Higher education in Hong Kong means any education higher than secondary education, including professional, technical, and academic. It is the highest level of education in Hong Kong, regulated under the Hong Kong Law.
Admission
Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) is a scheme and the main route of application designed to assist students with Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) or Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) results to apply for admission to the universities in Hong Kong.
Institutions
According to the Education Bureau, Hong Kong has 22 degree-awarding higher education institutions, including:
UGC funded universities
Below universities funded under the University Grants Committee (UGC):
- The University of Hong Kong (HKU, founded in 1911) – University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap. 1053)
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK, founded in 1963) – The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap. 1109)
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST, founded in 1991) – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Ordinance (Cap. 1141)
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU, founded in 1937, granted university status in November 1994) – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Ordinance (Cap. 1075)
- City University of Hong Kong (CityU, founded in 1984, granted university status in November 1994) – City University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap. 1132)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU, founded in 1956, granted university status in November 1994) – Hong Kong Baptist University Ordinance (Cap. 1126)
- Lingnan University (LU, founded in 1967 as Lingnan School in Hong Kong, granted university status in July 1999) – Lingnan University Ordinance (Cap. 1165)
- The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK, founded in 1994, granted university status in May 2016) – The Education University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap. 444)
Self-financing institutions
Statutory university
- Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU; known as the Open University of Hong Kong, OUHK; founded in 1989, granted university status in May 1997) – The Open University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap. 1145)
Approved post secondary colleges
Approved post secondary colleges are educational institutes registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320). This type of colleges are allowed to give out academic awards at bachelor's degree level or above as well as to include the Chinese words "學院" or "大學", or the English word "University" in the registration name with prior approval from the Chief Executive-in-Council (Before 1 August 2025) or Secretary for Education (Starting from 1 August 2025).
- Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU, founded in 1971, granted university status in December 2006)
- Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK, founded in 1980, granted university status in October 2018)
- Saint Francis University (previously Caritas Institute of Higher Education, granted university status in January 2024)
- Chu Hai College of Higher Education
- HKCT Institute of Higher Education
- Tung Wah College
- Centennial College
- Gratia Christian College
- Hong Kong Nang Yan College of Higher Education
- Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Vocational Training Council
- UOW College Hong Kong
Publicly funded institutions
Statutory institution
- The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA, founded in 1984) – The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance (Cap.1135)
Ranking
| QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings | Times Higher Education World University Rankings |
|---|---|
View source data. | View source data. |
| Institution | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HKU | 23 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
| CUHK | 42 | 37 | 40 | 39 | 46 | 51 | 44 | 46 | 49 | 46 | 43 | 39 | 38 |
| HKUST | 40 | 40 | 33 | 34 | 40 | 28 | 36 | 30 | 37 | 32 | 27 | 34 | 40 |
| CityU | 129 | 110 | 95 | 104 | 108 | 57 | 55 | 49 | 55 | 52 | 48 | 53 | 54 |
| PolyU | 166 | 177 | 159 | 161 | 162 | 116 | 111 | 95 | 106 | 91 | 75 | 66 | 65 |
| HKBU | 342 | 243 | 271 | 288 | 318 | 281 | 278 | 299 | 277 | 261 | 264 | 287 | 281 |
| LU | — | — | — | 551-600 | 601-650 | 601-650 | 601-650 | 551-600 | 601-650 | 591-600 | 571-580 | 581-590 | 601-650 |
| Institution | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HKU | 21 | 34 | 35 | 43 | 43 | 44 | 43 | 40 | 36 | 35 | 39 | 30 |
| CUHK | — | 151 | 124 | 109 | 129 | 138 | 76 | 58 | 53 | 57 | 56 | 49 |
| HKUST | 41 | 62 | 65 | 57 | 51 | 59 | 49 | 44 | 41 | 47 | 56 | 66 |
| CityU | — | 193 | 182 | 201-225 | 192 | 201-250 | 119 | 119 | 110 | 126 | 126 | 151 |
| PolyU | 149 | 251-275 | 251-275 | 251-275 | 201-225 | 201-250 | 192 | 182 | 159 | 171 | 129 | 91 |
| HKBU | 111 | 276-300 | 301-350 | 301-350 | 301-350 | 351-400 | 351-400 | 401-500 | 401–500 | 401–500 | 351–400 | 401–500 |
| Institution | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Hong Kong | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
| The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 14 |
| City University of Hong Kong | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 23 |
| The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | 38 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 25 | 25 | 26 |
| Hong Kong Baptist University | 73 | 45 | 49 | 48 | 43 | 45 | 51 | 64 | 64 | 65 | 64 | 66 | 68 |
| Lingnan University, Hong Kong | >200 | 191-200 | 151-160 | 121 | 115 | 128 | 142 | 109 | 100 | 123 | 120 | 131 | 152 |
| Institution | 2016 (Top 20) | 2017 (Top 100) | 2018 (Top 20) | 2018 Best subject of this institute | The highest ranking of this subject in Hong Kong (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Hong Kong | 29 | 37 | 10 | 1st:Dentistry | The University of Hong Kong (1st) |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong | 17 | 30 | 1 | 20th:Communication & Media Studies | The Chinese University of Hong Kong (20th) |
| The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | 12 | 16 | 4 | 14th:Computer Science & Information Systems | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (14th) |
| City University of Hong Kong | 7 | 18 | 0 | 26th:Linguistics | The University of Hong Kong (11th) |
| The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | 8 | 16 | 3 | 3rd:Hospitality & Leisure Management | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (3rd) |
| Hong Kong Baptist University | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51-100th: Communication & Media Studies | The Chinese University of Hong Kong (20th) |
| The Education University of Hong Kong | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9th:Education & Training | The University of Hong Kong (7th) |
| The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50-100th:Performing Arts | The University of Hong Kong (44th) |
Notes:
- UGC is the abbreviation of University Grants Committee.
- HKCAAVQ is the abbreviation of Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (formerly HKCAA).
- Programme Area Accreditation means the programme operator can operate specific programmes at designated subject areas and academic levels during specific period, granted and reviewed by HKCAAVQ. Prior notice and individual accreditation to HKCAAVQ are not required.
- Honour diploma (academically equivalent to higher diploma and associate degree in Hong Kong, and equivalent to bachelor's degree in some countries) was an academic award issued by colleges or institutes before they were granted full university status, such as HKBU, LU and SYU. It is no longer awarded.
See also
- Education in Hong Kong
- Medical education in Hong Kong
- Joint University Programmes Admissions System
- Self-financing Higher Education in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong
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