City University of Hong Kong, also known as CityU is a public research university in Hong Kong’s Kowloon. The university is known for its eminent global reputation for research and professional studies and thus stands among the top fve universities in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and was later accredited with the university status. 

Even after having a fairly recent establishment, it has emerged as a leader in research studies and has expanded its quality of education over time in various fields including Data Science, Media, Medicine, and more. City University of Hong Kong has nine departments that offer courses in major disciplines including Business, Science, Engineering, Liberal Art, Social Sciences, Law, and Veterinary Medicine.

It ranks among the top 1% of universities around the globe and has constantly emerged among the best 20 universities in Asia. QS has ranked it 53rd in its world rankings for 2022, while THE and US News gave it 126th and 162nd positions respectively, crediting it as one of the best universities in Hong Kong, Aisa, and the world.

City University of Hong Kong World Ranking Highlights

US News ranks CityU as the fourth best university in Hong Kong. So, City University of Hong Kong’s rankings in Hong Kong according to various reputed agencies can be given as:

  • Ranked 162nd in Best Global Universities Rankings 2021 by US News
  • Ranked 53rd in QS Global World Ranking 2021
  • Ranked 126th in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2021
  • Ranked 4th in Best Global Universities in Hong Kong by US News for 2021
  • Ranked 19th in Best Global Universities in Asia 2021 by US News
  • Ranked 16th in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities in Asia 2021
  • Ranked 18th in QS’s Asia University Rankings 2021

Also Check How to Apply in Top Universities In Hong Kong

City University of Hong Kong QS Ranking 2022

All thanks to the university’s special focus on internationalization, it is ranked among the best 100 universities in the world on major reputed ranking lists. QS’s ranking criteria include factors like academic reputation, employer reputation, citations, international faculty, and international students. It stood 48th in the latest 2021 rankings and was placed at 52nd, 55th, and 49th spots in the years 2020, 2019, and 2018 respectively.

Rankings trends given by QS Top Universities reveal that the university has improved its rankings over the past years. The ranking data by QS can be summarized as:

Year QS World University Ranking
2022 53rd 
2021 48th
2020 52nd
2019 55th
2018 49th
2017 55th
2016 57th
2015 108th

City University of Hong Kong US News Ranking

Most agencies have ranked it within the best 5 universities in Hong Kong, competing with global leaders like Hong Kong University and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Regional and International Research Reputation, Publications, and Infra have contributed mainly to crediting the institute among the bests in Hong Kong.

City University of Hong Kong Subject-wise Ranking

The institute’s research excellence and decent international outlook have given it top-notch faculties and facilities and thus decent subject-wise ratings and rankings. The highest subject-wise rankings on the QS list are credited to Social Policy and Administration followed by Communications and Media Studies, Linguistics, and Business Management.

Programs offered at City University of Hong Kong are ranked mainly between 30th to 100th positions globally. Engineering, Art and Design, Architecture, Politics, and Material Science are also ranked highly by QS Rankings, having a position 50-150th.

City University of Hong Kong Subject-wise Ranking by QS

Subject QS by Subject Global Ranking
Social Policy and Administration 35th
Communication and Media Studies 38th
Linguistics 39th
Business and Management Studies 48th
Architecture 51-100th
Computer Science and Information Systems 51-100th
Accounts and Finance 101-150th
Engineering - Electrical and Electronics 51-100th
Economics and Econometrics 51-100th
English Language and Literature 51-100th
Politics 51-100th
Material Sciences 51-100th
Mathematics 51-100th

City University of Hong Kong Subject-wise Ranking by US News

Global research reputation, Regional research reputation, Publications, Normalized citation impact, Total citations, Number of publications are some of the factors included in the ranking methodology by the US News. Engineering related subjects are the best-offered by CityU according to US News’ analysis. Science and Research subjects are also given positions within the best 100 in the world.

Subject US News Subject-wise Global Ranking
Engineering 16th
Material Sciences 30th
Electrical and Electronic Engineering 20th
Energy and Fuels 30th
Economics and Business 53rd
Mechanical Engineering 32nd
Civil Engineering 67th
Computer Science 36th
Chemical Engineering 63rd
Arts and Humanities 143rd

City University of Hong Kong vs Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is a world-class research institute. The institute offers teaching and research facilities, as well as a wide range of innovative undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. degree programs across eight faculties and schools.

Known for its best in the world research and engineering programs, Hong Kong Polytechnic University can be debated as being City University of Hong Kong’s toughest competition. It has very close ranks and honors. US News ranked it the 170th best university in Hong Kong, eight spots below CityU.

QS again has respected its excellence and thus gave it 75th spot on its global university list for 2021. Now, The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research university. Various agencies have ranked it the second-best university in Hong Kong and among the top 100 around the globe.

So the university’s rankings can be compared as:

Ranking City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic University Chinese University of Hong Kong
Rankings in the world (by QS 2022) 53rd  66th 43rd
Rankings in the Hong Kong (by US News) 4th 5th 2nd
Status Public Public Public
International Students 50% 22 - 25% 30%
Popular Programs Social Policy and Administration, Communication and Media Studies, Business and Management, Electrical Engineering Hospitality and Leisure Management, Civil Engineering, Art and Design, Architecture, Computer Science Communication and Media Studies, Nursing, Geography, Computer Science, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Philosophy
Graduate employability rank (by QS) 90th 101-110th -
Citations per paper (by QS) 73 76.6 94.5

City University of Hong Kong Miscellaneous Rankings

The university also has the following miscellaneous rankings under its name-

  • Ranked 4th in Top 50 under 50 Universities in 2021 by QS Top Universities
  • Ranked 1st in World University Rankings 2020 "Most International University” by The Times Higher Education
  • Ranked 7th in Young University Rankings 2020 The Times Higher Education
  • Ranked 90th in Graduate Employability Rankings 2020 by QS Top Universities
  • Ranked 1st in Top 100 Business School Research Rankings 2019 in Asia-Pacific Region by UTD

With rankings amid the best 5 in Hong Kong, the best 20 in Asia, and the best 1% in the world, City University of Hong Kong is without a doubt an ideal destination to study abroad. The institute has to compete with numerous renowned universities in Hong Kong to keep itself among the top. CityU has expanded its range of expertise in non-research domains like Media, Business, and Social Sciences and thus provides top-quality education and has one of the best international outlooks in the world.