The Five Universities of Hong Kong & Applications: Frequently Asked Questions

# The Five Universities of Hong Kong & Applications: Frequently Asked Questions

In one line: Short, evidence-anchored answers to the most frequently asked questions about Hong Kong’s five research universities and applying to them; every answer links directly to an official source — read the dedicated sections for full details.

# How many universities are there in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has eight publicly funded universities supported by the University Grants Committee (UGC)UGC-funded institutions^※, commonly called the “Big Eight”. In addition, several self-financing and private institutions operate in the territory. This site focuses on five of the eight: the research universities.

# Which ones are the research universities?

Five are comprehensive research universities with broad disciplinary coverage and concentrated research output: HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityU, and PolyU. They are the five this site covers.

# What is the difference between the “Big Eight” and the “Five”?

The “Big Eight” refers to all eight UGC-funded universities — adding HKBU, Lingnan University, and the Education University of Hong Kong to the fiveUGC-funded institutions^※. The “Five” are the subset of research universities (HKU / CUHK / HKUST / CityU / PolyU) on which this site concentrates.

# Which ranks higher, HKU or CUHK?

It depends entirely on the league table. QS 2027 places HKU at 11th and CUHK at 18th — HKU aheadQS 2027 release^※. Yet U.S. News 2026–2027, which weights research metrics more heavily, puts CUHK at 28th and HKU at 40th — CUHK aheadU.S. News release^※. The two rankings measure different things: HKU is lifted by QS’s heavy weighting of reputation and internationalisation, while CUHK’s raw publication and citation volume is better captured by U.S. News’s bibliometric methodology. For a breakdown of what each of these “two first places” actually measures, see Anatomy of the Rankings Indicators and Head-to-Head Comparisons of the Five.

# Where do the five rank in the latest global tables?

In the QS 2027 world rankings: HKU 11, CUHK 18, HKUST 33, PolyU 50, CityU 52QS 2027 release^※. U.S. News 2026–27 reshuffles that order: CUHK 28, HKU 40, CityU 47, PolyU 52, HKUST 82U.S. News release^※. For each institution’s five-year trajectory and the forces behind it, see the deep dives: HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityU, PolyU.

# Why does the same university rank so differently in QS and U.S. News?

Because the two yardsticks are not measuring the same thing. QS draws roughly 60% of its score from reputation surveys and internationalisation (academic reputation 30% + employer reputation 15% + internationalisation 15%), with hard research metrics limited to citations per paper at 20%. U.S. News, by contrast, is built 100% on Clarivate Web of Science publication and citation data — no student satisfaction, no staff–student ratio. So HKUST at 33rd in QS but only 82nd in U.S. News (a 49-place gap) is not a contradiction; it is a case of a university with a “young, compact, reputation-strong” profile being systematically undervalued by a pure bibliometric ranking. For an indicator-by-indicator breakdown, see Anatomy of the Rankings Indicators.

# How have the five universities’ rankings changed in the last five years?

They have risen substantially overall. QS saw a brief collective dip when the 2024 methodology was overhauled (adding International Research Network, Employment Outcomes, and Sustainability at 5% each); since then, 2025→2027 has been a sustained rebound — CUHK climbed from 38th in the 2023 QS to 18th in 2027, and HKUST bounced back from its methodology-trough low of 60th to 33rd. U.S. News (pure bibliometrics) shows an even steeper five-year climb: CityU surged from around 120th to 47th in roughly three years, and CUHK rose from 82nd to 28th. The drivers — methodology changes, high international collaboration rates, a thickening layer of highly cited papers — are unpacked per university in Head-to-Head Comparisons of the Five and the individual deep dives.

# When was each university founded?

HKU was established in 1911, CUHK in 1963, and HKUST in 1991; CityU began operating in 1984 and PolyU traces its roots to 1937, with both receiving university title in 1994. Full histories are in each institution’s section [01–05].

# What language is used for teaching?

The five universities predominantly teach in English (English Medium of Instruction). Outside of Chinese-language and literature subjects, courses in arts, sciences, business, engineering, and social sciences are normally delivered in English.

# Do I need an English-language qualification to apply?

Generally, yes. Non-local applicants are normally required to submit evidence of English proficiency (such as IELTS, TOEFL, or a qualification taught in English). The specific tests accepted and the score thresholds vary by institution and programme; always check the admissions page on each university’s official website.

# How do mainland Chinese students apply to these five universities?

Mainland students have two main pathways. The first is each university’s Undergraduate Admissions Scheme for Mainland Gaokao Students: CUHK participates in the gaokao’s unified early-admissions batch, while HKU, HKUST, CityU, and PolyU accept direct applications independently — in all cases without consuming a gaokao volunteering slot. Details are in Gaokao Pathways to the Five. The second is the international qualifications route for applicants holding international curricula (such as A-Levels, the IB). See Non-JUPAS International Pathways. A consolidated timeline of all routes is in Admissions Overview; always treat each university’s official website as authoritative.

# How do international (non-mainland) students apply?

Applicants holding international qualifications — A-Levels, IB, AP/SAT, national high-school diplomas — apply directly through each university’s Non-JUPAS (International and Other Qualifications) route, and must meet academic and English-language requirements. Each university maintains a dedicated non-local / international admissions page. Processes, English thresholds, and timelines are in Non-JUPAS International Pathways.

# What are the tuition fees?

For non-local (including mainland Chinese) undergraduates, fees vary by institution and programme; for the 2025/26 academic year, they are typically in the range of roughly HK$170,000–220,000 per yearStudy in Hong Kong^※. A few programmes, such as medicine, charge higher. Always confirm the exact figure from each university’s latest published schedule.

# Are tuition fees the same for local and non-local students?

No. At the UGC-funded universities, local students pay a lower, government-subsidised tuition fee, while non-local students pay a higher, cost-recovery fee (i.e. the band cited above). The gap is substantial.

# How long is an undergraduate degree?

Four years. Since 2012, Hong Kong has operated the “3-3-4” academic structure, which makes the undergraduate degree a four-year programme, aligned with mainland China and most international systems.

# Are scholarships available?

Yes. All five universities offer entry scholarships for outstanding non-local and international new students, some covering full tuition plus living costs. These are highly competitive, limited in number, and are generally assessed automatically at the point of admission. Institution-by-institution scholarship values and assessment criteria are covered in the scholarship subsection of Gaokao Pathways to the Five. For research doctoral applicants, there is the separate Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS); see Postgraduate Admissions.

# Is the competition for places particularly fierce right now?

The cap has been relaxing in recent years. Under the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address, starting from the 2024/25 academic year, the non-local student ceiling at UGC-funded institutions was raised from 20% to 40% of local undergraduate places2023 Policy Address^※, substantially increasing the number of undergraduate places available to mainland and international students. Competition at popular institutions and for sought-after programmes remains intense, however.

# How do I decide which university to apply to?

Weigh factors such as subject strengths, location, degree of internationalisation, and graduate destinations. The 08 Choosing a University section of this site provides a rational framework for making the call; each university’s areas of strength are detailed in sections [01–05].

Note: This page is an information compilation and is not an official admissions guide. For formal applications, always consult the latest announcements on each university’s website (*.edu.hk) and the UGC site (ugc.edu.hk).