Hong Kong's higher education system has achieved a historic milestone, with five universities ranking among the world's top 100 and two entering the top 20 for the first time in the 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, released on June 18. The achievement cements Hong Kong's status as a leading education hub in Asia and globally, according to the Education Bureau (EDB).
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) maintained its 11th position globally, while The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) rose 14 places to 18th. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology climbed 11 spots to 33rd, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University moved up four places to 50th, entering the top 50 for the first time. City University of Hong Kong also improved, rising 11 places to 52nd. QS noted 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."
An EDB spokesman attributed the success to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's commitment to developing the city into an education hub, supported by policy measures and investment through the University Grants Committee (UGC). The spokesman said, "These achievements fully affirm the effectiveness of the HKSAR Government's steadfast investment in education and its full support... for institutions to continuously innovate, optimise, expand capacity, and enhance quality."
The strong performance extends beyond QS rankings. In the latest Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Hong Kong universities placed 20 subjects in the global top 10, with CUHK, HKU, and The Education University of Hong Kong sweeping the top three spots for "Education and Educational Research."
The EDB spokesman highlighted that the stellar results are no accident, relying on institutions' efforts to recruit world-class scholars and invest in infrastructure, as well as the government's stable resource investment and policy guidance through University Accountability Agreements. The government aims to promote internationalisation and diversification of post-secondary education, contributing to national development goals outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan to build a leading nation in education, technology, and talent.
Measures to support the sector include raising the admission ceiling for non-local students in taught programmes at funded institutions to 50% and increasing the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing places in research postgraduate programmes to 120%. The government is also promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand and expanding the Belt and Road Scholarship to attract global talent.
For more information, visit the Brand Hong Kong website.
