Chinese University of Hong Kong enters top 20 in QS World University rankings

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) ranks 18th globally, entering the global top 20 for the first time. This milestone reflects significant improvements across key indicators, including employer reputation, international research network, and international student ratio, while retaining a full score in international faculty ratio.

CUHK's academic rigour is further recognised in the 2026–27 best global universities rankings by U.S. News and World Report, where it ranks 28th globally and 5th in Asia, remaining Hong Kong's top university for the fourth consecutive year.

The University features 15 subjects in the global top 50, including five in the top 10, such as education and educational research (#1), gastroenterology and hepatology (#2), computer science (#7), arts and humanities and artificial intelligence (both ranked #9).

CUHK provides an exceptional environment for impactful research, supported by around 300 research institutes and centres, alongside four state key laboratories approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China.

Reflecting on the academic environment, Zhamilya Zhirenova, a PhD student in biomedical science from Kazakhstan, has deepened her expertise through her involvement with the Centre for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM), an InnoHK research centre CUHK established with Sweden's Karolinska Institutet.

Zhamilya gained extensive experience at Hong Kong Science Park, a dynamic setting that closely resembles industry. For researchers with ambitions beyond academia, such early exposure to the pace and expectations of the biotech industry provides a distinct advantage.

"It feels more like an industrial company and that experience has been invaluable," Zhamilya said.

Many of CUHK's scholars are globally renowned experts who have made significant breakthroughs in their respective fields. These experts provide valuable mentorship, cultivating an intellectually stimulating environment for innovative research.

At the Centre for Novostics, an InnoHK research centre dedicated to advancing molecular diagnostics, Yasine Malki, a chemical pathology PhD student from Hong Kong, highlighted mentorship as a defining aspect of his experience at CUHK. Benefiting from the mentorship of Professor Dennis Lo, CUHK's Vice-Chancellor and President, and a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, Yasine collaborates with specialists in molecular technologies, bioinformatics, and clinician-scientists, exemplifying CUHK's dynamic, multidisciplinary approach to medical science.

Through the latest global rankings, CUHK continues to demonstrate the impact of its research and scholarship. The University offers robust financial support to attract top-tier global talent, such as the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme for the 2027–28 intake, which provides around £170,000 in funding. Applications open on 1 September 2026.