With the US steadily making inroads into its great strength in higher education, the number of US universities in the top 500 has dropped to 102 - its lowest-ever figure, and 25 US institutions have suffered their “worst results” in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, more than any other nations that have been evaluated. On the other hand hand, Asia continues to climb in the Global University Rankings 2026 as compiled by the same British-based academic publication. Among the regions involved, Hong Kong (HK) has logged a record six spots in the top 200 primarily in consequence of its identified improvements in teaching reputation and its student-to-staff ratio, and all six of the city’s universities that were rated both this year and last year have both demonstrated impressive progress. This stunning assessment outcome has made HK the only territory in Asia and indeed the world where all ranked universities have registered upbeat performance on last year’s rankings. Aside from the city’s eight publicly financed institutions getting landed in the top 350 places of the THE World University Rankings 2026, five universities have continued to make their way into the elite tier of 100. 

Taking the leading spot among these five local universities, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has jumped from 35th to 33rd place and is followed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) which has claimed a “historic high” of 41st after rising three places on the global list. Coming right on the heels is the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) which has leaped eight places to 58th. The City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has reached its best-ever ranking at 75th, while the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has advanced by one spot to 83rd and managed to stay within the top 100 institutions for the fifth consecutive year. 

In addition to the top three institutions here in the territory, the Education University of Hong Kong ((EdU) secured the 195th rank for its maiden inclusion in the global listing. Along with this impressive achievement of the EdU, the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) marked itself for the first time on the top 250 institutions worldwide. On the other hand, the Lingnan University of Hong Kong has succeeded in finding its way into the band of 301 to 350 in the world evaluation. 

Trusted by academic communities, governments and industry organisations across the world, the list of the best universities as compiled on a global scale by the widely-respected British publication encompasses for its 2026 rankings 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and regions. The five core assessment pillars adopted for the annual rating by the THE includes:

1.⁠ ⁠Teaching (the learning environment)

2.⁠ ⁠⁠Research environment (volume, income, reputation)

3.⁠ ⁠⁠Research quality ( citation impact, research strength, research excellence and research influence)

4.⁠ ⁠⁠International outlook (staff, students, research)

5.⁠ ⁠⁠Industry (income and patents)

The rankings are solidly based on an analysis of almost 19 million research papers and 1.5 million votes in an academic reputation survey. With an overall score of 98.2, the University of Oxford in the UK has emerged as the top-ranked institution for the 10th straight year, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US has come right after with an overall score of 97.7. The UK’s University of Cambridge has moved up two places to secure third position, sharing this high rank with the Princeton University in the US, which has ascended from 4th. 

As noted by Phil Baty, THE Chief Global Affairs Officer, Asian countries, led by China, continue to push up their rankings, and this rise of East Asia runs counter to the performance of the US universities which have further declined this year. China has five universities in the top 40, up from three last year, and 35 in the top 500, which is more than Australia. China has a total of 18 universities achieving their best rank ever, more than any other nation. Tsinghua University remains in 12th spot for the third consecutive year, continuing to be the top university, while Peking University retained its 13th spot for the second straight year. 

Back in HK, the best-ever results obtained by the universities assisted by the SAR government through the University Grants Committee (UGC) has spoken in most favourable terms about the policy that has been set and implemented for the city’s public-sector universities. Another groundbreaking boost has thus been given to drive further ahead the metropolis’ development into an international post-secondary education hub and cradle for nurturing talents, while solidifying faith and reputation in respect of the fulfilment of its “Study in Hong Kong” brand. 

Now that the city’s higher education institutions have come through with flying colours on the world academic platform, it is opportune for the administration to put together expertise and resources to promote on an international scale, particularly in the partnering countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative, the great achievements and attractions of the SAR’s universities with a view to enhancing the city’s status as a rapidly thriving post-secondary education hub. This is one of the key pillars that will buttress the sustained growth of HK as a vibrant and promising international city where young people will find appropriate opportunities to receive advanced education and training crucial for developing their satisfying careers and businesses, as well as setting up their families here as permanent HK residents. 

By Mervyn Cheung Man-ping

Chairman of the Hong Kong Education Policy Concern Organisation

The views do not necessarily reflect those of Orange News.

Cover Photo: Information Services Department