Hong Kong's higher education system has reached new heights in the latest QS World University Rankings, with five institutions placing among the top 100 globally and two breaking into the top 20 for the first time. The rankings, released on June 18, show the University of Hong Kong (HKU) maintaining its 11th position, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) surged 14 places to 18th. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 spots to 33rd, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University climbed four places to 50th, and City University of Hong Kong improved 11 places to 52nd.
QS noted in a press release that Hong Kong "emerges as Asia's most improved higher education system for the second consecutive year, and the second most improved globally among systems with three or more ranked universities." This achievement underscores the city's growing reputation as a premier education hub, supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's policy measures and investment.
A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said, "These achievements fully affirm the effectiveness of the HKSAR Government's steadfast investment in education and its full support through the University Grants Committee (UGC) for institutions to continuously innovate, optimise, expand capacity, and enhance quality." The spokesman added that the significant year-on-year rise in rankings validates Hong Kong's appeal as a hub for international high-end talent.
The rankings align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan's goal of building a leading nation in education, technology, and talent. To further strengthen the sector, the government has raised the admission ceiling for non-local students in taught programmes at funded institutions to 50%, and increased the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing places in funded research postgraduate programmes to 120%. The "Study in Hong Kong" brand is also being promoted, with the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong stepping up outreach on the Chinese Mainland and overseas, including expanding the Belt and Road Scholarship.
In the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings released days earlier, Hong Kong universities demonstrated exceptional competitiveness, with 20 subjects placing in the global top 10. Notably, CUHK, HKU, and the Education University of Hong Kong swept the top three spots for "Education and Educational Research." These results highlight the city's prowess in cultivating talent and conducting academic research.
The EDB spokesman emphasized that the stellar performance is not accidental, citing institutions' efforts to recruit world-class scholars and invest in infrastructure, alongside the government's stable resource investment, policy guidance, and rigorous quality assurance through University Accountability Agreements. The government will continue to promote internationalization and diversification of post-secondary education to enhance Hong Kong's development and contribute to national goals.
For more information about Hong Kong's education initiatives, visit Brand Hong Kong.
