural sciences and mathematics. The university is also among the institutions that make a significant contribution to the overall quality of Slovakia’s research environment.
The results of VER 2026 will also be an important basis for funding research and artistic activity at public higher education institutions. For the public, applicants for study and university partners, they provide a more transparent picture of the quality of Slovak research institutions.