CityUHK welcomes new students: Non-local student admissions reach a near 10-year high
A new academic year and a new beginning bring endless possibilities. City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), named the Most International University in the World by Times Higher Education for three consecutive years (2024–2026), has admitted more than 1,000 international students this year, marking a near 10-year high. Together with nearly 700 international exchange students and more than 3,000 local students, this further enriches CityUHK’s diverse and international campus, bringing fresh energy to the new academic year.
CityUHK's orientation activities kicked off with the University Welcoming Ceremony on 28 August. Professor Chun-Sing Lee, Acting President of CityUHK, joined University management, deans of colleges and schools, and more than 1,000 new students at the ceremony. In his address, Professor Lee highlighted that CityUHK brings together faculty and staff from more than 40 countries and students from nearly 100 countries. He encouraged new students to seize every opportunity to broaden their horizons through conversations and friendships, and to actively engage in campus life, expressing his hope that they would become globally minded, compassionate and socially responsible leaders.
CityUHK continues to attract outstanding students from around the world this academic year. In addition to international students from countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, this year’s student intake also spans the Chinese Mainland, Belt and Road countries, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, including Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam and Egypt. This diversity vividly demonstrates CityUHK’s unique appeal as a university rooted in Hong Kong, supported by the motherland and connected to the world.
CityUHK actively supports the HKSAR Government’s efforts to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand by expanding collaboration with Belt and Road countries and taking a forward-looking approach to engagement with Central Asia. It is also the first university in Hong Kong to establish a partnership with Kazakhstan. For four consecutive years, CityUHK has had the highest enrolment of Kazakhstan students among local universities. Professor the Honourable Michael Ngai, Chairman of the Council, is pleased to see the continued significant growth in the number of students from Kazakhstan. He said, “CityUHK has been named the Most International University in the World for three consecutive years, and Kazakhstan is one of our most successful partners. We currently have more than 200 students from Kazakhstan, including over 90 new students this year. It is encouraging to see this community thriving, and I believe that when they return home after graduation, they will become some of the best ambassadors for Hong Kong and CityUHK.”
In addition to promoting international exchange, CityUHK is committed to supporting the holistic development of its students. The University has launched the Student Athletes Admission Scheme (SAAS) since 1997 and introduced the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA) in the 2022/23 academic year to admit outstanding athletes and support them in pursuing their academic and sporting aspirations simultaneously.
This academic year, CityUHK has welcomed 19 elite student-athletes through SALSA, including:
• Tsui Yik-ki, a member of the Hong Kong, China swimming team, who is studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration. He broke the Hong Kong record in the men's 50m breaststroke and won the same event at 2026 Thailand Age Group Swimming Championships;
• Chelsie Lam, a member of the Hong Kong, China swimming team, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts. At the competition mentioned above, she set two Hong Kong age-group records for swimmers aged 15 to 17 and won gold medals in the women's 100m and 200m breaststroke events; and
• Chau Ngai-long, a member of the Hong Kong, China taekwondo team, who is studying for a Bachelor of Arts. He won gold in the 54kg category at the Vietnam Taekwondo Open in July this year, propelling him to third place in the world rankings.
The two schemes have admitted approximately 1,750 student-athletes to date and have nurtured many outstanding athletes over the years. They include renowned karate athlete Grace Lau Mo-sheung, a recent recipient of the 9th CityUHK Distinguished Alumni Award; Hong Kong, China men’s table tennis team member Baldwin Chan Ho-wah; and Hong Kong, China foil team member Lam Ho-long.
To help new students fully integrate into and adapt to university life, CityUHK has organised a series of orientation activities. For example, University Life Induction Day 2026, which introduces support services covering areas such as scholarships and career planning. In addition, more than 50 booths run by student societies and interest groups encourage new students to explore their interests and immerse themselves in the University's vibrant campus life.
CityUHK has also organised a welcoming session and campus tour specifically for international students to help them become familiar with the campus environment and foster cross-cultural exchange. Prayer rooms and restaurants serving halal food are available on campus to cater for the needs of students and staff of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
CityUHK’s high-quality teaching environment and international character have significantly enhanced its appeal. For the 2026/27 academic year, CityUHK received more than 140,000 applications through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), ranking first among the eight UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong in terms of both the total number of applications and Band A applications. The average admission scores of admitted students also increased compared with last year, further demonstrating CityUHK’s continued appeal to outstanding students.
For more information about admissions to CityUHK, please visit the CityUHK admissions website: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/admissions
Media enquiries:
Sunny Liu, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 9322)
Winnie Li, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 5221)
CityUHK's orientation activities kicked off with the University Welcoming Ceremony on 28 August. Professor Chun-Sing Lee, Acting President of CityUHK, joined University management, deans of colleges and schools, and more than 1,000 new students at the ceremony. In his address, Professor Lee highlighted that CityUHK brings together faculty and staff from more than 40 countries and students from nearly 100 countries. He encouraged new students to seize every opportunity to broaden their horizons through conversations and friendships, and to actively engage in campus life, expressing his hope that they would become globally minded, compassionate and socially responsible leaders.
CityUHK continues to attract outstanding students from around the world this academic year. In addition to international students from countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, this year’s student intake also spans the Chinese Mainland, Belt and Road countries, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, including Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam and Egypt. This diversity vividly demonstrates CityUHK’s unique appeal as a university rooted in Hong Kong, supported by the motherland and connected to the world.
CityUHK actively supports the HKSAR Government’s efforts to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand by expanding collaboration with Belt and Road countries and taking a forward-looking approach to engagement with Central Asia. It is also the first university in Hong Kong to establish a partnership with Kazakhstan. For four consecutive years, CityUHK has had the highest enrolment of Kazakhstan students among local universities. Professor the Honourable Michael Ngai, Chairman of the Council, is pleased to see the continued significant growth in the number of students from Kazakhstan. He said, “CityUHK has been named the Most International University in the World for three consecutive years, and Kazakhstan is one of our most successful partners. We currently have more than 200 students from Kazakhstan, including over 90 new students this year. It is encouraging to see this community thriving, and I believe that when they return home after graduation, they will become some of the best ambassadors for Hong Kong and CityUHK.”
In addition to promoting international exchange, CityUHK is committed to supporting the holistic development of its students. The University has launched the Student Athletes Admission Scheme (SAAS) since 1997 and introduced the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA) in the 2022/23 academic year to admit outstanding athletes and support them in pursuing their academic and sporting aspirations simultaneously.
This academic year, CityUHK has welcomed 19 elite student-athletes through SALSA, including:
• Tsui Yik-ki, a member of the Hong Kong, China swimming team, who is studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration. He broke the Hong Kong record in the men's 50m breaststroke and won the same event at 2026 Thailand Age Group Swimming Championships;
• Chelsie Lam, a member of the Hong Kong, China swimming team, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts. At the competition mentioned above, she set two Hong Kong age-group records for swimmers aged 15 to 17 and won gold medals in the women's 100m and 200m breaststroke events; and
• Chau Ngai-long, a member of the Hong Kong, China taekwondo team, who is studying for a Bachelor of Arts. He won gold in the 54kg category at the Vietnam Taekwondo Open in July this year, propelling him to third place in the world rankings.
The two schemes have admitted approximately 1,750 student-athletes to date and have nurtured many outstanding athletes over the years. They include renowned karate athlete Grace Lau Mo-sheung, a recent recipient of the 9th CityUHK Distinguished Alumni Award; Hong Kong, China men’s table tennis team member Baldwin Chan Ho-wah; and Hong Kong, China foil team member Lam Ho-long.
To help new students fully integrate into and adapt to university life, CityUHK has organised a series of orientation activities. For example, University Life Induction Day 2026, which introduces support services covering areas such as scholarships and career planning. In addition, more than 50 booths run by student societies and interest groups encourage new students to explore their interests and immerse themselves in the University's vibrant campus life.
CityUHK has also organised a welcoming session and campus tour specifically for international students to help them become familiar with the campus environment and foster cross-cultural exchange. Prayer rooms and restaurants serving halal food are available on campus to cater for the needs of students and staff of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
CityUHK’s high-quality teaching environment and international character have significantly enhanced its appeal. For the 2026/27 academic year, CityUHK received more than 140,000 applications through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), ranking first among the eight UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong in terms of both the total number of applications and Band A applications. The average admission scores of admitted students also increased compared with last year, further demonstrating CityUHK’s continued appeal to outstanding students.
For more information about admissions to CityUHK, please visit the CityUHK admissions website: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/admissions
Sunny Liu, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 9322)
Winnie Li, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 5221)