Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A spokesman for the Education Bureau said today (June 18) that with the Government’s full commitment to developing Hong Kong into an education hub, coupled with the support of a series of policy measures, the city’s higher education system has again excelled. According to the latest 2027 World University Rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), an international higher education institution, the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) have achieved outstanding results, with five of them maintaining their positions among the world’s top 100.
While the University of Hong Kong has continued to hold its position at 11th in the world, the overall rankings of the other seven UGC-funded universities have all risen significantly compared to last year, which is highly encouraging. Notably, the Chinese University of Hong Kong rose 14 places to 18th. This represents the first time that two Hong Kong universities rank in the global top 20. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 places to 33rd, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University climbed four places to 50th, entering the world’s top 50 for the first time. These exciting achievements not only fully recognise the unremitting efforts of Hong Kong’s post-secondary education sector to strive for excellence, but also bear testimony again to the significant progress made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub, as well as nurturing and attracting top-notch talent.
The spokesman said, “These achievements fully affirm the effectiveness of the HKSAR Government’s steadfast investment in education and its full support through the UGC for institutions to continuously innovate, optimise, expand capacity, and enhance quality. The significant year-on-year rise in the overall rankings of our institutions further validates Hong Kong’s strong appeal as a premier hub for international high-end talent. The stellar performance of UGC-funded universities in the international rankings is by no means accidental. On one hand, it relies on the tireless efforts of all institutions to actively recruit world-class scholars and invest in infrastructure. On the other hand, the HKSAR Government’s stable resource investment, clear and supportive policy guidance, as well as the rigorous quality assurance implemented through the University Accountability Agreements, are also of paramount importance.”
The HKSAR Government has been working closely with the higher education sector. Through the 2025-28 triennium, a crucial bridge has been built to align national strategies, Hong Kong’s needs, and university development. Universities are also encouraged to review and launch programmes in response to government policy guidance, market demands, and industry trends, providing students with appropriate curricula to cope with future societal changes. In the 2025-28 triennium, UGC-funded universities have introduced a total of 27 new undergraduate programmes related to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and the ‘eight centres’, covering fields such as AI, creative industries, and data science, thereby creating opportunities for young people to give full play to their strengths. The Government will continue to promote the internationalisation and diversification of post-secondary education, which aims to not only enhance Hong Kong’s development momentum but also make proactive contributions to the nation’s development.
The spokesman continued, “This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The formidable strength demonstrated by Hong Kong’s higher education system aligns perfectly with the strategic goals set out in the National 15th Five-Year Plan to build a leading nation in education, technology, and talent. In recent years, the HKSAR Government has introduced a number of forward-looking measures to attract global talent across the board, while continuously optimising the ecosystem for nurturing local talent.”
Hong Kong’s high-quality higher education has always been very popular among students from different places. In the 2025/26 academic year the eight funded universities hosted over 30 000 non-local students from more than 100 countries or regions, representing a year-on-year increase of about 14 per cent compared to the 2024/25 academic year (Note). To support the post-secondary education sector to grow bigger and stronger, the Government has raised the admission ceiling for non-local students in taught programmes at funded post-secondary institutions to 50 per cent, and increased the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing places in funded research postgraduate programmes to 120 per cent, among other measures.
In terms of scientific research, the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the UGC offers more than 20 research grants, distinguished scholar schemes, and fellowship programmes, funding over 1 500 new projects annually. Furthermore, a new round of the Research Matching Grant Scheme with $1.5 billion in funding was launched in 2025, and the RGC Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme was newly introduced this year to further foster a vibrant research environment.
Concurrently, the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, comprising various HKSAR Government bureaux and departments, has fully commenced its work. In collaboration with major institutions, the Task Force is stepping up promotion of Hong Kong’s excellent academic, research, and international collaboration resources on the Chinese Mainland and overseas. It also aims to attract outstanding talent from all over the world through initiatives such as expanding the Belt and Road Scholarship.
To support universities in strengthening their promotion of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, the UGC has allocated approximately $40 million in the 2025-28 triennium to the Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation, which comprises the eight UGC-funded universities, to organise and participate in various activities to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand globally.
The spokesman concluded, “Under the grand blueprint of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong’s higher education is on course to usher in an unprecedented golden period of opportunity. We will continue to leverage the unique advantages of Hong Kong’s highly internationalised and diversified post-secondary education, support institutions in building world-class universities and disciplines, and deepen Hong Kong’s role as an international education hub. While integrating into the overall development of the country, we will continue to shine on the global stage.”
Note: these are provisional figures