Experts applauded Hong Kong universities for their strong performance in a global assessment of institutional internationalization, as four local universities secured the top four spots worldwide.
City University of Hong Kong (CityU), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) ranked first through fourth respectively in the Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 ranking of the world’s most international universities, released on Wednesday.
CityU topped the list for the second consecutive year. HKUST, PolyU, and HKU rose seven, seven, and two places respectively. A fifth local institution, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, also improved by two places to secure the 11th spot.
These universities surpassed prestigious institutions like the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, and ETH Zurich.
The ranking assessed 2,092 universities worldwide based on four indicators: international faculty, international students, international coauthorship, and international reputation.
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According to THE, CityU boasts over 4,000 exchange partners across 44 countries and regions, with over 1,200 students participating in exchange programs annually.
HKUST is recognized as one of the fastest-developing universities globally, with over 45 percent of its students engaging in overseas exchanges and around 70 percent participating in international internships.
PolyU encourages all its students to engage in exchange programs outside the city, and has established partnerships with over 244 universities worldwide to facilitate such exchanges.
HKU offers 50 percent of its undergraduate students two opportunities to study outside the city during their degree programs, with courses conducted in English. The educational approach emphasizes internationalization, aiming to nurture students to become global citizens capable of succeeding anywhere in the world.
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THE pointed out that the outstanding performance of Hong Kong universities is largely attributed to their close ties with neighboring countries and regions. This year, THE said the exceptional performance of Hong Kong institutions was further enhanced, and the international coauthorship indicators of the five ranked universities had improved significantly.
THE reported a 70-percent increase in the number of journal articles collaboratively written by authors from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland from 2019 to 2023.
William Wong Kam-fai, a Hong Kong legislator and associate dean of engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, attributed the universities’ strong rankings to the city’s growing appeal as an international education hub and its unique academic system, which blends Chinese heritage with Western-style education.
He added that these results will strengthen confidence among international students, families, and scholars seeking an Asian academic base with world-class credentials.
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Looking ahead, Wong Yuk-shan, president emeritus of Hong Kong Metropolitan University and a deputy to the National People’s Congress, called for greater diversification in the city’s global academic partnerships.
He said that Hong Kong has historically emphasized ties with traditional Anglo-American institutions, and he urged the city to broaden its academic footprint across Eurasia, particularly in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He added that expanding research and industrial collaborations with these emerging regions will be crucial.
Lawrence Tang Fei, legislator and vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, said the latest rankings confirmed the city’s potential to foster international industry-academia-research collaborations aligned with national strategic goals. Tang said he hopes that future cooperation will emphasize substantive joint projects rather than symbolic forums.
