Hong Kong's higher education system has achieved a historic milestone, with five universities securing positions among the world's top 100 and two breaking into the top 20 for the first time in the 2027 QS World University Rankings, released on June 18. The results underscore the city's emergence as Asia's most improved higher education system for the second consecutive year, according to QS.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) maintained its 11th place globally, while The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) surged 14 spots to 18th. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 places to 33rd, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University climbed four places to 50th, entering the world's top 50 for the first time. City University of Hong Kong also improved, moving up 11 spots to 52nd.
A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) attributed the success to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's steadfast investment in education and supportive policy measures. “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 said.
The rankings align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan's strategic goals to build a leading nation in education, technology, and talent. The government has raised the admission ceiling for non-local students in taught programmes to 50% and increased the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing places in research postgraduate programmes to 120%.
In the latest Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Hong Kong universities also excelled, with 20 subjects in the global top 10. Notably, CUHK, HKU, and The Education University of Hong Kong occupied the top three spots for “Education and Educational Research.”
The government is promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand through the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, which collaborates with institutions to attract top talent via initiatives like the Belt and Road Scholarship. For more information, visit the Brand Hong Kong website.
