Hong Kong universities have reached new heights in the 2027 QS World University Rankings, with five institutions securing positions among the top 100 and two breaking into the top 20 for the first time, according to results released on June 18. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held steady at 11th place globally, while The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) climbed 14 spots to 18th, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 places to 33rd. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University advanced four places to 50th, entering the top 50 for the first time, and City University of Hong Kong improved 11 places to 52nd.
A spokesman for Hong Kong's Education Bureau (EDB) attributed the success to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's commitment to developing Hong Kong into an education hub, supported by policy measures and stable investment. QS noted in a press release 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."
The strong performance extends beyond QS rankings. In the latest Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report, multiple Hong Kong universities demonstrated exceptional international competitiveness, with 20 subjects ranking in the global top 10. Notably, CUHK, HKU, and The Education University of Hong Kong swept the top three spots for "Education and Educational Research."
"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 EDB spokesman said. He emphasized that the stellar performance relies on institutions' efforts to recruit world-class scholars and invest in infrastructure, alongside the Government's stable resource investment, supportive policy guidance, and rigorous quality assurance through University Accountability Agreements.
The Government has implemented measures to support the post-secondary education sector, including 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%. Additionally, the "Study in Hong Kong" brand is being promoted through the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, which collaborates with major institutions to highlight Hong Kong's academic and research resources on the Chinese Mainland and overseas, and to attract talent via initiatives such as the Belt and Road Scholarship.
These developments align with the strategic goals of the National 15th Five-Year Plan to build a leading nation in education, technology, and talent. The Government aims to further internationalize and diversify post-secondary education, enhancing Hong Kong's development momentum and contributing to the nation's progress.
