U.S. News Global University Rankings 2026 Released: 5 HK Universities Break Into Top 100

U.S. News & World Report released its latest annual Best Global Universities rankings on June 16th, with all five Hong Kong universities making the list ranking among the top 100 globally, and all achieving improvements in their rankings.

U.S. News & World Report released its latest annual Best Global Universities rankings on June 16th, with all five Hong Kong universities making the list ranking among the top 100 globally, and all achieving improvements in their rankings. Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Universities Shine Bright

Hong Kong universities delivered an outstanding performance, with all five schools on the list showing significant improvements in their rankings compared to last year. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) jumped 9 places to 28th globally, ranking 1st in Hong Kong; the University of Hong Kong (HKU) rose 4 places to 40th globally; City University of Hong Kong (CityU) jumped 7 places to 47th globally, ranking 9th in Asia and 3rd in Hong Kong; the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) rose 6 places to 52nd globally; and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) surged 19 places to 82nd globally.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Photo source: reference image

CityU and CUHK Lead in Top Disciplines 

CityU boasts 10 disciplines ranked 1st in Hong Kong and 15 disciplines ranked among the top 50 globally, with Materials Science, Physical Chemistry, Condensed Matter Physics, Energy and Fuels, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and Optics all ranking in the top ten globally.

CityU

Students of CityU

Prof Lee Chun Sing, Acting President of CityU, stated, "CityU's international rankings have consistently reached new heights, with disciplines ranking among the world's top, reflecting its continuously improving teaching and research strength as well as leading position in international development. In the future, CityU will continue to lead the development of higher education, cultivate leader talents with a global perspective, and contribute to promoting the 'Study in Hong Kong' brand and building an international hub for tertiary education."

CU Medicine has once again delivered an outstanding performance in the rankings.

CU Medicine has once again delivered an outstanding performance, with Gastroenterology and Hepatology retaining its 2nd-place ranking globally, maintaining its position among the top 3 for the fourth consecutive year. Gastroenterology and Hepatology, along with Endocrinology and Metabolism, have jointly secured their 5th consecutive title as "Top in Asia." Meanwhile, Clinical Medicine has been ranked "Asia's Top Discipline" for the second consecutive year.

This year, five CU Medicine disciplines were ranked among the "Top 3 in Asia," encompassing Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical Medicine, Surgery, and Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging. In addition, seven disciplines were ranked "1st in Hong Kong," namely Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical Medicine, Surgery, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging, Neuroscience and Behavior, and Oncology.

Five CU Medicine disciplines were ranked among the "Top 3 in Asia."

Professor Chiu Wai Yan, Dean of CU Medicine, stated that the Faculty's continued success in international rankings, as one of the world's youngest top medical schools, is no accident, but the result of years of dedicated work and meticulous refinement by all faculty, researchers, clinical staff, and alumni. He particularly mentioned that CU Medicine's Gastroenterology and Hepatology has consistently ranked among the top 3 globally for many years, and has even secured 2nd place globally for the past two years. Such an achievement not only reflects the international academic community's recognition of CUHK's research strength, but also embodies CU Medicine's core philosophy of "translating research into clinical change, and responding to patient needs through innovation."

Seven disciplines were ranked "1st in Hong Kong."

Looking to the future, Professor Chiu emphasized that CU Medicine will continue to deepen interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerate the transformation of laboratory breakthroughs into clinical applications, and actively cultivate 21st-century doctors with an international perspective and humanistic care. He reiterated that the Faculty's goal is not only to become a top school in Asia, but also a significant engine of global medical innovation, making a more substantial contribution to the health and well-being of Hong Kong, the nation, and all of humanity.

11 Mainland Universities Enter Top 100

Among Mainland universities, a total of 11 universities have entered the global top 100. Tsinghua University broke into the top 10 for the first time, ranking 6th globally; Peking University ranked 19th.

Tsinghua University, Photo source: reference image

The rankings cover more than 2,600 universities in over 100 countries and regions worldwide.

164 more nomination forms for Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections received today

The Returning Officers for the various subsectors of the 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections received a total of 160 nomination forms for candidates and four nomination forms from designated bodies today (October 8). This brings to 465 the total number of nomination forms for candidates and six the total number of nomination forms from designated bodies received since nominations opened yesterday (October 7). The nomination period will end on October 20.

The breakdown of candidate nomination forms received by each subsector is set out below:

First Sector
Subsector	No. of nomination forms for candidates received today	Cumulative total
Catering	0	0
Commercial (first)	2	2
Commercial (second)	0	1
Commercial (third)	14	21
Employers' Federation of Hong Kong	3	6
Finance	4	8
Financial services	5	12
Hotel	10	11
Import and export	0	7
Industrial (first)	3	8
Industrial (second)	0	0
Insurance	4	8
Real estate and construction	1	1
Small and medium enterprises	0	0
Textiles and garment	0	0
Tourism	2	19
Transport	2	3
Wholesale and retail	0	0
Second Sector
Subsector	No. of nomination forms for candidates received today	Cumulative total
Accountancy	4	9
Architectural, surveying, planning and landscape	1	2
Chinese medicine	9	15
Education	0	14
Engineering	0	4
Legal	1	2
Medical and health services	2	4
Social welfare	1	1
Sports, performing arts, culture and publication	0	13
Technology and innovation	1	1
Third Sector
Subsector	No. of nomination forms for candidates received today	Cumulative total
Agriculture and fisheries	21	67
Associations of Chinese fellow townsmen	15	38
Grassroots associations	21	31
Labour	0	60
Fourth Sector
Subsector	No. of nomination forms for candidates received today	Cumulative total
Heung Yee Kuk	0	28
Representatives of members of Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees, and District Fire Safety Committees of Hong Kong and Kowloon	21	41
Representatives of members of Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees, and District Fire Safety Committees of the New Territories	12	12
Fifth Sector
Subsector	No. of nomination forms for candidates received today	Cumulative total
Representatives of Hong Kong members of relevant national organisations	1	16
Total:	160	465

Besides, a total of four nomination forms were received from designated bodies by each subsector:

Accountancy
Designated body	No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today	Cumulative total
Association of Hong Kong Accounting Advisors Limited	0	0
Chinese medicine
Designated body	No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today	Cumulative total
WFCMS (Hong Kong) Council Members Association Limited	0	0
Legal
Designated body	No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today	Cumulative total
China Law Society's HK Council Members Association	1 (9 nominees in total)	1 (9 nominees in total)
Sports, performing arts, culture and publication
Designated body	No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today	Cumulative total
Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China	0	0
China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association Limited	0	0
Hong Kong Publishing Federation Limited	0	0
Technology and innovation
Designated body	No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today	Cumulative total
The Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians	0	0
Religious
Designated body	No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today	Cumulative total
Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong	0	0
Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association	0	0
Hong Kong Christian Council	0	0
The Hong Kong Taoist Association	0	0
The Confucian Academy	0	0
The Hong Kong Buddhist Association	0	0
Representatives of associations of Hong Kong residents in the Mainland
Designated body	No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today	Cumulative total
Mainland China (Shenzhen) Consultant Services Centre, The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions	0	0
Mainland China (Guangzhou) Consultant Services Centre, The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions	0	0
Mainland China (Dongguan) Consultant Services Centre, The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions	0	0
Mainland China (Zhongshan) Consultant Services Centre, The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions	0	0
Mainland China (Huizhou) Consultant Services Centre, The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions	0	0
Mainland China (Fujian, Xiamen) Consultant Services Centre, The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Tianjin	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Shanghai	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Zhejiang	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Guangdong	0	1 (1 nominee in total)
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Fujian	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Guangxi	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Sichuan	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Wuhan	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Liaoning	0	0
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Shandong	0	0
Hong Kong Professionals (Beijing) Association	0	0
Shanghai Hong Kong Association	1 (1 nominee in total)	1 (1 nominee in total)
Guangzhou Tianhe Hong Kong and Macau Youth Association	0	0
Hong Kong Association of China Business	0	1 (1 nominee in total)
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, Qianhai, Shenzhen	0	0
Hong Kong and Macau Entrepreneurs Branch, Chongqing Overseas Association	0	0
Fujian Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs	0	0
Hong Kong and Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Federation in Zhongkai Huizhou	1 (1 nominee in total)	1 (1 nominee in total)
The Hong Kong Fellowship in Huadu Guangzhou	1 (1 nominee in total)	1 (1 nominee in total)
The Hong Kong Fellowship in Chancheng Foshan	0	0
Total:	4 (12 nominees in total)	6 (14 nominees in total)

Particulars of the nominations received today will be uploaded to the election website (www.elections.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images