Heavyweights from the education sector on Thursday hailed Hong Kong’s position as an elite higher education hub, as local universities scaled new heights in major global ranking this year.
In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, released on Thursday, five Hong Kong universities secured positions in the top 100, with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) rising to 11th globally — the highest place obtained by a Chinese university in the ranking’s history.
Climbing six places year-on-year, HKU also holds the second-highest ranking among Asian universities on the list, second only to the eighth-ranked National University of Singapore (NUS), followed by Nanyang Technological University in 12th place, Peking University (14th), and Tsinghua University (17th).
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HKU President and Vice-Chancellor Zhang Xiang said the historic achievement affirmed the university’s emergence as a global elite institution committed to excellence, innovation, and support of national education strategies.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) rose four places to 32nd, its highest position since 2019. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) climbed three places to 44th, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) advanced to 54th, its best performance on the list, from 57th. City University of Hong Kong (CityU) dropped one place to 63rd.
Hong Kong Baptist University (BU) jumped from 252nd to a record 244th, and Lingnan University progressed from the 711-720 band last year to the 701-710 range.
The Education University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Metropolitan University made their debuts in the ranking, securing their places at 530th and in the 781-790 band respectively.
CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President Dennis Lo Yuk-ming pledged to keep enhanced academic and interdisciplinary excellence through strengthened global and Chinese mainland collaborations.
HKUST said in a statement that the result has reinforced its dedication to excellence in teaching, research, and global education while championing diversity and innovation.
PolyU President Teng Jinguang emphasized reinforcing worldwide partnerships to elevate the university’s global role, and HKBU expressed delight at entering the top 250 while pledging to leverage the ranking for academic enhancement.
Hong Kong’s tertiary education institutions stood out globally in internationalization metrics, scoring 98.8 for international faculty ratio, exceeding the global average of 36.3, with six universities ranking among the world’s top 50 in this indicator.
Local universities also showed marked progress in academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, and citations per faculty compared to last year.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been consistently ranked first worldwide since QS launched in 2012. Imperial College London and Stanford University ranked second and third respectively in the 2026 ranking.
Organized by the UK-based higher education research firm Quacquarelli Symonds, this year’s QS ranking marked the largest-ever assessment scope, which covered over 1,500 universities across 106 jurisdictions.
Hong Kong universities also performed strongly in other global rankings this year. In the Times Higher Education World University Impact Rankings, published on Wednesday, HKUST became the highest-ranking Chinese university by securing the 19th place worldwide. PolyU climbed from 77th to 56th this year, and BU moved from the 101-200 band to 69th.
Also on Tuesday, CUHK obtained 37th place in the global university ranking issued by US News & World Report, topping all local universities, followed by HKU in 44th place and CityU in 54th.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Education Bureau said the rankings are a testament to the unremitting efforts and continuous pursuit of excellence of Hong Kong’s higher education institutions reflecting the government’s long-term commitment to investing in education.
Ken Wong Kam-leung, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress, the national legislature, and chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, told China Daily that the rankings consolidate the city’s status as a leading hub for elite universities.
Wong said that Hong Kong’s international faculty and student ratios far exceed the global average level, underscoring the effectiveness of the government’s initiatives to build an international higher education hub through expanding capacity and enhancing quality.
As some Western countries have tightened visa policies for international students, Wong urged local universities to seize the chance to attract nonlocal students.
READ MORE: Chinese mainland universities 3rd best in latest QS rankings
Wong also called for actively recruiting more overseas scholars, accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis’s proposed university town to host renowned international institutions, and strengthening proactive outreach to global universities for academic partnerships.
Education sector lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung said that Hong Kong’s universities demonstrate genuine strength as an international education hub, with their rising influence reflected through their substantial ranking improvements.
He emphasized the need to leverage local and the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)’s innovation ecosystems to expand research collaborations.
Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com
