CityUHK ranks first in THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 in Hong Kong, soars to 3rd in Asia and 11th in the world

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has claimed the top spot in Hong Kong, 3rd in Asia and 11th globally in the latest “Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026”, in association with Schmidt Science Fellows, marking a historic achievement. CityUHK also secured the top position globally in the “Inputs” category among the three pillars of the rankings.

Following an impressive debut last year, CityUHK has advanced further, rising from 2nd in Hong Kong, 8th in Asia and 25th globally to 1st in Hong Kong, 3rd in Asia and 11th globally. This remarkable achievement underscores the University’s leadership in academic and research excellence across Hong Kong, China, Asia and the world, while highlighting its outstanding achievements in promoting research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

The rankings evaluated 911 universities worldwide, assessing their performance in various stages of research projects under three key pillars: “Inputs” (funding), “Process” (measures of success, physical facilities, administrative support, and promotion process) and “Outputs” (number and proportion of publications, research quality, and reputation). CityUHK excelled in the “Inputs” category, securing the top position globally, which underscores the University’s proactive commitment to allocating resources and funding to support interdisciplinary research initiatives.

According to THE, CityUHK — the best-ranked institution in Hong Kong — has risen from 25th to 11th place in the rankings. This remarkable progress is attributed to its internal funding structures, which have enabled substantial investment in interdisciplinary research projects, as well as structured partnerships offices that focus on human capital for interdisciplinary research centres and projects.

Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor of CityUHK, stated that interdisciplinary collaboration was set to become a prevailing trend in global higher education. He added that CityUHK would continue to foster interdisciplinary cooperation among diverse scientific disciplines and facilitate interaction between industry, academic researchers and investors.

“CityUHK’s historic top position in Hong Kong in these Interdisciplinary Science Rankings validates our unwavering ambition to become a world-class institution and affirms the relentless pursuit of excellence by the CityUHK community on the international stage,” said President Boey. “We will continue to lead global higher education by promoting cross-regional and interdisciplinary academic and research efforts to nurture outstanding talent and drive breakthrough discoveries.”

Top 5 universities in Asia in the rankings:

CityUHK has long been a strong advocate for interdisciplinary scientific research, adopting an open and collaborative approach that encourages scholars from its Colleges and Schools to share research outcomes. Through the establishment of multiple institutes and colleges—including the CityUHK Academy of Innovation, the Institute of Digital Medicine, the Hong Kong Institute of AI for Science, the Institute for Materials Innovation, and the Institute of Future Learning—CityUHK has created a conducive environment for interdisciplinary development, equipping students and researchers with innovative mindsets to address global issues and challenges.

CityUHK scholars have achieved remarkable academic success and widespread international recognition. Recently, 29 CityUHK scholars were named Highly Cited Researchers 2025 by Clarivate, leading Hong Kong in the proportion of listed faculty for the tenth consecutive year. Additionally, CityUHK is the second university in Hong Kong to rank in the top 100 across all four major international university rankings. This includes a recent surge to 7th in Asia in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2026, further affirming CityUHK’s leading position in global higher education.

Read the original news