The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has reached an unprecedented milestone, climbing to 11th place in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, announced by global higher education analytics organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on 19 June. This achievement marks the second consecutive year of record-breaking, following its rise to 17th globally in 2025. HKU has also solidified its position as a leading institution in Asia, ranking 2nd amongst Asian universities.
Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, said, "This historic achievement affirms HKU's emergence as a global elite institution, and exemplifies the relentless pursuit of excellence by the entire University community. As a leader in higher education, HKU actively promotes Hong Kong as a premier hub for global talent to study, innovate, and conduct research. HKU remains committed to excellence and innovation, and advancing its mission by actively supporting national strategies in developing our country into a leading nation in education. We extend our profound gratitude for the support of our nation, the HKSAR Government, the entire University community, and all of HKU's dedicated supporters."
HKU stands as a pivotal force driving the transformation and progress of Hong Kong, the nation, and the world. Over the past year, the University has achieved outstanding results in various international academic rankings, boasting the highest number of 53 Clarivate's most highly cited researchers in Hong Kong and securing the 10th position among global institutions in 2024. As a beacon of global excellence, HKU has welcomed over 120 distinguished international scholars from all over the world in 2024, solidifying its reputation as a global talent hub. Representing diverse backgrounds, these scholars underscore HKU's dedication to cultivating a multicultural and dynamic academic environment, further elevating Hong Kong's status as an international education hub.
The 2026 QS World University Rankings evaluated universities worldwide based on nine indicators including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, international student ratio, international research network, employment outcomes and sustainability.
