CUHK Admissions, Tuition Fees, and a Comprehensive Introduction

In a nutshell: The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a comprehensive research university established in 1963 under The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance. It is the only university in Hong Kong that simultaneously operates a college system and upholds Chinese-English bilingualism as a defining principle. Set on a hillside campus overlooking the sea in Ma Liu Shui, Sha Tin, CUHK enrolled roughly 25,000 students in the 2024/25 academic year. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, it placed 18th globally and second in Hong Kong—the first time the university has broken into the world's top 20. QS 2027 release^※

# What kind of university is CUHK?

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) describes itself as "a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision." Its official mission statement, taken from the university website, is to "combine tradition with modernity, and bring together China and the West" (「結合傳統與現代，融會中國與西方」). CUHK Vision and Mission^※

CUHK differs from Hong Kong's other publicly funded universities in three fundamental ways:

• A comprehensive research university: Its disciplines span the humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, medicine, business, and law, organised into eight faculties and a graduate school. Eight Faculties and the Graduate School^※
• The College System: Unique in Hong Kong. Each of the nine member colleges possesses its own culture and community life, and is responsible for student accommodation, pastoral care, and college-level general education.
• Bilingualism (Chinese and English): Both Chinese and English serve as the medium of instruction, a tradition that flows directly from the "Chinese" part of the university's name.

# How does the college system work? The nine colleges

CUHK was formed in 1963 through the amalgamation of three foundation colleges: Chung Chi College (1951), New Asia College (1949), and United College (1956). Further colleges have been added since, bringing the total to nine member colleges today. CUHK Facts and Figures 2024/25^※

Every undergraduate is affiliated with a college upon admission. The colleges provide accommodation, mentorship schemes, and cross-disciplinary communities. Together with general education, the college system underpins CUHK's philosophy of whole-person education. According to the university, its general education programme "blends the Chinese humanistic ideal with Western liberal education" and adopts a two-tier structure—university-level general education plus college-level general education. The university component offers more than 200 courses across four areas: "Chinese Cultural Heritage," "Nature, Science and Technology," "Society and Culture," and "Self and Humanities." In addition, all first-year undergraduates are required to take the General Education Foundation Programme. CUHK General Education^※

# How does CUHK rank? The latest four major tables

CUHK consistently ranks among the top institutions in Hong Kong across the major league tables released in 2026. In QS 2027, it entered the world's top 20 for the first time. The table below shows the latest figures and their respective methodologies.

• QS 2027, 18th: CUHK entered the global top 20 for the first time, placing second in Hong Kong (behind HKU at 11th). QS 2027 release^※
• U.S. News 2026–2027, 28th: CUHK tops Hong Kong in this particular table among the four major rankings (HKU placed 40th). U.S. News CUHK Profile^※
• THE 2026, 41st: Consistent with its positioning as a research-intensive university. THE 2026 Rankings^※
• ARWU (ShanghaiRanking) 2025, 101–150 range: The ARWU focuses heavily on research output and highly cited researchers, making its methodology more skewed toward traditional academic indicators. ARWU 2025^※

(Note: Because the methodologies behind each ranking table differ substantially, positions should not be directly compared across tables; consult the issuing body for the definitive methodology.)

# What are CUHK's strongest disciplines?

CUHK's disciplinary coverage is comprehensive. It comprises eight faculties (Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, and Social Science) and a Graduate School, as well as entities such as the Y. C. Cheng Interdisciplinary Mathematics Institute. Eight Faculties and the Graduate School^※

Traditional strengths cluster in:

• Medicine and the life sciences: With the Prince of Wales Hospital as its teaching hospital, the Faculty of Medicine produces notable research output in clinical and translational medicine.
• Business: The Business School was among the first institutions in Asia to offer MBA and EMBA programmes.
• The humanities and Chinese studies: Drawing on the university's Chinese-language mandate and its bilingual strengths, Chinese language and literature, Chinese studies, and translation enjoy strong academic reputations.
• Engineering and information science: The university has significant research capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence and information engineering.

(Note: In the interest of objectivity, this article does not list individual subject-level world rankings. For specific subject rankings, please consult the official subject tables published by QS, THE, and other ranking bodies.)

# How big is CUHK? Scale and internationalisation

According to CUHK Facts and Figures 2024/25 (data as of 23 April 2025), the student body breaks down as follows: CUHK Facts and Figures 2024/25^※

The university enrols roughly 25,000 students overall (2024/25: 18,438 undergraduates plus the postgraduate cohort), of whom more than 5,600 are non-local, reflecting a high degree of internationalisation and a substantial postgraduate contingent. CUHK Facts and Figures 2024/25^※

# Where is the CUHK campus?

CUHK's main campus is located at Ma Liu Shui, Sha Tin, in Hong Kong's New Territories. Set against a hillside and facing the sea, it spans more than 130 hectares, making it one of the largest university campuses in Hong Kong by area. The campus is served directly by University Station on the East Rail Line. CUHK Facts and Figures 2024/25^※ On-site facilities include a library system, an art museum, a concert hall, swimming pools, and sports amenities. The nine colleges each have their own college buildings and hostels, providing over 9,800 residential places in total.

# How do you get in? An admissions overview

Local undergraduate admission at CUHK is handled primarily through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS). Non-local and international applicants apply via separate non-local/international admissions routes. According to official figures, approximately 3,019 students were admitted through JUPAS in 2024, with over 99% of admitted students having placed CUHK programmes in Band A. The university also enrolled roughly 50% of Hong Kong's top 100 HKDSE scorers—the highest share in the territory. CUHK Facts and Figures 2024/25^※

Regarding tuition fees: for non-local and international undergraduates, the annual fee is HK$214,000 (for 2026 entry, payable in two instalments of HK$107,000 per semester). Locally funded undergraduate tuition follows the uniform standard set by the University Grants Committee (UGC): HK$42,100 per year. CUHK Non-local Undergraduate Tuition Fees^※ (Note: Fees and admissions data are revised annually. Always check the university's latest official announcements before applying.)

The data on this page is drawn from CUHK's official Facts and Figures, the University Grants Committee (UGC), and official releases from the ranking organisations, last updated on 19 June 2026. Ranking methodologies differ; positions should not be directly compared across tables.

# Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does a year's tuition at CUHK cost? A: According to CUHK's official 2026 admissions guide, annual tuition for non-local/international undergraduates is HK$214,000 (split across two semesters at HK$107,000 each). For locally funded undergraduates, the annual fee, in line with the UGC's unified standard, is HK$42,100. Fees and admissions data are updated annually; check the university's website for the latest figures before applying.

Q: How much is a year's tuition in Renminbi? A: CUHK's annual tuition is HK$214,000 for non-local/international undergraduates and HK$42,100 for locally funded undergraduates (both figures in Hong Kong dollars, the official currency of the fee). The equivalent amount in Renminbi fluctuates with the exchange rate. Convert at the rate prevailing at the time of your application, and always treat the HKD figure on the university's official website as the sole authoritative amount.