HKU held 11th and CUHK leapt to 18th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, as Hong Kong was named Asia’s most improved higher-education system for the second year running
For the first time ever, two Hong Kong universities are ranked in the world’s top 20
Article by:
PUBLISHED:
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have earned spots among the world’s top 20 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, making it the first time that two Hong Kong tertiary institutions have achieved such a result together.
HKU maintained its position in 11th place for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, CUHK was in 18th place, up by 14 spots year-on-year.
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the UK-based higher education analyst firm responsible for the rankings, stated that the inclusion of universities such as CUHK into the world’s top 20 indicated “growing dynamism among institutions just outside the elite tier.”
QS also named Hong Kong’s higher education system the most improved in Asia for the second year running. Seven of the city’s 10 ranked universities rose, two held their positions and none fell.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) saw its ranking rise from 44 in 2026 to 33 in 2027. Similarly, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) rose to 50th place (+4 spots), 52nd place (+11 spots) and 216th place (+28 spots) respectively.
[See more: The top 4 universities in the Greater Bay Area, ranked (2026)]
Other local institutions to gain ground included the Education University of Hong Kong (406th, +124) and Lingnan University (581st, +134). Hong Kong Metropolitan University held its 781–790 band, while Hong Kong Shue Yan University was a new entry, placing in the 1001–1200 band.
In neighbouring Macao, the University of Macau (UM) saw its position rise by 18 spots, from 285th place in 2026 to 267th place in 2027. As well, the rankings of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) jumped to 398th, with the City University of Macau being featured on the list for the first time this year, placing 1001-1200.
By contrast, the Macao Polytechnic University’s (MPU) ranking fell to 951-1000 from 901-950 a year earlier.
Worldwide, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) remained at the top for the 15th straight year. The Imperial College London and Stanford University were tied for second place, while the University of Oxford was positioned in fourth place.
“The US still leads global higher education, though the map is shifting as institutions across Asia and the Middle East translate strong investment into measurable gains,” the senior vice president of QS, Ben Sowter said.
He added that there were “mixed” results in Europe, where “emerging systems” were making gains in terms of reputation, with other schools exhibiting “signs of stagnation.”
