Hong Kong has four universities in the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with Chinese University breaking into the top 20 and Polytechnic University reaching the top 50 for the first time.
The University of Hong Kong leads the city’s institutions in 11th place globally, placing it second in Asia in the world rankings.
The 2027 edition was released on 18 June 2026.
CUHK makes history
The Chinese University of Hong Kong climbed 14 places from 32nd to 18th, securing its first appearance in the global top 20.
CUHK reported improvements in several ranking indicators, including employer reputation, its international research network and the ratio of students to faculty. It also retained a full score for its international faculty ratio.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ranks 33rd globally.
PolyU reaches the top 50
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University takes 50th place, its highest position to date.
The result puts PolyU alongside HKU, CUHK and HKUST among the world’s top 50 universities.
City University of Hong Kong follows closely in joint 52nd place, giving the city five institutions in the global top 100.
Hong Kong’s eight universities at a glance
| University | QS world rank 2027 |
|---|---|
| The University of Hong Kong | 11 |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong | 18 |
| The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | 33 |
| The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | 50 |
| City University of Hong Kong | =52 |
| Hong Kong Baptist University | 216 |
| The Education University of Hong Kong | =406 |
| Lingnan University | =581 |
An equals sign indicates a joint ranking.
What students should take from the results
The rankings give prospective students a useful starting point for comparing institutions.
Choosing a university also means looking closely at the course, entry requirements, tuition fees, accommodation and the kind of campus experience on offer. An institution’s overall world ranking does not establish which programme will suit an individual student best.
