HKU has secured the top spot in the recently released QS Asia University Rankings 2026 among over 1,500 academic institutions, reaffirming its sustained leadership across Asia’s higher education landscape.
The University has excelled in multiple indicators, achieving perfect scores in ‘Academic Reputation’, ‘Staff with PhD’, ‘International Students’, ‘Outbound Exchange’, ‘Inbound Exchange’ and ‘International Faculty’ respectively. In recognition of the University’s dedication to cultivating an international outlook, both in terms of student and faculty diversity, and through its strong international research networks, HKU was also presented with the prestigious Global Engagement Champions award at the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025 held in Seoul in early November.
Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU remarked, “This recognition honours the collective dedication of our University community – where the relentless pursuit of excellence continues to strengthen HKU’s global standing. The ranking not only affirms our academic excellence but also underscores HKU’s pivotal role in shaping global higher education. As Asia’s leading world-class university, HKU brings together exceptional minds to advance cutting-edge research. These efforts will accelerate Hong Kong’s rise as an international hub for education, innovation, and technology, while supporting the nation’s high-quality development through science and education.”
This achievement comes at a particularly meaningful moment as HKU celebrates its 115th anniversary and advances its vision to become ‘a world-leading university transforming humanity’s future’. Building on this legacy, the University is shaping tomorrow’s leaders through the strategic development of interdisciplinary fields. At the same time, HKU is reinforcing its unique position as a global nexus of knowledge, bridging East and West while pioneering AI-driven education and research.
The QS Asia University Rankings are released annually by the global higher education analytics organisation Quacquarelli Symonds, highlighting the top universities in Asia. Featuring a record number of 1,526 universities from a total of 25 locations, the 2026 rankings were determined based on 11 indicators including academic reputation, employer reputation and faculty student ratio.
