CityUHK soars to 7th in QS Asia University Rankings 2026 – ranks third in Hong Kong Leads in eight key indicators in Hong Kong; tops Asia in three categories

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has achieved a significant milestone by securing seventh spot in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2026, up from 10th place last year, while retaining its position as the third-ranked university in Hong Kong among 1,526 ranked institutions. CityUHK continues to rank in the top 1% of Asian universities. Additionally, CityUHK has received two awards for two consecutive years at the QS Asia University Rankings award presentation ceremony, making it one of the three universities in Asia to receive the most champions awards, cementing the University’s leading position in global higher education.

CityUHK excelled across multiple indicators, achieving perfect scores in “Staff with PhD”, “International Faculty”, “International Students”, “Outbound Exchange Students” and “Inbound Exchange Students”. Notably, the University topped Asia in “International Faculty”, “Outbound Exchange Students” and “Inbound Exchange Students”.

Furthermore, CityUHK led Hong Kong in eight indicators, including “Citations per Paper” and “International Students”. It has led Hong Kong for five consecutive years in six key metrics: “Faculty Student Ratio”, “Staff with PhD”, “Papers per Faculty”, “International Faculty”, “Outbound Exchange Students” and “Inbound Exchange Students”. These achievements showcase the University’s academic, research and innovation prowess across Asia and globally. 

Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor of CityUHK, said, “CityUHK’s international rankings have risen steadily in recent years, consistently placing in the global top 100 across major rankings. This year’s leap to seventh in Asia and third in Hong Kong underscores our steady progress in academic research and commitment to innovative excellence.”

“CityUHK will continue to lead global higher education by fostering international exchanges and collaboration, attracting top talent and nurturing future leaders with a global vision,” added Professor Boey. “We will continue to contribute to the ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand and solidify Hong Kong’s position as a higher education hub in Asia and beyond.”

CityUHK offers a diverse and international academic environment, providing global exploration opportunities for students and faculty from all over the world. It has actively expanded its global footprint through partnerships with top universities in China, Europe, and Belt and Road countries, driving academic and research collaboration.

Additionally, CityUHK received the “Learning Experience Champions” and the “Research and Discovery Champions” at the QS Asia University Rankings award presentation ceremony, making it the University in Hong Kong with the most champions awards and ranking alongside Peking University and Tsinghua University as one of the three universities in Asia receiving the most champions awards this year.

The “Learning Experience Champions” recognises institutions with outstanding teaching quality, evaluated based on metrics such as “Faculty Student Ratio” and “Staff with PhD”. The “Research and Discovery Champions” honours institutions excelling in academic research, assessed through indicators including “Academic Reputation”, “Citations per Paper” and “Papers per Faculty”.

CityUHK’s repeated international recognition reflects its commitment to innovative learning and fostering an open environment for scholars to focus on groundbreaking research, with achievements that visibly benefit society.

In addition, CityUHK’s team also joined the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025 held in Seoul, South Korea, to share their insights on higher education and their areas of expertise with scholars and higher education partners from around the world.

Professor Shirley Chong, Director of the Communications and Institutional Research Office at CityUHK, joined a fireside chat with Ms Allison Ridge, Global Director of Marketing at QS, to share CityUHK’s experience as a young and rising global university and how strategic branding and marketing strategies drive collaboration and leadership engagement, creating a cycle where reputation and brand reinforce each other.

CityUHK also hosted a roundtable discussion on how AI is transforming communication and society. The discussion kicked off with a presentation by Professor Christine Huang Yi-hui, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Media and Communication at CityUHK, who explained that students, educators, industry partners, and AI must collaborate to transform AI from a technological tool into a shared ecosystem of learning, innovation, and responsibility.

The session was moderated by Professor Edmund Lee Wai Jian, Associate Professor of the Department of Media and Communication at CityUHK, and joined by leading scholars from the field of media and communications, including Professor Jeong Se-Hoon, Professor at the College of Media and Communication at Korea University; Professor Kim Jeong-Nam, KAIST Chair Professor at the KAIST Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy; Professor Namkee Park, Professor of the Department of Communication and Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism, Media & Communication at Yonsei University; and Dr Lee Jiyoung, Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Media and Communication at Sungkyunkwan University. The experts shared their findings on how AI is redefining learning across higher education, and advised on their strategies to best utilise AI while encouraging students to think critically.

In addition to being named the “Most International University in the World” by the Times Higher Education (THE) for two consecutive years, CityUHK is also the second university in Hong Kong to be placed in the top 100 in all four major international university rankings, including:

• Ranked 75th globally in the 2026 THE World University Rankings, achieving a new historical high;
• Ranked 54th in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings, marking a significant rise
• Entered the top 100 for the first time in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, placing 99th globally and second in Hong Kong, becoming the second university in Hong Kong to reach the top 100 since the ranking’s establishment in 2003; and
• Ranked 63rd in the 2026 QS World University Rankings.

For more information regarding the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, please refer to the Appendix.